Sheryl Crow was born in Missouri in 1962. Music was always a big part of Sheryl’s family with both of her parents in big bands. Her dad played the trumpet as a hobby and the Crow family owned a total of three pianos. Her family’s musical influence inspired Sheryl to join the choir in school. Her perfectionist attitude carried over to sports, academics, and music. She went on to study music education at the University of Missouri during the same time actor, Brad Pitt, was studying there. 

Crow did not immediately decide to pursue a career in the music industry right out of college. Instead, she used her musical abilities to teach elementary school students music at a school in St. Louis. Teaching became her full time job and in her spare time she would sing in weekend bands. At the time, Sheryl did not dream of stardom. Instead, Crow’s goal was to settle down, get married, and have kids.

A few years later, a local musician/producer introduced Sheryl to the world of singing jingles. He recognized her talent and helped her out by using her voice in his advertising jingles. She did several commercial jingles for companies like Famous-Barr, Toyota, and McDonald’s. She reportedly earned $50,000 for the McDonald’s commercial alone. She was now making more singing jingles part time than she was as a full time teacher. It was at this time that she began to seriously consider a career in the music industry.

In 1986 Sheryl moved to Los Angeles and began auditioning as a back up vocalist for major acts. After lots of rejection, she finally landed a back up gig singing on Michael Jackson’s Bad tour. She also performed a duet on stage with Jackson for the song, I Just Can’t Stop Loving You. After the Jackson tour she began singing back up for Don Henley, whom she says helped her write better songs.

Her album was released in 1993 but did not receive much attention until the single, All I Wanna Do hit the radio waves in early 1994. The lyrics to the single had been taken from a poetry book Crow found at a used bookstore in Los Angeles. She tracked down the author, Wyn Cooper, and gave him credit for his work. He has been paid over $50,000 in royalties for the single. Her album went on to sell over 7 million copies and won her several Grammy awards.

Crow’s love life has been speckled with fellow musicians, actors, and most recently athlete Lance Armstrong. On Sheryl’s third album, The Globe Sessions, there were rumors that she wrote the single, My Favorite Mistake about her highly publisized relationship with musician, Eric Clapton. For that album she won a Grammy for Best Rock Album.

Many of Sheryl’s songs have had a political message behind th em and Crow has proven that she is not afraid to stand up for her beliefs. This became most evident when Crow wore a tee shirt that said, “I don’t believe in your war, Mr. Bush!” during a Good Morning America performance.