If you listened to country music in the late 1990s and early 2000s, chances are you remember Andy Griggs.
The Louisiana-born country singer broke onto the scene with his debut single, “You Won’t Ever Be Lonely,” which became a major hit in 1999.
The song climbed to No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and remained there as one of the biggest country hits of the year. It also reached No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Griggs, who was born August 13, 1973, in West Monroe, Louisiana, turns 53 in 2026.
His success didn’t stop with his debut.
In 2000, Griggs followed “You Won’t Ever Be Lonely” with another No. 2 country hit, “She’s More.” The song spent five consecutive weeks at No. 2 on the country chart and became his second Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 37.
Both songs appeared on Griggs’ debut album, You Won’t Ever Be Lonely, which was released in 1999. The album went gold and produced three Top 10 country singles, including “I’ll Go Crazy,” which peaked at No. 10.
The album’s success helped establish Griggs as one of country music’s notable new voices at the turn of the millennium. He had already been playing music for years before landing his RCA Nashville record deal, eventually moving to Nashville in 1995.
Music also played an important role in Griggs’ life from an early age. According to the Grand Ole Opry, his father died from a brain tumor when Griggs was 11, and his older brother Mason, who had been a major musical influence on him, died from heart complications at 21.
After his breakout debut, Griggs continued to release music and score hits. His 2002 single “Tonight I Wanna Be Your Man” reached No. 7 on the country chart, while “She Thinks She Needs Me” and “If Heaven” both reached No. 5 in 2004 and 2005, respectively.
But for many country fans, those first two No. 2 hits remain the songs that immediately bring back the era.
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