Music Metrics Vault

John Michael Montgomery

Data updated on 2024-12-01 19:05:04 UTC
Part of the '90s wave of honky tonk hitmakers that brought country to new commercial heights, John Michael Montgomery made his name primarily as a romantic balladeer. Yet despite his sometime adult contemporary leanings, his vocal style remained solidly grounded in country tradition. Montgomery was born in 1965 in Danville, KY, near Lexington and learned guitar from his father, a local musician. He first performed in public at age five with his father's band, which also featured his mother on drums. By 15, he was performing regularly on the local scene and at 17 became the lead singer of a group with his father and brother after his parents divorced. Following high school, he played around the local honky tonk circuit and was discovered at a favorite venue in Lexington, which led to a contract with Atlantic in 1991.

Montgomery issued his debut album in 1992, titling it after the lead single, "Life's a Dance." The song rocketed into the Top Five, and its follow-up, "I Love the Way You Love Me," went all the way to number one, helping the album climb into the country Top Five. That set the stage for 1994's Kickin' It Up, a bona fide, multi-platinum blockbuster that topped both the country and pop charts and made Montgomery a star. Three number one country hits -- "I Swear," "Be My Baby Tonight," and "If You've Got Love" -- sprang from the album as well as another Top Five hit, "Rope the Moon." A self-titled 1995 follow-up also topped the country charts and kept Montgomery's hit streak alive with the number one smashes "Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)" and "I Can Love You Like That," plus more Top Fivers in "No Man's Land," "Cowboy Love," and "Long as I Live." Late in 1995, Montgomery was forced to take time off for surgery to repair his vocal cords.

Montgomery recovered in time to put out What I Do the Best in 1996. "Friends" and "How Was I to Know" both hit number two, and "I Miss You a Little" was also a Top Ten hit. A Greatest Hits compilation was released in 1997, and Montgomery returned in 1998 with Leave a Mark, which found him continuing to move into more polished territory. "Cover You in Kisses" and "Hold on to Me" were the Top Five hits this time out. Things got even smoother on the very adult contemporary-styled Home to You, which appeared in 1999 and whose title cut reached number two on the country charts. Still, Montgomery's crossover-friendly approach was beginning to affect his sales in the country marketplace. 2000's Brand New Me featured a higher percentage of up-tempo tracks, and it peaked at number two on the country charts; plus, his duet with Alison Krauss, "The Little Girl," gave him another number one hit. His next album, 2002's Pictures, was an attempt to move into more mature, adult territory, while 2003 saw a holiday album, Mr. Snowman, appear. Letters from Home arrived in 2004. Montgomery moved to Stringtown Records and released Time Flies in 2008.. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi

Total plays

637.5 million
Updated on 2024-12-01

Country

United States

Monthly listeners

2,558,311

Followers

1,080,796

Top Cities

  1. United States
    50,764 listeners
  2. United States
    38,240 listeners
  3. United States
    43,622 listeners
  4. United States
    41,776 listeners
  5. United States
    33,908 listeners

Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)
Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)
212,161,114 2:34 1995-03-17
Life's a Dance - 2011 Remaster
Life's a Dance - 2011 Remaster
93,361,197 3:10 2003-08-26
I Swear
I Swear
66,977,147 4:29 1994-01-01
Be My Baby Tonight
Be My Baby Tonight
59,018,427 2:52 1994-01-14
Letters from Home
Letters from Home
51,232,293 4:28 2004-02-24
I Can Love You Like That
I Can Love You Like That
47,328,574 3:54 1995-03-17
I Love the Way You Love Me
I Love the Way You Love Me
31,486,196 4:03 2002-01-01
The Little Girl
The Little Girl
16,411,189 3:51 2000-09-26
Ride Through the Country (feat. John Michael Montgomery)
Ride Through the Country (feat. John Michael Montgomery)
15,187,915 4:30 2008-01-01
Rope the Moon
Rope the Moon
5,727,775 4:08 1994-01-14
Hold On to Me
Hold On to Me
3,500,251 4:11 1998-04-24
Home to You
Home to You
2,846,845 3:29 1999-05-14
Cover You In Kisses
Cover You In Kisses
2,217,998 3:57 1998-04-24
Friends
Friends
1,620,802 3:54 1996-09-06
Long as I Live
Long as I Live
1,483,606 4:16 1995-03-17
Cowboy Love
Cowboy Love
1,383,717 3:14 1995-03-17
Beer and Bones
Beer and Bones
1,284,232 3:39 2006-10-06
I Miss You a Little
I Miss You a Little
1,185,018 4:13 1996-09-06
If You've Got Love
If You've Got Love
1,169,020 3:56 1994-01-14
Heaven Sent Me You
Heaven Sent Me You
1,010,764 3:38 1995-03-17
No Man's Land
No Man's Land
962,642 3:04 1995-03-17
Forever
Forever
932,418 4:43 2008-10-14
Be My Baby Tonight - 2003 Remaster
Be My Baby Tonight - 2003 Remaster
878,868 2:53 2003-08-26
Ride Through the Country (feat. John Michael Montgomery, Ronnie Dunn & Joe Diffie)
Ride Through the Country (feat. John Michael Montgomery, Ronnie Dunn & Joe Diffie)
850,922 5:12 2008-01-01
Dream on Texas Ladies
Dream on Texas Ladies
785,287 3:10 1994-01-01
Dream On Texas Ladies
Dream On Texas Ladies
785,287 3:10 1994-05-20
High School Heart
High School Heart
616,906 3:15 1995-03-17
How Was I to Know
How Was I to Know
537,955 4:16 1996-09-06
Four Wheel Drive
Four Wheel Drive
531,229 2:36 2002-10-08
Let's Get Lost
Let's Get Lost
510,843 3:13 2008-10-14
Angel In My Eyes
Angel In My Eyes
461,865 3:31 2009-10-06
Look at Me Now
Look at Me Now
443,686 3:22 2004-04-20
Goes Good with Beer
Goes Good with Beer
422,806 4:27 2004-04-20
That's What I'm Talking About
That's What I'm Talking About
389,153 3:25 2004-04-20
Oh How She Shines
Oh How She Shines
385,250 3:16 1994-01-14
That Changes Everything
That Changes Everything
365,644 3:58 2004-04-20
Holdin' On to Something
Holdin' On to Something
332,345 2:59 1995-03-17
Good Ground
Good Ground
331,915 4:10 2004-04-20
I Swear (Duet with John Michael Montgomery)
I Swear (Duet with John Michael Montgomery)
323,138 4:12 2015-07-24
Mad Cowboy Disease
Mad Cowboy Disease
316,724 3:31 2008-05-13
Cool
Cool
315,296 3:38 2004-04-20
Friday at Five
Friday at Five
301,126 3:05 1994-01-14
Holding an Amazing Love
Holding an Amazing Love
298,701 2:47 1999-05-14
Kick It Up
Kick It Up
296,674 3:18 1994-01-14
Full Time Love
Full Time Love
291,264 2:54 1994-01-14
Break This Chain
Break This Chain
287,985 2:53 2004-04-20
Hello L-O-V-E
Hello L-O-V-E
285,924 2:27 1999-05-14
It's What I Am
It's What I Am
272,536 2:59 1995-03-17
If You Ever Went Away
If You Ever Went Away
263,817 3:55 2008-06-24
Even Then
Even Then
242,659 3:50 2000-09-26
Little Devil
Little Devil
241,600 3:48 2004-04-20
It Rocked
It Rocked
241,455 3:51 2004-04-20
All In My Heart
All In My Heart
234,857 3:47 1994-01-14
Pictures
Pictures
231,169 4:05 2002-10-08
Just Like a Rodeo
Just Like a Rodeo
212,315 3:10 1995-03-17
'Til Nothing Comes Between Us
'Til Nothing Comes Between Us
198,754 4:43 2002-10-08
What Did I Do
What Did I Do
190,346 3:20 2008-10-14
Loving And Letting Go
Loving And Letting Go
187,800 5:22 2008-10-14
Drunkard's Prayer
Drunkard's Prayer
186,086 4:08 2008-10-14
She Don't Need a Band to Dance
She Don't Need a Band to Dance
183,013 3:22 1994-01-14
Life's a Dance - Dance Mix
Life's a Dance - Dance Mix
174,707 4:35 2019-04-19
All In A Day
All In A Day
161,112 3:48 2008-10-14
A Few Cents Short
A Few Cents Short
145,898 3:25 1996-09-06
This One's Gonna Leave a Mark
This One's Gonna Leave a Mark
142,342 3:50 1998-04-24
Brothers 'Til The End
Brothers 'Til The End
142,175 4:14 2008-10-14
Ain't Got Nothing On Us
Ain't Got Nothing On Us
139,089 2:48 1996-09-06
Weekend Superstar
Weekend Superstar
133,514 2:32 2000-09-26
I Don't Want This Song to End
I Don't Want This Song to End
129,744 4:46 1998-04-24
I Never Stopped Lovin' You
I Never Stopped Lovin' You
122,327 4:01 1998-04-24
Cloud 8
Cloud 8
120,956 3:49 1996-09-06
With My Shirt On
With My Shirt On
118,709 3:37 2008-10-14
I Wanna Be There
I Wanna Be There
115,531 3:30 2002-10-08
That's What I Like About You
That's What I Like About You
114,206 3:05 2000-09-26
Brotherly Love
Brotherly Love
108,145 3:14 2024-11-01
Fly On
Fly On
107,563 4:21 2008-10-14
Country Thang
Country Thang
106,910 3:26 2002-10-08
A Great Memory
A Great Memory
101,372 3:24 2020-09-10
Everytime I Fall (It Breaks Her Heart)
Everytime I Fall (It Breaks Her Heart)
96,098 3:05 2020-09-10
Line On Love
Line On Love
91,951 2:37 2020-09-10
December 1943
December 1943
87,320 3:34 2003-10-07
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
84,438 2:19 2003-10-07
Love Working On You
Love Working On You
84,362 4:00 1998-04-24
I Couldn't Dream
I Couldn't Dream
80,311 4:27 1998-04-24
Forever
Forever
79,224 3:46 2008-09-16
Brand New Me
Brand New Me
78,686 3:36 2000-09-26
Love Changes Everything
Love Changes Everything
76,303 4:25 2002-10-08
Thanks for the G Chord
Thanks for the G Chord
73,183 4:05 2000-09-26
Believe in Me
Believe in Me
72,926 3:39 2002-10-08
White Christmas
White Christmas
68,519 3:35 2003-10-07
A Daddy's Prayer / Jesus Loves Me
A Daddy's Prayer / Jesus Loves Me
66,213 4:30 2003-10-07
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
64,535 5:00 2003-10-07
My Christmas Wish
My Christmas Wish
63,080 3:38 2003-10-07
Real Love
Real Love
62,998 3:04 2000-09-26
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
62,158 3:56 2003-10-07
That's Not Her Picture
That's Not Her Picture
61,364 3:18 2000-09-26
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
60,613 2:36 2003-10-07
Little Cowboy's Cry
Little Cowboy's Cry
60,542 4:53 1998-04-24
I Can Prove You Wrong
I Can Prove You Wrong
60,187 3:59 1996-09-06
Nothing Catches Jesus By Surprise
Nothing Catches Jesus By Surprise
59,597 3:33 1999-05-14
Bus to Birmingham
Bus to Birmingham
57,985 4:04 2000-09-26
What I Do the Best
What I Do the Best
57,631 3:18 1996-09-06
Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland
57,521 2:52 2003-10-07
You Are
You Are
57,100 3:24 1999-05-14
O Holy Night
O Holy Night
55,888 6:03 2003-10-07
Lucky Arms
Lucky Arms
54,384 2:41 1996-09-06
I Love It All
I Love It All
52,958 4:15 2000-09-26
Love and Alcohol
Love and Alcohol
52,835 3:08 2002-10-08
It Goes Like This (feat. Sixwire)
It Goes Like This (feat. Sixwire)
51,289 3:36 2002-10-08
It Gets Me Every Time
It Gets Me Every Time
50,471 3:08 1998-04-24
Love Made Me Do It
Love Made Me Do It
48,835 2:18 1999-05-14
Paint the Town Redneck
Paint the Town Redneck
47,727 2:38 1996-09-06
Got You to Thank for That
Got You to Thank for That
47,518 3:35 2002-10-08
Taking Off the Edge
Taking Off the Edge
47,348 3:17 2020-09-10
You're the Ticket
You're the Ticket
43,418 2:55 1998-04-24
Your Love Lingers On
Your Love Lingers On
41,093 3:37 1999-05-14
Sinkin' In
Sinkin' In
38,232 2:50 1999-05-14
When Your Arms Were Around
When Your Arms Were Around
36,253 4:14 1999-05-14
Love Is Our Business
Love Is Our Business
34,910 2:40 1999-05-14
Nickels and Dimes and Love
Nickels and Dimes and Love
33,949 2:55 2020-09-10
When Your Baby Ain't Around
When Your Baby Ain't Around
25,785 3:17 2020-09-10
Gone
Gone
14,841 3:05 2023-11-17

New releases

Life's a Dance: The Atlantic Albums 1992-2000
Life's a Dance: The Atlantic Albums 1992-2000
2020-09-10
[Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group]
Sold: The Atlantic Singles 1992 - 2000
Sold: The Atlantic Singles 1992 - 2000
2020-07-17
[Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group]
Life's a Dance (Dance Mix)
Life's a Dance (Dance Mix)
2019-04-19
[Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group]
Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits
2009-10-06
[Rhino/Warner Records]
Time Flies
Time Flies
2008-10-14
[Stringtown Records]
Forever
Forever
2008-09-16
[Stringtown Records]
If You Ever Went Away
If You Ever Went Away
2008-06-24
[Stringtown Records]
Mad Cowboy Disease
Mad Cowboy Disease
2008-05-13
[Stringtown Records]
Letters From Home
Letters From Home
2004-04-20
[Warner Records/Nashville]
Letters From Home
Letters From Home
2004-02-24
[Warner Records/Nashville]
Mr. Snowman
Mr. Snowman
2003-10-07
[Warner Records/Nashville]
The Very Best of John Michael Montgomery
The Very Best of John Michael Montgomery
2003-08-26
[Rhino/Warner Records]
Pictures
Pictures
2002-10-08
[Warner Records/Nashville]
Love Songs
Love Songs
2002-01-01
[Rhino/Warner Records]
Brand New Me
Brand New Me
2000-09-26
[Atlantic Nashville]
Home to You
Home to You
1999-05-14
[Atlantic Nashville]
Leave a Mark
Leave a Mark
1998-04-24
[Atlantic Nashville]
What I Do Best
What I Do Best
1996-09-06
[Atlantic Nashville]
John Michael Montgomery
John Michael Montgomery
1995-03-17
[Rhino/Warner Records]
Kickin' It Up
Kickin' It Up
1994-01-14
[Atlantic Nashville]
I Swear / Dream on Texas Ladies
I Swear / Dream on Texas Ladies
1994-01-01
[Rhino Atlantic]
I Swear / Dream on Texas Ladies
I Swear / Dream on Texas Ladies
1994-01-01
[Rhino Atlantic]