Artists: Biography Montgomery Gentry  

Gerald Edward (Eddie) Montgomery was born Sept. 30, 1963, in Danville, Ky. Troy Gentry was born April 5, 1967, in Lexington, Ky.

Both proud Kentucky natives, Gentry and Montgomery's first joint musical effort was as part of a band

called Young Country. After two years with that band, Gentry left to try his hand at a solo career. He won the Jim Beam National Talent Contest in 1994 and earned opening slots for Patty Loveless, Tracy Byrd and John Michael Montgomery (who is Eddie's younger brother).

Without being able to turn up a solo deal, Gentry forged a duo with Montgomery, building on their rowdy fan base in the Kentucky nightclubs. They debuted in 1999 and notched a No. 5 single with "Lonely and Gone." They won the CMA vocal duo award in 2000.

In 2001, they reached No. 2 on the country charts with the single "She Couldn't Change Me," from their album, Carrying On. The following year they released My Town and racked up three more Top 5 hits ("My Town," "Speed" and "Hell Yeah"). They finally secured their first No. 1 in 2004 with "If You Ever Stop Loving Me" from You Do Your Thing; the album also included "Gone" and another No. 1 hit, "Something to Be Proud Of."

The compilation Something to Be Proud Of: The Best of 1999-2005 collected their hits. Some People Change appeared in 2006, not long after Gentry made national news by shooting and killing a tame bear that he had purchased.