Singer-songwriter and actor James Travis Tritt was born February 9, 1963 in Marietta, Georgia to James and Gwen Tritt. He has a sister named Sheilah and stands 5'10". Travis comes from a prominent Marietta family which formerly owned much of northeastern Cobb County, Georgia.

Travis has been married three times. First to Karen Ryan from 1982 to 1984 when he was just 21. He then married Jodi Barnett who was 12 years his senior. They were married from 1984 until 1989. His current wife is Theresa Sue Nelson whom he married on April 12, 1997. She is the mother of his three children, daughter Tyler Reese, born February 18, 1998; and sons Tristan James born June 16, 1999 and Tarian Nathaniel, born November 25, 2003.

Travis has earned a slew of awards in his career, starting with Billboard’s Top New Artist in 1990; Country Music Association Horizon Award in 1991; Grammy Awards for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals, in 1993 for “The Whiskey Ain’t Workin'” with Marty Stuart, and in 1999 for “Same Old Train” with Clint Black and friends; and Country Music Association Award for Vocal Event of the Year in 1992 for “This One’s Gonna Hurt You” with Marty Stuart, in 1993 for “I Don’t Need Your Rockin' Chair” with George Jones, and in 1996 for “Honky Tonkin’s What I Do Best” with Marty Stuart.

Other songs Travis is known for are “Country Club” and “Help Me Hold On”.