If you are a fan of country music, you might have wondered if Craig Campbell and Glen Campbell are related. After all, they share the same last name and both have successful careers in the genre. However, the truth is that they are not related by blood or marriage. Here is what you need to know about the two singers and their backgrounds.
Who is Craig Campbell?
Craig Campbell is a country singer and songwriter who was born in Lyons, Georgia, in 1979. He grew up as one of five children in a blended family. His parents divorced when he was young, leaving his oldest sister—11 years his elder—to take care of the siblings while his mom worked many jobs. His mother married his stepfather when Craig was 7
Craig developed a passion for music at an early age and learned to play piano and guitar. He sang at his local church and performed at talent shows and festivals. He moved to Nashville in 2002 to pursue his dream of becoming a country star. He worked as a demo singer and a keyboardist for other artists, such as Tracy Byrd and Luke Bryan. He also played at the famous honky-tonk bar The Stage on Broadway.
In 2010, he signed a record deal with Bigger Picture Music Group and released his debut single “Family Man”, which reached the top 15 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. He followed it with two more hits, “Fish” and “When I Get It”. His self-titled debut album came out in 2011 and peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
In 2013, he released his second album, Never Regret, which spawned the top 10 hit “Keep Them Kisses Comin’”. However, his label closed down shortly after, leaving him without a record deal. He continued to release singles independently, such as “Tomorrow Tonight” and “Outskirts of Heaven”. In 2016, he signed with Red Bow Records, a division of Broken Bow Records, and released his third album, See You Try, in 2018. The album featured the singles “See You Try” and “Outskirts of Heaven”.
Craig is married to Mindy Ellis, a fellow country singer whom he met in Nashville. They have two daughters, Preslee and Kinni Rose.
Who is Glen Campbell?
Glen Campbell was an American country singer, guitarist, songwriter, and actor who was born in Billstown, Arkansas, in 1936. He was one of 12 children born to a sharecropper father and a homemaker mother. He grew up in poverty and learned to play guitar from his uncle at age four. He dropped out of school at age 14 and moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he joined his uncle’s band as a vocalist and guitarist.
He moved to Los Angeles in 1960 and became a session musician for many famous artists, such as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, The Beach Boys, and The Monkees. He was also part of the group of studio musicians known as “The Wrecking Crew”, who played on hundreds of hit records in the 1960s.
He launched his solo career in 1962 with the single “Turn Around, Look at Me”, which became a minor hit. He achieved his breakthrough in 1967 with the songs “Gentle on My Mind” and “By the Time I Get to Phoenix”, which won him four Grammy Awards in both country and pop categories. He followed it with more hits, such as “Wichita Lineman”, “Galveston”, “Rhinestone Cowboy”, and “Southern Nights”.
He also had a successful career as an actor and TV host. He starred in the film True Grit (1969) opposite John Wayne, for which he received a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Newcomer. He also sang the title song for the film, which was nominated for an Academy Award. He hosted his own variety show, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, on CBS from 1969 to 1972.
He was married four times and had eight children. His first wife was Diane Kirk, whom he married in 1955 and divorced in 1959. They had one daughter, Debby. His second wife was Billie Jean Nunley, whom he married in 1959 and divorced in 1976. They had three children: Kelli, Travis, and Kane. His third wife was Sarah Barg, whom he married in 1976 and divorced in 1980. They had one son, Dillon. His fourth wife was Kim Woollen, whom he married in 1982 until his death in 2017. They had three children: Cal, Shannon, and Ashley.
He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2011 and went on a farewell tour that year. He released his final album, Adiós, in 2017, two months before he died at age 81.
Conclusion
Craig Campbell and Glen Campbell are not related, despite sharing the same last name and being country singers. They have different backgrounds, origins, and family histories. Craig is a contemporary country artist who is still active in the music industry, while Glen was a legendary country icon who passed away in 2017. They both have made significant contributions to the genre and have many fans around the world.
