Mark Chesnutt, born on 6 August 1963 in Beaumont, Texas, became one of the leading names in 1990s country music, rising alongside stars such as George Strait and Alan Jackson. His smooth baritone drew frequent comparisons to fellow East Texan George Jones, and he built a strong run of country hits during the decade, culminating in a crossover cover of Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" that became his final chart-topper.

Chesnutt began drumming as a child before his father steered him towards singing, and he left school in his junior year to pursue music, gigging in Nashville and at a Beaumont nightclub before signing to MCA in 1990. His debut album, Too Cold at Home, produced five top-ten singles including his first No. 1, "Brother Jukebox", and further success followed with Longnecks and Short Stories. As country tastes shifted late in the decade and his singles slipped down the charts, his label pushed him to record the Aerosmith ballad, which topped the country chart and reached No. 17 on the Hot 100 — his only pop crossover, though one he later said he regretted making. He remains an active performer with shows scheduled this year.