John Michael Montgomery

John Michael Montgomery (born January 20, 1965, in Danville, Kentucky) is an American country music artist. He has produced more than thirty singles on the Billboard country charts, including two of Billboard ^{Billboard (magazine)} ’s Number One country singles of the year: "I Swear" (1994) and "Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)" (1995). Besides these two songs, five more of Montgomery's singles have reached the top of the country charts: "I Love the Way You Love Me", "Be My Baby Tonight", "If You've Got Love", "I Can Love You Like That", and "The Little Girl", while thirteen more have reached Top Ten. Montgomery's recordings of "I Swear" and "I Can Love You Like That" were both released concurrently with R&B versions by the group All-4-One. Montgomery has also released eleven studio albums, counting a Christmas album. The most recent, Time Flies ^{Time Flies (John Michael Montgomery album)} , was released on his own Stringtown label in late 2008.

  Born Jan. 20, 1965, in Danville, Kentucky and raised and lived in Garrard County, Kentucky, Montgomery received musical encouragement from his father, who performed in a local country band and taught his son his first chords. John Michael joined the family band (which also included his brother, Eddie Montgomery, who would later join Troy Gentry in the duo Montgomery Gentry) as guitarist before taking the lead singing role when his parents divorced. Afterwards, he made a frugal living on the local honky-tonk scene as a solo artist playing what he referred to as "working man's country." Eventually, Atlantic Records signed him.
Life's a Dance

John Michael Montgomery arrived on the country music scene in 1992 with a debut album, Life's a Dance, that became the only million-seller on the country charts by a new artist that year. Its title track ^{Life's a Dance (song)} was a #4 hit single and was followed by his first country chart-topper, "I Love the Way You Love Me" (also a #60 pop hit), and Life's a Dance earned triple-platinum RIAA certification.


Kickin' It Up

Montgomery's second album was 1994's Kickin' It Up.

At 2:20 a.m. on February 16, 2006, Montgomery was arrested at an intersection in Lexington, Kentucky for driving under the influence and possession of a controlled substance, which was identified as Endocet by the Lexington Herald-Leader. Police also found two loaded handguns in Montgomery's vehicle. Montgomery was charged with a count of a prescription drug not in its proper container, two counts of carrying a concealed deadly weapon, disregarding a traffic control device and performing an improper turn.

Montgomery's lawyer, Jon Woodall, has claimed that Montgomery is a hunter, and holds a concealed weapon permit, though Montgomery did not have the license with him at the time of arrest. Woodall also stated that the prescription was filled by Montgomery's physicians after Montgomery's recent hip replacement surgery .He has since been found not guilty of all charges. Montgomery pleaded no-contest to the charge of DUI, stating that he did not admit guilt, but the state had enough evidence to convict him.

On May 9, 2008, Montgomery announced he was in rehab for an undisclosed substance abuse problem. Although not released at the time he sought rehab at a drug treatment facility in Hazard, KY. The addiction was cited to severe anxiety attacks and a sleep disorder.


Time Flies

In late 2008, Montgomery founded his own label, Stringtown Records. That year, he released his next album, Time Flies ^{Time Flies (John Michael Montgomery album)} . This album produced three singles: "Mad Cowboy Disease", "If You Ever Went Away", and "Forever." Although the first two both failed to chart, "Forever" peaked at #28 on the country charts, representing his first chart entry in over four years. He also sang duet vocals on the title track to Colt Ford's debut album Ride Through the Country.