Montgomery Gentry
This Kentucky-born duo fused Southern rock grit with country storytelling, giving voice to blue-collar pride and party anthems for a generation.
1967–2017 (age 50)·American country music duo·Birthday: April 5·Generation X
Biography
Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry didn't just form a band; they bottled the spirit of Friday night in a small town. Both natives of Kentucky, they cut their teeth in separate groups before joining forces in 1999, creating a sound that was less Nashville polish and more Lynyrd Skynyrd swagger. Their music spoke directly to the working man, celebrating rough edges, hard luck, and the simple joys of backroads and cold beer. Hits like "My Town" and "Something to Be Proud Of" became anthems of identity, while their energetic, no-frills live shows cemented a deep connection with fans. The duo's partnership ended tragically with Gentry's death in a helicopter crash in 2017, but their catalog remains a defining pillar of the rowdy, rock-infused country that dominated the 2000s.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Montgomery was born in 1967, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Montgomery Was Born
The biggest hits of 1967
#1 Movie
The Jungle Book
Best Picture
In the Heat of the Night
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Montgomery's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1967Born
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1972Started school
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1980Became a teenager
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1983Could drive
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1985Could vote
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Turned 21
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1997Turned 30
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 40
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 50
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
Key Achievements
- Achieved 20 Top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, including five number-one hits.
- Inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2015, honoring their deep roots in the state.
- Their 1999 debut album "Tattoos & Scars" was certified platinum, launching their major-label career.
- Won the CMA Award for Vocal Duo of the Year in 2000, a breakthrough recognition early in their career.
Did You Know?
Troy Gentry's middle name was "Von," leading to his occasional nickname "The G-Force."
Before teaming up, Eddie Montgomery was a member of his brother John Michael Montgomery's band.
The duo's final single together was "Better Me," released posthumously in 2018.
They were known for their philanthropic work, particularly supporting the U.S. military and veterans.
“"We're not here for a long time, we're here for a good time."”
