Steve Earle: Biography, Facts and Career
Who is Steve Earle? An evergreen, sourced profile: biography, key facts and career.

Stephen Fain Earle (; born January 17, 1955) is an American country, rock, and folk singer-songwriter. He began his career as a songwriter in Nashville. Earle's breakthrough album was his 1986 debut album Guitar Town; the eponymous lead single peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot Country chart. Since then, he has released 21 more studio albums and received three Grammy awards, each for Best Contemporary Folk Album; he has four additional nominations in the same category. "Copperhead Road" was released in 1988 and is his bestselling single; it peaked on its initial release at number 10 on the Mainstream Rock chart, and had a 21st-century resurgence reaching number 15 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, buoyed by vigorous online sales. His songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Levon Helm, The Highwaymen, Travis Tritt, Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, Shawn Colvin, Bob Seger, Percy Sledge, Dailey & Vincent, Robert Earl Keen, and Emmylou Harris. Earle has appeared in film and television, most notably as recurring characters in HBO's critically acclaimed shows The Wire and Treme. He has also written a novel, a play, and a book of short stories. Earle is the father of late singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020, and became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2025.
Quick facts about Steve Earle
- Full name: Steve Earle
- Born: 1955-01-17
- Nationality: United States
- Known as: Musician
- Wikidata ID: Q781634
Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Steve Earle?
Stephen Fain Earle (; born January 17, 1955) is an American country, rock, and folk singer-songwriter.
What nationality is Steve Earle?
Steve Earle is United States.
When was Steve Earle born?
Steve Earle was born on 1955-01-17.



