Marty Stuart Star Stats

Birthdate: September 30, 1958

Birthplace: Philadelphia, Mississippi

Hair: black

How he styles hair: "You set it, get in a fast car with the windows down and then spray it with Aqua Net. Just stay away from open flames."

Eyes: Hazel

Height: 5'7"

Marital status: single; ex-wife Cindy Cash, daughter of Johnny Cash

Parents: John and Hilda Stuart

Sibling: sister Jennifer

Pet: Oscar Lee Perkins, a bloodhound whose names come from the team of Lonzo & Oscar; rock and country legend Jerry Lee Lewis and guitarist Luther Perkins

First guitar: age 9

Instruments: guitar mandolin

Guitar hero: Clarence White of the Byrds

Signature guitar: The Marty Stuart guitar: a CF Martin HD-40MS

First band: The Sullivan Family singers, a gospel-bluegrass group

Big break: joining bluegrass legend Lester Flatt's band at the age of 13

Backup band: The Rock 'n' Roll Cowboys

Current label: MCA

Debut performance on the Grand Ole Opry: age 13, in September 1972

Grand Ole Opry: joined 1992

Country Music Association Awards: 1992 Vocal Event of the Year (with Travis Tritt)

Grammys: 1993 Best Country Instrumental Performance; 1992 Best country Vocal Collaboration (with Travis Tritt)

Hobbies: photography; collecting autographs and country memorabilia

First autograph collected: Minnie Pearl

Current Favorite Charity: Oglala Lakota College District Learning Center Fund in South Dakota

Favorite performer: Johnny Cash

Favorite movie: The Last Picture Show

Favorite foods: fried chicken, sushi, East Indian cuisine, fajitas

Favorite color: black

Favorite love song: "High On A Mountain Top:

Top 10 Billboard country singles:

Hillbilly Rock (No. 8, 1990)
Little Things (No. 8, 1990)
Tempted (No. 5, 1991)
The Whiskey Ain't Workin' (No. 2, 1991)
Burn Me Down (No. 7, 1992)
This One's Gonna Hurt You (For A Long, Long Time) (No. 7, 1992)

Other duties: International Ambassador of Tourism for Nashville

Turnin' into a 'toon: Marty and his dog Oscar were featured in a Marvel Comics comic book called Marty Party In Space

About his flashy style: "Nudie, the old western tailor to the country music legends, once told me, 'it's better to be looked over than to be overlooked'."

Compiled by Cynthia E. Rigg