Louisiana native Andy Griggs grew up listening to the sounds of Merle Haggard, but turned his head toward outlaw country and gospel by the time he reached college. After a short stint at Northeast Louisiana University, Griggs returned home in the early '90s to grieve the deaths of his father and brother. He became a minister, and settled into family life with a new marriage, but he was still playing guitar. The music was in his veins, so Griggs began writing songs. By 1997, Griggs was paving his way in Nashville.