Sheryl Crow is a staple in the music industry ever since the 1990s, but her songs aren’t the only reason why her songs remain a hit today. This working single mom has undergone many hurdles and is a symbol of female strength and empowerment. She’s gone through many ups and downs, and though you might recognize her songs on the radio, here are some Sheryl Crow facts that you definitely don’t know.
1. She started off as a music teacher
After Sheryl graduated from the University of Missouri at Columbia in 1984, she became an elementary school teacher in St. Louis, teaching music to tots. She continued this position until 1986, when she moved to Los Angeles to follow her dreams.
2. An impressive net worth
Sheryl Crow’s net worth is estimated at $40 million. The rock star and multiple Grammy winner is worth quite a hefty amount!
3. The king of pop threw grapes at her
How many people can say that Michael Jackson himself pulled a prank on them? When she was touring with Jackson on the tour for Bad as a backup singer, she revealed that the star would often throw carrots or grapes over the walls of their quick-change tents, and said she heard him giggling about the joke constantly.
4. Her debut album was never released
In 1991, Sheryl was signed to A&M records. Unfortunately, even though her record was done by 1992, the rocker didn’t like how it sounded and decided the overall feel was too “slick”. As a result, she never released it. We’re dying to get our hands on this tape!
5. A struggle with sleep paralysis
In a Rolling Stone interview, this star got vulnerable, admitting that she used to fear sleeping due to sleep paralysis, a fear-inducing state where the sleeper is half dozing and half awake, feeling physically trapped but mentally awake. This disorder can even come with hallucinations — her mother had it too.
6. 31 Grammy noms
According to the internet, Sheryl Crow has won awards at the Grammys 9 times, and has been nominated a whopping 31 times. Three of her winning songs came from her 1993 debut album title “Tuesday Night Music Club.”
7. She has two adopted sons
Crow calls her adopted sons her “biggest blessing” in an interview with People back in 2017. She adopted Wyatt in 2007, and Levi in 2010. Sheryl raised her sons on a 154-acre farm in Tennessee.
8. Technology addiction
As a mom, Sheryl Crow is all about limited screen-time. She told People magazine that she doesn’t allow more than 30 minutes of it per day, and that her children don’t have televisions in their room.
9. She won her battle against breast cancer
Sheryl has been a fighter since day one — in 2006 she was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer, and underwent a lumpectomy and radiation.
10. Worldwide Hits
Sheryl Crow has sold over 17 million albums in the United States, and over 50 million albums globally.
11. A star amongst stars
Crow has performed as a backup singer for A-listers such as Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks, Don Henley, Tina Turner, and Belinda Carlisle.
12. A queen of rock and marketing
She used to make advertising jingles with producer Jay Oliver. Her first jingle was a “back to school” ad for the St Louis department store Famous-Barr, and shortly after she made ad jingles for Toyota and McDonald’s. In a segment for “60 Minutes”, Sheryl claimed that she earned $40,000 alone just from her McDonalds ad.
13. An appreciation for poetry
According to an interview in People magazine, Sheryl found an old poetry book in a used book store in Los Angeles. She used a poem in it as lyrics in her song “All I Wanna Do.”
14. A successful start
Her debut album “Tuesday Night Music Club” sold over 7 million copies in the United States and United Kingdom, and it also won her three 1995 Grammys, for Record of the Year, Best New Artist and Best Female Vocal Performance.
15. High profile relationships
Sheryl Crow and cyclist Lance Armstrong began a relationship in 2003, and eventually got engaged two years later in 2005. Then, they split up soon after, on February 3, 2006. She also dated famous rocker Eric Clapton.
16. The Moneymaker
Sheryl Crow’s first ever guitar was a 1964 Gibson Country and Western acoustic. She once said that every song of hers that’s ever made money was written on that guitar, which she nicknames “The Moneymaker.”
