Meet the Little Big Town members: Names, roles, and fun facts about the band
Little Big Town members Kimberly Schlapman, Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook and Phillip Sweet have sung together since 1998. Speaking with Cincinnati Enquirer's David Wysong in 2025, Schlapman shared the secret that has kept the group together for over two decades, saying:
We constantly strive to evolve musically and make our work fresh and new. But above and beyond, we really enjoy performing together.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- All four members of Little Big Town alternate as lead vocalists because their musical style heavily relies on four-part vocal harmonies.
- Their debut album, Little Big Town, was released in 2002 on Monument Records.
- The group has won three Grammy Awards and produced countless hits, including Girl Crush.
- Bandmates Westbrook and Fairchild have been married since 2006.
Little Big Town's background information
| Origin | Nashville, Tennessee, USA |
| Genres | Country |
| Years active | 1998-present |
| Labels | Mercury Nashville, Monument, Equity, Capitol Nashville |
| Media | InstagramTikTokWebsite |
Little Big Town has had the same four members since its founding
Kimberly Schlapman and Karen Fairchild met in 1987 while singing in Samford University's vocal ensembles. In the mid-'90s, the latter joined the Truth group and was featured as the lead singer in a few of their tracks.
Later, Karen and Kimberly independently moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue solo music careers, but formed a group. Jimi joined the duo in 1998, followed by Sweet.
Karen Fairchild
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Karen Renee Fairchild
- Date of birth: 28 September 1969
- Age: 55 years old (As of 16 September 2025)
- Birthplace: Gary, Indiana, USA
- Social media: Instagram
Karen's parents are Butch and Brenda. He is from Oneida, Tennessee, while she is a native of Geraldine, Alabama. The high school sweethearts have two other children: daughter Kelley and son Kent. Fairchild is an alumna of Lassiter High School.
When Schlapman and Karen first met, they bonded over their Georgia heritage. They would sing together each summer at the Methodist Conference Centre in North Carolina. The pair formed a mixed-gender group in 1998, about three years after reuniting in Nashville.
Kimberly Schlapman
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Kimberly Bramlett Schlapman
- Date of birth: 15 October 1969
- Age: 55 years old (As of 16 September 2025)
- Birthplace: Toccoa, Georgia, USA
- Social media: Instagram
Kimberly was born into a musical family. Her mom, Barbara, played the organ at their church, while her dad, Tolbert, sang and played multiple instruments.
He worked for a telephone company while she was a schoolteacher. Schlapman began taking piano lessons at 8 and dreamed of a music career at 12.
She recorded a solo album in 1992. Three years later, Kimberly relocated to Nashville and started working as a waitress before reuniting with Karen. Beyond being a musician, she is the author of a kids' book (A Dolly for Christmas) and a cookbook (Oh Gussie!).
Source: Getty Images
What happened to Kimberly's husband?
Kimberly married her college sweetheart, Steven Roads, in 1990. They struggled with infertility due to the singer's endometriosis diagnosis. In 2005, at 41, Roads passed away due to a heart attack while Little Big Town was touring.
In November 2006, Kimberly married the group's ex-stage manager, Stephen Schlapman. This was six months after their elopement in Las Vegas. They welcomed their daughter Daisy Pearl in 2007 and adopted Dolly Grace in 2016.
Jimi Westbrook
Source: Getty Images
- Date of birth: 20 October 1971
- Age: 53 years old (As of 16 September 2025)
- Birthplace: Arkansas, USA
- Social media: Instagram
Jimi was born in Jacksonville and raised in Sumiton, Alabama. He is the youngest of five siblings. Westbrook married Karen in May 2006, four years after her divorce from Mark Childers. The couple welcomed their son, Elijah Dylan Westbrook, in March 2010.
According to Jimi's IMDb profile, he is also an actor and writer known for Conan (2010), Forever My Girl (2018) and Monarch (2022).
Phillip Sweet
Source: Getty Images
- Date of birth: 18 March 1974
- Age: 51 years old (As of 16 September 2025)
- Birthplace: Pocahontas, Arkansas, USA
- Social media: Instagram
Phillip grew up in Cherokee Village, Arkansas. He attended the First Baptist Church of Hardy and graduated from Highland High School in 1992.
After a divorce, Sweet met Rebecca Arthur, an intern at the band's record label. They married in March 2007 and welcomed a daughter, Penelopi Jane, in December 2007.
FAQs
Little Big Town has collaborated with several prominent artists, including Kelsea Ballerini and Miranda Lambert, and opened for A-lister Carrie Underwood. Below are some frequently asked questions about the band.
Did Taylor Swift write for Little Big Town?
Singer Taylor Swift wrote Better Man for her album but sent it to the band instead because she felt it would suit their four-part harmonies. It is the lead single on their 2016 album The Breaker.
Who is opening for Little Big Town in 2025?
The group's Summer Tour '25 opening acts include performances by Ashley McBryde, Wynonna Judd, Russell Dickerson and Carly Pearce. Select dates feature support from Shelby Lynne and Carter Faith.
Wrapping up
Little Big Town members Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook, Karen Fairchild and Phillip Sweet formed the band in 1998. Some of their greatest hits include Boondocks, Tornado and Day Drinking. The group has won four CMT Music Awards.
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Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
