Jake Owen did not grow up with dreams of becoming a country music star. Instead, he thought he would become a professional golfer. He started winning tournaments in the sport when he was just 15. But an injury to his shoulder changed the course of his life when it ruled out playing golf for a living. Jake dealt with this disappointment by picking up a guitar. In the process, he discovered that he had an equally abundant talent for writing songs and...

Charlie Puth did not grow up dreaming of being a pop star. Instead, he wanted to do what he loved most: write music. This young man who learned to play the piano at the age of four, had a clear talent for writing and composing, which led him to study jazz and classical music during his school years. He later earned a degree in music production and engineering. After graduating from the Berklee School of Music, he thought he would make his living helping...

Some people might say that uploading videos of cover songs to social media sites is a waste of time. After all, what are the chances that a person could become famous this way? Just ask Shawn Mendes. After posting his versions of different songs to Vine in 2013, he was discovered. A short time later, the young singer and guitarist signed a record deal with Island Records. He now has two full-length albums under his belt, along with an EP that shot...

Eric Church rarely does anything people expect from him. When he was offered a record deal at just 16, he turned it down. Instead of pursuing his musical career at 18, he went to college and earned himself a degree in marketing. And when he landed a gig opening for a famous country music band, he played so long each night that he got himself and his own band fired. Perhaps being different is what makes this country music star stand out from the rest....

The English called him Charles I. The Germans referred to him as Karl der Grosse. In Latin he was known as Carolus Magnus. Today he is best known by his French name-Charlemagne. It means Charles the Great, which is no surprise, for this Frankish king went down in history as the ruler who united the European continent. Charlemagne's passion for Christianity along with his skill as a military leader set him apart from the other leaders of his era. By...

British superstar Harry Styles rocketed to fame around the world as a member of the pop music group One Direction. The band had formed in 2010 while its members were competing on the televised talent competition The X Factor. After ruling the pop music charts for several years and selling out nearly every concert they played, the group decided to call it quits in 2015. But Harry was far from done with the music business. He wanted to pursue a rock...

The name Cleopatra instantly brings to mind an image of a beautiful, raven-haired woman- the Queen of the Nile. This most famous ruler of Egypt was actually the sixth ruler with that name. Known in history for her boldness, Cleopatra was just seventeen years old when she took the throne. Her youth did not stop her from becoming one of the most powerful rulers her country had ever seen. Cleopatra joined forces with two of Rome's most powerful leaders,...

The story has been told for centuries-yet it remains one of the most exciting tales in history. The chivalrous King Arthur, his beautiful Queen Guinevere, and the brave knight Lancelot. Even the characters themselves seem too incredible to be real . . . So were they? Did a real king named Arthur ever actually exist? And if so, did he fight with a magical sword named Excalibur or lose his beloved lady to his most trusted friend and protector? Like...

Juan Felipe Herrera had an unusual childhood traveling with his migrant parents from one farm to another. They did not speak much English, but they taught him much about the world around him. For this family it was a world that spanned two countries, Mexico and the United States. Young Juan learned early that his life had a lot in common with great literature. He loved stories from the time his mother first told them to him. Read more about Juan Felipe...