Rhett Miller

Stewart Ransom “Rhett” Miller II was born on September 6, 1970, in Austin, Texas. He is a seventh-generation Texan. Miller started taking guitar lessons at age 12 and began writing songs at 13. During his high school years at St. Mark’s School of Texas, he played in bands and performed as a local folk artist, opening for nationally touring acts such as Rosanne Cash and Chris Isaak. He released his first album, “Mythologies,” in 1989 while still in high school, with a limited run of 1,000 signed and numbered copies.

In 1990, after attending Sarah Lawrence College briefly, Miller returned to Dallas and co-founded Sleepy Heroes with childhood friend Murry Hammond, releasing the album “Under a Radio Sun.” In 1993, Miller and Hammond formed Old 97’s, initially an acoustic trio, which later evolved into a four-piece band. Their debut album, “Hitchhike To Rhome,” was released in 1993, followed by “Wreck Your Life” on Bloodshot Records. The band gained significant attention after a sold-out SXSW showcase in 1995, leading to a multi-album deal with Elektra Records. Their Elektra releases included “Too Far To Care” (1997), “Fight Songs,” and “Satellite Rides.”

Miller has also maintained a prolific solo career, releasing his first solo album, “The Instigator,” on Elektra Records in 2002. This album, produced by Jon Brion, received critical acclaim and alternative radio airplay. Subsequent solo albums include “The Believer” (2006) on Verve Forecast, a self-titled album (2009) on Shout! Factory, “The Dreamer” (2012) released independently, “The Traveler” (2015) on ATO Records, “The Messenger” (2018), “The Misfit” (2022), and “A Lifetime of Riding by Night” (2025), all on ATO Records. His writing contributions have appeared in various publications, including Rolling Stone, The Atlantic, and Sports Illustrated.