Provides the latest news and articles on country songwriter Sandy Mahl. Sandy Mahl was the first wife of Garth Brooks and two met back when he was known by his birth name, Troyal Garth Brooks. Their love story began when Brooks worked as a part-time bouncer at an Oklahoma bar—and she punched a hole in the bar wall and was involved in a incident at Garth’s bar. Garth later drove her home after the bar incident and the rest is history. Brooks married Sandy Mahl as his Oklahoma State University–Stillwater college sweetheart on May 24, 1986. Sandy is also a songwriter and helped pen “I’ve Got a Good Thing Going” from Garth Brooks’ first album and the 1993 hit “That Summer”. Sandy Mahl became a well known songwriter and help pen many of Garth Brooks tunes. The former couple have three young adult daughters together—Taylor, August, and Allie. (August gave birth to first grandchild, Karalynn, in July 2013.) Brooks and Mahl parted ways in early 1999 and the divorce became final on December 17, 2001 after 15 years of marriage. Mahl has never remarried after divorcing Brooks in 2001.