Until the current idol Kenny C., showed up, Tim was the King of the so-called 'hat acts', marginally talented country-pop singers who owed all of their luck, fame and fortune to their record company's promotion department, which more likely than not employed some form of payola, but in any case invested big moola in these carefully selected boys. Nothing organic or natural in that. And yes, the focus groups decided the stars must wear cowboy hats! McGraw, not his real name, ain't no Vince Gill, and he ain't no Randy Travis, that's fer shore!
Despite his lovely wife (and their 2 - 3 daughters), Timmy lost a lot of his (very) little country appeal when he did Elton John's 'Tiny Dancer' - just look at him in his 'T-, leather pants and hat - he'd fit right in with Elton and Hollyweird-Wyoming sheep herder crowd!