Active since 1980, he has recorded 14 albums and released 25 singles to date, including his highest entry, the number 10 chart hit on the U.S.

He is the son of William Pearce and Bernell Louise (née Klein) Lovett, a marketing executive and training specialist, respectively.

[12] An American singer, Buffalo Wayne, whom he had met in 1978 during a college trip to Germany, invited Lovett to play with him at the 1983 Schueberfouer in Luxembourg.

The experience opened his eyes to what his songs could sound like with proper backing; Lovett had never sung with a band before.

[13] Sloan and band member Billy Williams offered Lovett a deal on studio time, first day free.

Some of the Rogues players including Herndon, Matt McKenzie, Rollings, and Williams played in Lovett's band.

[18][19] In 2022, reliving his Phoenix connection he said,It led to a demo tape, an album and now, this rolling Thanksgiving tour...

[20] Lovett acted in a number of films, notably four for director Robert Altman: The Player (1992), Short Cuts (1993), Prêt-à-Porter (1994), and Cookie's Fortune (1999).

Some of his other film roles include Bastard Out Of Carolina (1996), The New Guy (2002), Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007), and a humorous role in Angels Sing, a family Christmas movie (alongside fellow actors and musicians such as Harry Connick, Jr., Connie Britton, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson).

In the studio and on stage with his giant orchestra, he's spent two decades gracefully matching genuine songcraft with A-list musicianship".

In 2010, Lovett appeared on an episode of Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... that also featured John Prine and Ray LaMontagne.

[26][27] On March 28, 2002, Lovett was trapped by a bull against a fence on his uncle's farm in Klein, Texas, before being pulled to safety.

Lovett was given an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by the University of Houston on May 15, 2010, at its general commencement ceremony.

[28][29] His mother was in the audience as her son was presented with an honorary doctorate from the same university from which she had received her bachelor's degree in 1960.