Sara Lynn Evans was born in Boonville, Missouri in 1971, and is of English and Irish descent. She was raised on a farm, and was the eldest girl of seven children. Music was a part of her life at an early age; by five she was singing every weekend in her family's band. At age eight, she was struck by an automobile in front of the family home, and both her legs suffered multiple fractures. Recuperating for months in a wheelchair, she continued singing to help pay her medical bills. When she was 16, she began performing at a nightclub near Columbia, Missouri, a gig that lasted two years.

In 1997, Evans released her first album under RCA, Three Chords and the Truth. Critics praised the album for returning to traditional country and included it in many of their year's "top 10" lists. The album included a cover version of older Country song, Patsy Cline's "Imagine That", which originally reached #21 for Cline on the country charts in 1962. However, the album did not catch on with country radio at the time, and none of the three singles made the top 40. It would be another year before Evans gained full popularity. In 1998 Evans released her second album, No Place That Far. She still remained a critic's darling, despite her new pop/country sound. Her first single, "Cryin' Game", hardly made a ripple on the charts, peaking outside country's Top 40. However, it was her next single, "No Place That Far", a duet with Vince Gill that brought Evans massive success, reaching #1 on the country charts, as well reaching the Billboard Hot 100 Top 40, Evans' first major hit. Because of the success the album gained, Evans' album was certified Gold by the RIAA that year.

In September 2006, Evans began competing with other celebrities on the third season of ABC's Dancing with the Stars with (professional) partner Tony Dovolani. Evans launched a new fan web site to provide behind-the-scenes material from her participation on the program. Evans was the first country music singer to ever participate in the show. However, then had to leave the show in October, originally citing personal reasons. However, it was later discovered Evans left due to a divorce.

On October 9, 2007, Evans released her first Greatest Hits collection. The compilation features four new songs, one of which has already been released to radio, "As If." The song was a big hit peaking at #11. The second single, "Some Things Never Change", was released in early 2008 and peaked at #26 on the Billboard Country Chart. A third single, "Love You with All My Heart", is set for release to country radio on June 23, 2008. She released the gift book "You'll Always Be My Baby" (based on her song). It was written by Evans, Tony Martin and Tom Shapiro. On 7th of November, 2007 Evans hosted with LeAnn Rimes the 41st annual CMA Awards show. From February 13-18, 2008, Evans held a tornado relief online auction. She sold items connected to the video for her song "As If". Nearly $2,729 was raised. Proceeds benefitted the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.