Amanda Shires graduated from Lubbock High school and enroled in the South Plains College School of Music to develop her fiddle playing, and that was where she formed the Thrift Store Cowboys with other budding musicians at the school. The Thrift Store Cowboys went on to record three critically acclaimed albums.
As a solo artist Amanda Shires has worked with Billy Joe Shaver, Gary P Nunn, The Rowan Brothers and The Texas Playboys.