Stars and Stripes Vol. 1, despite its title, is The Beach Boys' only foray into the genre of country music. Their twenty-fifth studio album, it was released in 1996. With the genre increasing in popularity in the mid-1990s, The Beach Boys decided to place their music in a country context by having some of its stars guest on new incarnations of some of their classics.

At the time, Brian Wilson had recently remarried and in his most stable state in over two decades, he was persuaded to join the project alongside the remaining Beach Boys and co-produce the album. Although no one knew it at the time, it was the last time the band would record an album with either Brian, Carl Wilson or Al Jardine, making Stars and Stripes Vol .1, almost certainly, the last studio album by The Beach Boys.

Most of the acts rounded up were not mainstream country superstars who had crossed over into the pop market, although Toby Keith has since emerged as one. Willie Nelson was easily the most recognizable name on the album, and Timothy B. Schmit was best known for his time in The Eagles.