In 1993, there was a moment when Garth Brooks almost decided not to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl. This incident ended up changing the expectations for future Super Bowl performers.
Brooks is not the sole country artist who has been chosen to perform the national anthem. Charley Pride, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood have also been given this opportunity in the past. However, Brooks' alleged decision to boycott the show at the last minute led to a change in policy, which has now become an integral part of the institution.
In Don Weiss' book, The Making of the Super Bowl: The Inside Story of the World's Greatest Sporting Event, it is mentioned that Brooks had planned to show his music video for "We Shall Be Free" during the broadcast on January 31, 1993. This song was written as a response to the riots in Los Angeles that occurred after the Rodney King verdict in 1992. The video included footage of the KKK, riots, wars, and incidents of burning crosses and flags. However, the network considered the video too controversial and Brooks apparently left the stadium just 45 minutes before the kickoff.
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The network requested Brooks to pre-record his performance, but he refused, causing producers to search for a last-minute replacement. Jon Bon Jovi was present at the game and was kept on standby while producers debated with Brooks. Eventually, Brooks was successful in his request, resulting in the biggest sports event in America being delayed for the first time ever to showcase his video. Brooks appeared on the field with a mullet and a full mustache and beard, resembling Cyrus. He was accompanied by Marlee Matlin, an Academy Award-winning actress who is hearing impaired, who provided sign language interpretation during his performance.
After Brooks' departure, the NFL has implemented a new rule that mandates all Super Bowl performances of the national anthem to be prerecorded. This information was shared by Ricky Minor, the former Music Director of the Super Bowl.
According to him, that is the correct approach. He believes that there are numerous factors that could go wrong during a live performance. Therefore, he strongly advises against any artist going live, as even the smallest technical issue could greatly impact the overall performance.
Here are 15 country artists who are ready to take the stage as headliners for a Super Bowl halftime show. The gallery credit goes
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