Do you recall the time when Garth Brooks came close to not singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl? It is said that Garth Brooks almost decided not to perform at the Super Bowl in 1993, and in doing so, he changed the rules for future Super Bowl performers.
Brooks is not the sole country music artist who has been chosen to perform the national anthem. Other notable stars like Charley Pride, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood have also had the privilege of doing so 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 titled "The Making of the Super Bowl: The Inside Story of the World's Greatest Sporting Event," it is mentioned that Brooks had the intention of premiering his music video for "We Shall Be Free" during the broadcast on January 31, 1993. This song was written as a response to the L.A. riots that occurred after the Rodney King verdict in 1992. The video for the song included footage of the KKK, riots, wars, and burning of crosses and flags. However, the network considered the clip too controversial and as a result, Brooks reportedly left the stadium with only 45 minutes remaining until kickoff.
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The network asked Brooks if they could pre-record his performance, but he refused. This caused the producers to scramble to find a replacement at the last minute. Jon Bon Jovi was present at the game and was ready to step in as they argued with Brooks. Eventually, Brooks won the argument, resulting in the biggest sports event in America being delayed for the first time ever to show Brooks' video. Brooks appeared on the field with a mullet and a full mustache and beard, reminiscent of Cyrus. He was accompanied by Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin, who is hearing impaired, providing a sign language interpretation of his performance.
After Brooks' departure, the NFL has enforced a rule that all performances of the national anthem at the Super Bowl must be pre-recorded, as revealed by Ricky Minor, the former Super Bowl Music Director.
He states that this is the correct method to follow. He believes that there are numerous factors that could affect a live performance. Therefore, he would never advise any artist to go live, as even a minor issue could have a disastrous impact on the performance.
Here are 15 country artists who have the potential to headline a Super Bowl halftime show. The credit for this gallery goes to Jess.
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