Do you recall the time when Garth Brooks was close to not singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl? It is said that he almost backed out in 1993, and in doing so, he changed the expectations for future Super Bowl performers.
Brooks is not the sole country music artist who has been chosen to perform the national anthem. Other esteemed musicians such as Charley Pride, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood have also had the privilege of singing it in the past. However, his alleged last-minute refusal to participate in the show led to a revision in policy, which has now become an integral part of the organization.
In Don Weiss' book, The Making of the Super Bowl: The Inside Story of the World's Greatest Sporting Event, it is mentioned that Garth Brooks had planned to premiere his music video for "We Shall Be Free" during the broadcast on January 31, 1993. This video was created as a response to the L.A. riots that occurred after the Rodney King verdict in 1992 and included footage of the KKK, riots, wars, and acts of burning crosses and flags. However, the network considered the video too controversial and as a result, Brooks reportedly left the stadium just 45 minutes before 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 and look for someone else to perform at the last minute. Jon Bon Jovi was present at the game and was kept on standby while the producers argued with Brooks. In the end, Brooks won the argument and the biggest sports event in America was delayed for the first time ever to show 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' decision to perform live, the NFL has implemented a new rule that all performances of the national anthem during the Super Bowl must be pre-recorded. This information comes from Ricky Minor, the former Music Director of the Super Bowl.
According to him, doing it in that manner is correct. He believes that there are numerous factors to consider before going live. He strongly advises against any artist choosing to go live as even the tiniest technical issue could ruin the performance completely.
Here are 15 country artists who are well-prepared to take the stage as headliners for a Super Bowl halftime show. The credit
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