In 1993, there was a moment when Garth Brooks was close to not singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl. This incident ended up changing the expectations for future Super Bowl performers.
Brooks is just one of many country stars who have been chosen to sing the national anthem, including Charley Pride, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood. However, when Brooks unexpectedly decided not to perform at the last minute, it led to a change in the show's policy, which has now become a permanent part of the event.
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 plans to showcase his music video for "We Shall Be Free" during the broadcast on January 31, 1993. The song was written as a response to the riots in Los Angeles that occurred after the Rodney King verdict in 1992. The video included scenes of the KKK, riots, wars, and the burning of crosses and flags. However, the network considered the content too controversial and Brooks reportedly left the stadium only 45 minutes before the kickoff.
There
Brooks refused the network's demand to pre-record his performance, causing producers to urgently search for a replacement. Jon Bon Jovi was present at the game and was on standby while producers argued with Brooks. Eventually, Brooks prevailed, resulting in the first-ever delay of the biggest sports event in America to showcase his video. Brooks appeared on the field with a mullet and facial hair that resembled Cyrus, and he was joined by Marlee Matlin, an Academy Award-winning actress who is hearing impaired, providing sign language interpretation.
After Brooks' departure, the NFL decided that all performances of the national anthem at the Super Bowl would be pre-recorded, as stated by Ricky Minor, the former Music Director of the Super Bowl.
According to him, following that approach is the correct method. He believes that there are numerous factors to consider before going live. He personally would never advise any artist to go live, as even the smallest technical issue could have a devastating impact on their performance.
Here are 15 country artists who are well-prepared to take on the role of headlining a Super Bowl halftime show. This gallery credit
Additional content from Taste of Country can be found on our website. For more information