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. Other country stars such as Charley Pride, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood have also been given the opportunity to sing the anthem in the past. However, his alleged decision to boycott the show at the last minute led to a change in policy that has now become a significant aspect 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 premiere his music video for "We Shall Be Free" during the broadcast on January 31, 1993. The song was written as a response to the L.A. riots 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 clip too controversial and as a result, Brooks reportedly left the stadium just 45 minutes before kickoff.
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Brooks refused to pre-record his performance for the network, causing the producers to search for a last-minute replacement. Jon Bon Jovi was present at the game and was prepared to step in while the producers tried to convince Brooks. In the end, Brooks was successful in his request, resulting in the biggest sports event in America being delayed for the first time ever in order to show his video. Brooks appeared on the field with a mullet and a full mustache and beard, reminiscent of Cyrus. He was joined 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 mandating that all performances of the national anthem at the Super Bowl must be pre-recorded, as confirmed by Ricky Minor, a former Super Bowl Music Director.
He states that doing it that way is correct. He believes that there are too many factors to consider before going live. He would never advise any artist to go live because even the smallest technical issue could have a devastating impact on the performance.
Here are 15 country music artists who are well-prepared to headline a Super Bowl halftime show. The gallery credit goes to Jess.
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