In 1993, there was a possibility that Garth Brooks might not have performed the national anthem at the Super Bowl. This incident led to a change in the way Super Bowl performers were selected and managed.
Brooks is not the sole country musician who has been chosen to perform the national anthem. Artists like Charley Pride, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood have also had the opportunity in the past. However, it was Brooks' alleged last-minute refusal to participate in the show that led to a modification in the rules, which has now become an integral part of the tradition.
Don Weiss, a former NFL Executive Director, revealed in his book, "The Making of the Super Bowl: The Inside Story of the World's Greatest Sporting Event," that Garth Brooks had planned to premiere 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 contained footage depicting the KKK, riots, wars, and acts of burning crosses and flags. However, the network considered the content too controversial and as a result, Brooks allegedly left the stadium only 45 minutes before the kickoff.
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Brooks refused the network's plea to record his performance beforehand, causing producers to rush to find a replacement at the last minute. Jon Bon Jovi was present at the game and was kept on standby while the producers debated with Brooks. In the end, Brooks emerged victorious, resulting in the biggest sports event in America being delayed for the first time ever to showcase his video. With a mullet and facial hair reminiscent of Cyrus, Brooks then made his way to the field to perform. He was accompanied by Marlee Matlin, an Academy Award-winning actress who is deaf, providing a sign language interpretation of the performance.
After Brooks' departure, the NFL has implemented a rule that mandates all Super Bowl performances of the national anthem to be pre-recorded, as stated by Ricky Minor, a former Super Bowl Music Director.
According to him, doing it that way is correct. He believes that there are too many factors to consider when going live. He would never advise any artist to go live because even a small glitch could ruin the performance.
Here are 15 country artists who are well-prepared to headline a Super Bowl halftime show. The gallery credit goes to Jess.
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