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 music artist who has been selected to perform the national anthem. Other notable stars such as Charley Pride, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood have also had the opportunity to sing the anthem in the past. However, his alleged last-minute decision to boycott the show led to a significant policy modification that has now become a permanent aspect of the event.
In his book "The Making of the Super Bowl: The Inside Story of the World's Greatest Sporting Event," Don Weiss, a former NFL Executive Director, revealed 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 riots in Los Angeles that occurred after the Rodney King verdict in 1992. The video contained footage depicting the KKK, riots, wars, and incidents of cross and flag burnings. However, the network considered the content too controversial and as a result, Brooks allegedly left the stadium with only 45 minutes remaining until kickoff.
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The network asked Brooks to pre-record his performance, but he refused. This caused the producers to panic and search for a replacement at the last minute. Jon Bon Jovi was present at the game, and the producers had him ready as they argued with Brooks. Eventually, Brooks won the argument, and the biggest sports event in America was delayed for the first time ever to show Brooks' video. Brooks appeared on the field with a hairstyle and facial hair similar to Cyrus, and he was joined by Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin, who is deaf, for a sign language interpretation of his performance.
After Brooks' departure, the NFL has implemented a new rule that mandates all Super Bowl performances of the national anthem to be pre-recorded. This information was shared by Ricky Minor, a former Super Bowl Music Director.
"He is advising that this is the correct approach," he comments. "There are numerous factors to consider before going live. Personally, I would not suggest any artist to go live as even the smallest technical issue could severely impact the performance."
15 Country musicians who are ready to perform as the main act during a Super Bowl halftime show. This gallery is credited to Jess.
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