Do you recall the time when Garth Brooks came close to refusing to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl? It is said that in 1993, Garth Brooks almost decided not to perform, and this incident led to a change in the guidelines for 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 privilege of singing it in the past. However, it was Brooks' alleged decision to boycott the show at the last minute that led to a change in policy, which has now become an integral part of the tradition.
Brooks had the intention of premiering his music video for the song "We Shall Be Free" during the broadcast of the Super Bowl on January 31, 1993, as mentioned in the book "The Making of the Super Bowl: The Inside Story of the World's Greatest Sporting Event" by Don Weiss, a former NFL Executive Director. 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 depicting the KKK, riots, wars, and incidents of burning crosses and flags. However, the network considered the content of the video too controversial and as a result, Brooks allegedly left the stadium just 45 minutes before the kickoff.
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Brooks refused the network's desire to pre-record his performance, causing producers to search for a last-minute substitute. Jon Bon Jovi was present at the game and was ready to step in while the producers debated with Brooks. Eventually, Brooks prevailed, resulting in the biggest sports event in America being postponed for the first time ever to showcase Brooks' video. With a mullet and facial hair reminiscent of Cyrus, Brooks went onto the field to perform, accompanied by sign language interpretation from Marlee Matlin, an Academy Award-winning actress who is deaf.
After Brooks walked out, the NFL has mandated that all Super Bowl performances of the national anthem must be pre-recorded, as stated by Ricky Minor, a former Super Bowl Music Director.
He mentions that doing it that way is correct. He believes that there are too many factors to consider before going live. He would never suggest any artist to perform live because even the smallest technical issue could have a disastrous impact on the performance.
Here are 15 country artists who are ready to take the stage and headline a Super Bowl halftime show. The credit for this gallery goes to
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