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.
There have been other country artists chosen to sing the national anthem besides Brooks, such as Charley Pride, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood. However, when Brooks decided to boycott the show at the last minute, it led to a change in policy that has now become a tradition within the institution.
As detailed in Don Weiss' book, "The Making of the Super Bowl: The Inside Story of the World's Greatest Sporting Event," 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 music video included footage depicting the KKK, riots, wars, and acts of burning crosses and flags. However, the network considered it too controversial and as a result, Brooks reportedly left the stadium only 45 minutes before kickoff.
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Brooks refused the network's demand to pre-record his performance, causing producers to quickly find a replacement. Jon Bon Jovi was present at the game and was kept on standby while the producers negotiated with Brooks. Eventually, Brooks prevailed, causing the biggest sports event in America to be delayed for the first time ever in order to showcase his video. Brooks appeared on the field with a mullet and full facial hair, resembling Cyrus, and was joined by Marlee Matlin, an Academy Award-winning actress who is deaf, providing sign language interpretation.
After Brooks left the stage, he performed live. However, following his departure, the NFL has implemented a rule that all Super Bowl performances of the national anthem must be pre-recorded. This information was shared by Ricky Minor, the former Music Director of the Super Bowl.
He expresses that following that approach is correct. He believes that there are numerous factors that could affect a live performance. Therefore, he would never advise any artist to perform live, as even the smallest technical issue could have a severe impact on the overall performance.
Here are 15 country music artists who are ready to take on the spotlight and headline a Super Bowl halftime show. Credit for the gallery goes
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