Do you recall the time when Garth Brooks came close to not singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl? It is said that Garth Brooks almost decided against performing at the Super Bowl in 1993, and this incident ended up changing the rules for future Super Bowl performers.
Other country artists such as Charley Pride, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood have also been chosen to sing the anthem in the past. However, Brooks' 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.
Based on information from 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 the intention of premiering his video for the song "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 acts of burning crosses and flags. However, the network considered the clip too controversial and Brooks allegedly left the stadium only 45 minutes before kickoff.
There
Brooks refused the network's request to pre-record his performance, which caused producers to urgently search for a substitute at the last minute. Jon Bon Jovi was present at the game, and producers had him ready in case they couldn't convince Brooks. Eventually, Brooks was successful in his argument, causing the biggest sports event in America to be delayed for the first time ever in order to showcase his video. Brooks, with a mullet and a full mustache and beard reminiscent of Cyrus, then went onto the field to perform. Accompanying him was Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin, who is hearing impaired, providing a sign language interpretation.
After Brooks' departure, the NFL decided that all renditions of the national anthem during the Super Bowl must be pre-recorded. This information was revealed by Ricky Minor, a former Super Bowl Music Director.
According to him, doing it in that manner is the correct approach. Going live involves numerous factors, and he believes that it is not advisable for any artist to go live because even the smallest technical issue could have a disastrous impact on the performance.
Here is a compilation of 15 country artists who are well-prepared to take the spotlight as headliners for a Super Bowl halftime show
Additional content from Taste of Country can be found here. For more details and updates