In 1993, there was a situation where 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 chosen to perform the national anthem. Other notable stars like Charley Pride, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood have also had the privilege of singing it throughout the years. However, his alleged decision to back out of the performance at the last minute led to a change in policy, which has now become a permanent part of the tradition.
Based on the book "The Making of the Super Bowl: The Inside Story of the World's Greatest Sporting Event" by Don Weiss, it is mentioned that Brooks had the intention of showcasing 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 for the song included footage of the KKK, riots, wars, as well as cross and flag burnings. However, the network considered the content of the video too controversial, leading to Brooks leaving the stadium just 45 minutes before the kickoff.
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Brooks refused the network's wish to pre-record his performance, causing producers to search for a last-minute replacement. Jon Bon Jovi was present at the game and was put on standby while the producers argued with Brooks. Eventually, Brooks prevailed, resulting in the biggest sports event in America being delayed for the first time ever to showcase Brooks' video. Brooks, sporting a mullet and a full mustache and beard reminiscent of Cyrus, then proceeded to perform on the field. Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin, who is hearing impaired, provided sign language interpretation during the performance.
After Brooks left the show, the NFL decided that all Super Bowl performances of the national anthem should be pre-recorded, as stated by Ricky Minor, a former Super Bowl Music Director.
He states that this is the correct method to follow. According to him, there are numerous factors to consider before going live. He strongly advises against artists choosing to go live, as even the smallest technical issue could have a disastrous impact on the performance.
Here are 15 country artists who are ready to take the spotlight at a Super Bowl halftime show. The gallery credit goes to Jess.
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