In 1993, there was a close call with Garth Brooks potentially not performing the national anthem at the Super Bowl. This incident led to him changing the expectations for future Super Bowl performers.
Brooks is not the sole country artist who has been chosen to perform the national anthem at events. Other notable country stars such as Charley Pride, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood have also been given this opportunity in the past. However, when Brooks decided to boycott the show at the last minute, his actions led to a change in the organization's policy, which has now become an integral part of the tradition.
In 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 planned to release his music video for "We Shall Be Free" during the broadcast on January 31, 1993. The song was written as a response to the riots in Los Angeles 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 video too controversial and as a result, Brooks reportedly left the stadium just 45 minutes before the kickoff.
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Brooks refused the network's proposal to record his performance beforehand, causing producers to search for a substitute at the last minute. Jon Bon Jovi was present at the game and was ready to step in while producers debated with Brooks. Eventually, Brooks prevailed, resulting in the first-ever delay of the biggest sports event in America to showcase Brooks' video. With a mullet and facial hair reminiscent of Cyrus, Brooks then 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 decided that all renditions of the national anthem at the Super Bowl must be pre-recorded, as revealed by Ricky Minor, former Super Bowl Music Director.
He expresses that doing it in that manner is correct. He believes that there are numerous factors that could hinder a live performance. Therefore, he would never suggest any artist to go live, as even a minor malfunction could have a disastrous impact on the overall performance.
Here is a compilation of 15 talented country artists who are ready to take the stage as the headline performers for a Super Bowl halftime show.
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