Do you recall the time when Garth Brooks almost refused to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl? It is said that Garth Brooks came close to walking away from performing this iconic song at the Super Bowl in 1993. In doing so, he ended up changing the guidelines for future Super Bowl performers.
Besides Brooks, several other country stars 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 part of the institution.
In Don Weiss' book, The Making of the Super Bowl: The Inside Story of the World's Greatest Sporting Event, it is mentioned that Garth Brooks had plans to showcase 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 that occurred in Los Angeles following 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 content of the video too controversial and Brooks allegedly left the stadium just 45 minutes before kickoff.
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Brooks refused the network's desire 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 as they argued with Brooks. Eventually, Brooks prevailed, and the most significant sports event in America was postponed for the first time to showcase Brooks' video. With a hairstyle resembling Cyrus and a complete mustache and beard, Brooks then went onto the field to perform, with Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin, who is deaf, providing sign language interpretation.
After his departure, Brooks performed the national anthem live. However, the NFL has now implemented a rule that all Super Bowl performances of the anthem must be pre-recorded, as stated by Ricky Minor, the former Super Bowl Music Director.
"He believes that is the correct method," he states. "There are numerous factors that can cause issues during a live performance. Therefore, he would never advise any artist to go live, as even a small glitch could have a disastrous impact on the overall performance."
Here are 15 country artists who are ready to take the stage as the main performers for a Super Bowl halftime show. The gallery credit goes
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