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 not to perform at the Super Bowl in 1993, and in doing so, he changed the guidelines for future Super Bowl performers.
Brooks is not the exclusive country artist who has been chosen to perform the national anthem. Other notable artists such as Charley Pride, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood have all had the opportunity to sing the anthem in previous years. However, Brooks' unexpected decision to boycott the show at the last minute led to a change in policy that has now become a significant aspect of this tradition.
Don Weiss, a former NFL Executive Director, revealed in his book "The Making of the Super Bowl: The Inside Story of the World's Greatest Sporting Event" that Garth Brooks had plans 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 L.A. riots that occurred after the Rodney King verdict in 1992. The video included footage of the KKK, riots, wars, as well as the burning of crosses and flags. However, the network considered the content 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 request to pre-record his performance, causing producers to urgently search for a replacement. Jon Bon Jovi happened to be present at the game, so producers kept him ready as they debated with Brooks. In the end, 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 facial hair resembling that of Cyrus, and was accompanied by sign language interpretation from Marlee Matlin, an Academy Award-winning actress who is hearing impaired.
After Garth Brooks performed live, the NFL decided that all future renditions of the national anthem at the Super Bowl should be pre-recorded. This information was shared by Ricky Minor, a former Super Bowl Music Director.
"He is expressing the correct approach," he states. "There are numerous factors to consider before broadcasting live. I would never advise any artist to go live, as even the slightest technical issue could have a disastrous impact on their performance."
Here are 15 country artists who are ready and suitable to headline a Super Bowl halftime show. The credit for the gallery goes to Jess.
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