In 1993, there was a situation where Garth Brooks was on the verge of not singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl. This incident ended up changing the expectations for performers at the Super Bowl.
Brooks is not the sole country musician who has been chosen to perform the national anthem. Other country artists like Charley Pride, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood have also had the opportunity to sing the anthem in the past. However, when Brooks decided to boycott the show at the last minute, it led to a change in the policy, which has now become a significant aspect of the institution.
Don Weiss, the 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 planned to premiere his music video for "We Shall Be Free" during the Jan. 31, 1993 Super Bowl broadcast. The song was written in response to the L.A. riots that occurred after the Rodney King verdict in 1992. The video contained footage depicting the KKK, riots, wars, and acts of burning crosses and flags. 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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The network asked Brooks if they could record his performance in advance, but he refused. This caused the producers to quickly find a replacement. Jon Bon Jovi was present at the game and was ready to step in while the producers tried to convince Brooks. However, Brooks eventually won the argument and as a result, the biggest sports event in America was delayed for the first time ever to show his video. Brooks appeared on the field with a mullet and a full mustache and beard, resembling Cyrus's style. He was also accompanied by Marlee Matlin, an Academy Award-winning actress who is hearing impaired, providing sign language interpretation.
After Brooks' departure, the NFL has implemented a new rule that mandates all Super Bowl performances of the national anthem to be pre-recorded. This information was shared by Ricky Minor, a former Super Bowl Music Director.
According to him, doing it that way is correct. He believes that there are too many factors to consider when going live. He would never advise any artist to go live because even the smallest glitch could ruin the performance.
15 country music artists who are ready to take the stage and headline a Super Bowl halftime show. Gallery credit goes to Jess.
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