Do you recall the time when Garth Brooks almost refused to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl? It is said that in 1993, Garth Brooks came close to walking away from performing the anthem and ended up changing the guidelines for future Super Bowl performers.
Brooks is not the sole country artist who has been chosen to perform the national anthem. Other notable country stars like Charley Pride, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood have also had the privilege of singing the anthem in the past. However, Brooks' alleged decision to boycott the show at the last minute led to a change in policy, which has now become an integral part of the organization.
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 stated that Brooks had the intention of premiering 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 that occurred in Los Angeles after the Rodney King verdict in 1992. The video included footage of the KKK, riots, wars, as well as cross and flag burnings. However, the network deemed the content of the video too controversial and as a result, Brooks reportedly left the stadium just 45 minutes before the kickoff.
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The network asked Brooks to pre-record his performance, but he refused. This caused producers to panic and search for a backup option at the last minute. Jon Bon Jovi was present at the game and was kept on standby while the producers argued with Brooks. Eventually, Brooks prevailed, and the biggest sports event in America was postponed for the first time ever to showcase Brooks' video. Brooks appeared on the field with a long hairstyle similar to Cyrus and a complete mustache and beard. Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin, who is deaf, provided sign language interpretation during his performance.
After Brooks' departure, the NFL decided that all performances of the national anthem at the Super Bowl must be pre-recorded. This requirement was introduced by former Super Bowl Music Director Ricky Minor.
"He believes that is the correct approach," he states. "There are numerous factors to consider before going live. It is not advisable for any artist to go live, as even the smallest technical issue could have a detrimental impact on the performance."
Here are 15 country artists who are ready to take the stage as headliners for a Super Bowl halftime show. This gallery credit goes
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