There was a time when Garth Brooks almost refused to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl. This incident took place in 1993 and it had a significant impact on the rules for future Super Bowl performers.
Brooks is not the sole country music artist who has been selected to perform the national anthem at events. Other notable 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, Brooks's unexpected decision to boycott the show at the last minute led to a change in policy that 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 Garth Brooks had planned to premiere his music video for "We Shall Be Free" during the broadcast on January 31, 1993. The 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, and symbols of hate such as cross and flag burnings. However, the network considered the video too controversial and as a result, Brooks apparently 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, causing the producers to scramble to find a replacement at the last minute. Jon Bon Jovi was present at the game and was ready to step in while the producers tried to persuade Brooks. In the end, Brooks prevailed, and the biggest sports event in America was delayed for the first time ever to showcase his video. Brooks appeared on the field with a mullet and a full mustache and beard, resembling Cyrus. He was joined by Marlee Matlin, an Academy Award-winning actress who is hearing impaired, who provided a sign language interpretation of his performance.
After Brooks left the performance, the NFL decided that all Super Bowl anthem performances should be pre-recorded, as stated by Ricky Minor, a former Super Bowl Music Director.
According to him, following that approach is correct. He believes that going live involves numerous unpredictable factors. He strongly advises against any artist choosing to go live as even the tiniest technical issue could have a disastrous impact on the performance.
15 country music artists who are ready to take the stage as the headliners for a Super Bowl halftime show. The gallery credit goes to
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