In 1993, there was a moment when Garth Brooks almost refused to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl. This incident ended up changing the expectations for future Super Bowl performers.
Brooks is not the sole country artist who has been chosen to perform the national anthem. Other stars such as Charley Pride, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood have also had the opportunity to do so 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 institution.
According to a book written by Don Weiss, who used to work for the NFL, it is mentioned that Brooks had planned to show his music video for "We Shall Be Free" during the broadcast of the Super Bowl on January 31, 1993. The song was written as a response to the riots that occurred in Los Angeles after the Rodney King verdict in 1992. The video included scenes of the KKK, riots, wars, and acts of burning crosses and flags. However, the network considered 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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Brooks refused the network's plea to record his performance beforehand, causing producers to hastily find a replacement. Jon Bon Jovi was present at the game and was kept on standby while producers argued with Brooks. Eventually, Brooks emerged victorious, resulting in the delay of the biggest sports event in America for the first time ever, in order to showcase his video. With a mullet and facial hair reminiscent of Cyrus, Brooks then appeared on the field to perform, with the added bonus of sign language interpretation by Marlee Matlin, an acclaimed actress who is deaf.
After Brooks' departure, the NFL has now mandated that all renditions of the national anthem during the Super Bowl must be pre-recorded. This information comes from Ricky Minor, who used to hold the position of Super Bowl Music Director.
He states that doing it in that manner is correct. He believes that there are too many factors to consider before going live. He would never advise any artist to go live as even a small technical issue could ruin the performance.
A list of 15 country artists who are well-prepared to headline a Super Bowl halftime show. The credit for the gallery goes to Jess
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