In 1993, there was a moment when Garth Brooks almost decided not to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl. This incident ended up changing the expectations and requirements for future Super Bowl performers.
Brooks is not the sole country music artist who has been chosen to perform the national anthem. Other notable country stars such as Charley Pride, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood have also had the honor in the past. However, his alleged 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.
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 mentioned that Garth 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 the burning of crosses and flags. However, the network considered the content of the video too controversial and as a result, Brooks reportedly left the stadium with only 45 minutes remaining until kickoff.
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Brooks refused the network's request to pre-record his performance, causing the producers to search for a last-minute replacement. Jon Bon Jovi was present at the game and was ready to step in as they debated with Brooks. Eventually, Brooks emerged as the winner, resulting in the biggest sports event in America being postponed for the first time ever to showcase his video. With a mullet and complete facial hair resembling that of Cyrus, Brooks then appeared on the field to perform. Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin, who is deaf, provided a sign language interpretation alongside his performance.
After Brooks left the stage, the NFL decided that all national anthem performances at the Super Bowl should be pre-recorded, as stated by Ricky Minor, a former Super Bowl Music Director.
He states that doing it that way is correct. The number of factors involved is too high to go live. He would never advise any artist to go live because even a small glitch could have a severe impact on the performance.
Here are 15 country artists who are ready to take the stage as the headliners for a Super Bowl halftime show. The credit for
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