In 1993, there was a situation where Garth Brooks almost refused to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl. This incident ended up changing the guidelines for future Super Bowl performers.
Brooks is not the sole country artist who has been selected to perform the national anthem. Other country stars like Charley Pride, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood have also had the opportunity to do so in the past. However, when Brooks supposedly decided to boycott the show at the last minute, it led to a policy modification 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 plans 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 incidents of burning crosses and flags. However, due to its controversial nature, the network decided not to air the video. As a result, Brooks reportedly left the stadium just 45 minutes before kickoff.
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Brooks refused the network's demand to pre-record his performance, causing producers to search for a quick replacement. Jon Bon Jovi was present at the game and was ready to step in as producers negotiated with Brooks. In the end, Brooks prevailed, resulting in the first-ever delay of the biggest sports event in America to showcase his video. Brooks, with a mullet and facial hair resembling Cyrus, then went onto the field to perform. Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin, who is deaf, provided sign language interpretation during his performance.
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 disclosed by Ricky Minor, a former Super Bowl Music Director.
"He believes that is the correct approach," he states. "There are numerous factors to consider before going live. Personally, I would never advise any artist to go live, as even the smallest technical error could greatly impact their performance."
15 country music artists who are well-suited to headline a Super Bowl halftime show have been identified. The credit for the gallery goes to Jess
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