Do you recall the time when Garth Brooks was on the verge of not singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl? It is said that in 1993, Garth Brooks came close to refusing to perform, and this incident ended up changing the guidelines for Super Bowl performers.
Brooks is not the sole country artist who has been chosen to perform the national anthem. Other notable names such as Charley Pride, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood have all 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 that has now become a permanent feature of the event.
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 acts of burning crosses and flags. However, the network considered the content of the video too controversial and Brooks reportedly left the stadium just 45 minutes before kickoff.
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The network asked Brooks if they could pre-record his performance, but he refused, causing producers to panic as they tried to find a replacement at the last minute. Jon Bon Jovi was present at the game and was ready to step in while the argument with Brooks was going on. In the end, Brooks got his way, and for the first time in history, the biggest sports event in America was delayed to showcase Brooks' video. Brooks appeared on the field with a mullet and a full mustache and beard, reminiscent of Cyrus' style. Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin, who is deaf, provided sign language interpretation during his performance.
After Brooks's departure, the NFL decided to mandate that all performances of the national anthem during the Super Bowl must be prerecorded, as stated by Ricky Minor, a former Super Bowl Music Director.
He states that doing it that way is correct. Going live has too many factors to consider. He would never advise any artist to go live because even the smallest glitch could ruin the performance.
Here are 15 country artists who are well-prepared to take the stage as headliners for a Super Bowl halftime show. Credit for
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