In 1993, there was a possibility that Garth Brooks would not perform the national anthem at the Super Bowl. It is said that he almost decided not to do it, but his actions ended up changing the expectations for future Super Bowl performers.
Other than Brooks, there have been several country stars who have been chosen to sing the national anthem, such as Charley Pride, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood. However, when Brooks unexpectedly decided not to perform at the show, it led to a change in policy that has now become a regular practice.
Don Weiss, the former NFL Executive Director, wrote in his book "The Making of the Super Bowl: The Inside Story of the World's Greatest Sporting Event" 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 incidents of burning crosses and flags. However, the network considered the video too controversial and as a result, Brooks allegedly left the stadium with only 45 minutes remaining until kickoff.
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Brooks refused to pre-record his performance for the network, causing the producers to search for a last-minute replacement. Jon Bon Jovi was present at the game and was ready to step in while the producers negotiated with Brooks. Eventually, Brooks came out on top, and the biggest sports event in America was postponed for the first time ever to showcase Brooks' video. With a mullet and facial hair reminiscent of Cyrus, Brooks then performed on the field, with Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin providing sign language interpretation due to her hearing impairment.
After Brooks' departure, the NFL decided to change their policy regarding the performance of the national anthem at the Super Bowl. Former Super Bowl Music Director Ricky Minor revealed that now all renditions of the anthem at the event are pre-recorded.
"He believes that is the correct approach," he mentions. "There are numerous factors involved in going live. According to him, he would never advise any artist to go live, as even the smallest technical issue could have a detrimental impact on their performance."
Here are 15 country artists who are ready to take the stage as the headliners of a Super Bowl halftime show. This list has
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