In 1993, there was a moment where Garth Brooks almost decided not to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl. This incident ended up changing the expectations and guidelines for future Super Bowl performers.
Brooks is not the sole country music artist who has been chosen to perform the national anthem. Other notable stars like Charley Pride, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood have also been given this opportunity in the past. However, Brooks' alleged last-minute refusal to participate in the show led to a change in policy, which has now become a significant aspect of the institution.
Based on information from Don Weiss' book, "The Making of the Super Bowl: The Inside Story of the World's Greatest Sporting Event," country singer Garth Brooks had planned to premiere his music video for the song "We Shall Be Free" during the broadcast of the Super Bowl on January 31, 1993. The song was written in response to the riots in Los Angeles 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 Brooks reportedly left the stadium just 45 minutes before kickoff.
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The network asked Brooks if they could record his performance in advance, but he refused. This caused the producers to scramble and look for a replacement at the last minute. Jon Bon Jovi was present at the game and was kept on standby while the producers argued with Brooks. In the end, Brooks was successful in his request, and the biggest sports event in America was delayed for the first time ever in order to showcase Brooks' video. Brooks appeared on the field with a mullet and full mustache and beard, resembling Cyrus. He was accompanied by Marlee Matlin, an Academy Award-winning actress who is hearing impaired, providing sign language interpretation during his performance.
After Brooks' departure, the NFL has implemented a rule that mandates all performances of the national anthem at the Super Bowl to be prerecorded, as revealed by Ricky Minor, a former Super Bowl Music Director.
He states that doing it in that manner is correct. He believes that there are numerous unpredictable factors that could cause issues if one were to go live. He strongly advises against any artist going live, as even the smallest malfunction could have a detrimental impact on the performance.
Here are 15 country artists who are well-positioned to perform as the main act for a Super Bowl halftime show. Credit for the gallery
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