Do you recall the time when Garth Brooks came close to not singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl? It is said that Garth Brooks almost decided to not perform at the Super Bowl in 1993, and in doing so, he changed the expectations for future Super Bowl performers.
Brooks is not the sole country artist who has been chosen to perform the national anthem. Other country stars like Charley Pride, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood have also been given this opportunity in the past. However, when Brooks allegedly decided to boycott the show at the last minute, it led to a change in policy that has now become a standard practice within the institution.
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 Brooks had the intention of premiering his music video for "We Shall Be Free" during the broadcast on January 31, 1993. The song was written as a 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 the burning of crosses and flags. However, the network considered the clip too controversial and as a result, Brooks apparently left the stadium with only 45 minutes left until kickoff.
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Brooks refused the network's demand to pre-record his performance, causing the producers to frantically search for a last-minute replacement. Jon Bon Jovi happened to be present at the game, so the producers kept him on standby while they argued with Brooks. Eventually, Brooks emerged victorious, resulting in a delay of the biggest sporting event in America for the first time ever, just to showcase his video. With a mullet and a full mustache and beard that rivaled Cyrus's style, Brooks then took the field to perform, accompanied by a sign language interpretation from Marlee Matlin, an Academy Award-winning actress who is hearing impaired.
After Brooks' departure, the NFL has implemented a new rule that states all performances of the national anthem during the Super Bowl must be pre-recorded. This information was shared by Ricky Minor, the former Super Bowl Music Director.
"He believes that doing it in that manner is correct," he states. "There are a lot of factors that could cause issues if it were done live. He would never advise any artist to do a live performance, as even the smallest technical issue could have a detrimental impact on the overall performance."
Here is a collection of 15 country artists who are fully prepared to take the stage as the headliners for a Super Bowl halftime show
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