Country superstar Garth Brooks announced on Oct. 15, 2009, that, after a nine-year retirement from the music arena, he’s ready to return to performing—at least for an extended run in Las Vegas over the next five years beginning in December 2009.
Country music as a whole, both its fans and country radio, has never forgotten the Oklahoma singer-songwriter, who made his first chart breakthrough in 1989 and went on to become the 20th century’s top-selling American recording artist—a title that belonged to Elvis Presley before Brooks’ reign.
Still in his 30s when he announced his departure on Oct. 26, 2000, Brooks made the decision to exit the same month that he and his first wife, Sandy, announced their divorce. His fans were distressed. Musically, he was at the top of his game after touring nonstop for years to support his albums, and his relentless efforts paid off.
The cowboy-hatted singer with his trademark headset microphone had, in fact, managed to transition from being not just country music’s biggest star of the day, but one of pop culture’s most beloved and best-selling entertainers, according to the RIAA.
Still, music fans respected the platinum-selling entertainer’s decision to retire in favor of becoming a stay-at-home dad for his three daughters. Realizing his divorce would significantly alter his home life, Brooks publicly expressed that his children were his first priority. And while country fans agreed, they mourned his departure from the active music scene nonetheless.
Following his Oct. 15 “return” announcement at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, Brooks fielded questions from media in attendance. The following is a sampling of what the artist had to say.
Will you perform in Nashville again at any point?
“I want to do more stuff everywhere. I want to do more stuff here. I’d love to play the Opry more. I know I owe them, and if they want it, then they should have it.”
Is aging more challenging for performers, with the emphasis on appearance and performance?
“We all can’t be as lucky as George (Strait) to look better than he did 30 years ago, and sing better than he did. The guy’s not normal.”
What do you think about today’s newer artists and country songs?
“(Brad) Paisley, he’s just a conversationalist. I love it. He’s talking right to me. ... The fact that I have been out allows me to say whatever I want to say, which is great. I miss the (Dixie) Chicks; I miss their music. I miss it on my country radio station. So, stuff like that, I’m enjoying it. I enjoyed (Lee Ann) Womack’s last single, Last Call, which was righteous. It was like taking a drive right down 1990 again in Oklahoma.”
You’ve indicated you will perform live again, but that you have no recording plans for at least five years. Will that possibly happen sooner?
“We still stay under the same thing that we (said when I announced my retirement). Our youngest is 13. To record an album, I know, living here, it took us six months to record an album. I can’t imagine what it would take not living here and coming back and forth. Again, somehow Strait does it with ease, which is something I can’t do. As far as a tour, you know me, man. If I can’t eat it, sleep it, breathe it, then it ain’t me. So I don’t see that happening.”
What do you miss most about the being in the spotlight?
“Not really the spotlight as much. What I miss are those faces. I miss those people that just say, ‘We played To Make You Feel My Love Again at our wedding,’ (or) ‘We did The Dance for my son’s funeral.’ I miss those. I get those. I’m still very fortunate enough to get those things as an artist, but since you’re not out in front of people, you don’t get as many. …”
You’ve said musicians need to control their music once more … and you don’t let iTunes sell your music; what are your thoughts on this?
“Sweet guys. They’ve allowed me to come into their building several times and pretty much tell them how much I didn’t like the system. They’re very sweet. They listen. But iTunes won’t do what their music needs it to until the music finds a way to join together, and show them what an iPod sounds like with no music. That’s the only time.
"And these guys are sweet guys, but they’re businessmen, so they understand. … They truly think that they’re saving music. My hat’s off to them. I looked at them right across the table with all the love in the world and told them they were killing it. And until we get variable pricing, until we get album-only (downloads), then they are not a true retailer for my stuff, and you won’t see my stuff on there—with all the love in the world. That’s nothing that they haven’t heard, either.”
Would you be interested in starting your own record label?
“No. For one, no one person is bigger than the system. And my thing is instead of saying ‘Screw the system, I’m doing things this way,’ my thing is always, ‘Let’s (work) together.’ If we can’t go together, I’ve got to do what makes me feel good inside, because if I don’t, and I hate myself when I’m laying (in bed) at night. … I’d love to see us get it together, and that’s one of the things for the next five years is to try and figure out how. …"
Summary
Wed to country star Trisha Yearwood since 2005, Brooks has traveled the globe in the name of country music only to find true contentment in his own backyard. Moreover, with his youngest daughter now 13, the platinum-selling entertainer clearly still has a hunger to perform, albeit on a part-time basis. And while he’s made it clear he's not abandoning his stay-at-home dad status for at least five years, Brooks, officially, is retired no more—even if his performance plans list only weekend shows in Sin City for now.
AIC101
Lisa L. Rollins - Texas native Lisa L. Rollins, Ph.D., is an award-winning feature writer, interviewer and journalism educator.
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