CMA "Entertainer Of The Year" nominee Garth Brooks took to the storied Ryman stage for his first-ever full concert last night (9/8), at an invitation-only event to celebrate the launch of SiriusXM's “The Garth Channel.” Curated personally by Brooks, the exclusive channel (SiriusXM Channel 55) is also significant as it is the first time Brooks’ music has been made available 24/7 in one place, on radio or online.
In an emotional and long-anticipated performance for both Brooks and the enamored crowd, he welcomed the change of pace offered by the intimate and ethereal surroundings, and took fans on a timeline of his revered career as they soaked in every moment, taking to their feet for countless standing ovations. The unforgettable night in Nashville kicked-off with just Brooks and his guitar, as he opened the show with the curtain drawn behind him starting with Cal Smith’s "Country Bumpkin,” a rousing rendition of “I Will Always Love You,” “Amarillo By Morning” and “Don’t Close Your Eyes.”
Fans were enthralled as Brooks offered hit-after-hit from his unrivaled catalogue including “Friends In Low Places,” “Two Pina Coladas, “The Thunder Rolls” and more, as he continued past the scheduled 2-hour broadcast on his SiriusXM channel, even taking requests from the audience. Embracing the legendary venue and much to the roar of the crowd, Brooks also invited special guest and wife Trisha Yearwood to join the stage as the pair collaborated on the heart-stopping “Walkaway Joe,” as well as revealing a new song, “Whiskey To Wine.” Watch highlights from the day here.
The Tennessean reflected on the show last night declaring "The singer is the show, but the songs are his heart. Brooks elevates his career-making tunes past himself — sending songs into the atmosphere as if he’s merely a conduit to deliver lyrics so vivid and memorable they are timeless yet carry a time stamp for those who have spent 27 years living life to their choruses."
Garth Brooks is certified by the RIAA as the #1-selling solo artist in U.S. history with over 137 million albums. He has received every accolade the recording industry can bestow on an artist. Garth has been inducted into the International Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Country Music Hall of Fame and most recently, the Musicians Hall of Fame. Garth is currently on the three year Garth Brooks World Tour with Trisha Yearwood. The tour began with 11 sold out shows at the Allstate Arena in Chicago. The tour is smashing records previously held by such acts as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and even Garth Brooks. In just over a year and a half, the tour is approaching 5 MILLION tickets sold making it the biggest tour in the world.
