Garth Brooks

Troyal Garth Brooks was born on February 7, 1962, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/garth-brooks-mn0000798248 | title=Garth Brooks | website=Allmusic | access-date=December 11, 2015}} He was the youngest child of Troyal Raymond Brooks Jr. (1931–2010), a draftsman for an oil company, and Colleen McElroy Carroll (1929–1999), a 1950s-era country singer of Irish{{Cite news|url=https://www.mayonews.ie/?option=com_content&view=article&id=19331:paddys-prayers-are-answered-as-he-meets-garth-brooks&catid=23:news&Itemid=46|title=Paddy's prayers are answered as he meets Garth Brooks|newspaper=The Mayo News|access-date=August 4, 2021}} ancestry who recorded on the Capitol Records label and appeared on Ozark Jubilee.{{citation | last = McGraw | first = Marjie | title = Hitting 'Em in the Heart | newspaper = The Saturday Evening Post | date = December 2, 1992 | url = http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=1062 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151015231111/http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=1062 | url-status=dead | archive-date = October 15, 2015 | access-date = April 3, 2007 }}. Archived from [http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=1062 the original] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621045704/http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=1062 |date=June 21, 2012 }} on March 21, 2017.{{citation | last = Pond | first = Steve | title = Garth Brooks | newspaper = Playboy | date = June 1, 1994 | url = http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=01136 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160719155940/http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=01136 | url-status=dead | archive-date = July 19, 2016 | access-date = April 23, 2007 }}. Archived from [http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=01136 the original] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621045737/http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=01136 |date=June 21, 2012 }} on March 21, 2017.{{citation | last = Hilburn | first = Robert | title = The Amazing Garth-O-Matic! | newspaper = Los Angeles Times | date = June 27, 1992 | url = http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=222 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160101015733/http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=222 | url-status=dead | archive-date = January 1, 2016 | access-date = April 3, 2007 }} Archived from [http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=222 the original] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621045648/http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=222 |date=June 21, 2012 }} on March 21, 2017. This was the second marriage for each of his parents, giving Brooks four older half-siblings (Jim, Jerry, Mike, and Betsy). The couple had two children together, Kelly and Garth.Cox (2009), p. 4. At their home in Yukon, Oklahoma, the family hosted weekly talent nights. All of the children were required to participate, either by singing or doing skits.Cox (2009), p. 8. Brooks learned to play both the guitar and banjo.Cox (2009), p. 9.

As a child, Brooks often sang in casual family settings, but his primary focus was athletics. In high school, he played football and baseball and ran track and field. He received a track scholarship to Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, where he competed in the javelin.{{citation | title = Trajectory of a Superstar | newspaper = Seattle Times | date = July 8, 1998 | url = http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=187 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141211034142/http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=187 | url-status=dead | archive-date = December 11, 2014 | access-date = April 3, 2007 }}. Archived from [http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=187 the original] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621045610/http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=187 |date=June 21, 2012 }} on March 21, 2017. At nights, he worked as a bouncer at a local bar and formed his own band, Santa Fe, learning to play whatever the college audience wanted.{{Cite web|title=Garth Brooks Biography {{!}} Ken Burns|url=https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/country-music/garth-brooks-biography|access-date=December 21, 2020|website=Country Music|language=en}} Brooks graduated in 1984 with a degree in advertising. His roommate, Ty England, later played guitar in his road band until going solo in 1995.{{cite web|last=Thomas |first=Stephen |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ty-england-mn0000804642 |title=Ty England – Music Biography, Credits and Discography |website=AllMusic |date=December 5, 1963 |access-date=February 17, 2013}}

In 1985, Brooks began his professional music career, singing and playing guitar in Oklahoma clubs and bars, most notably Wild Willie's Saloon in Stillwater.{{cite news |title=Garth Brooks Emerging from Retirement with Solo Shows at Wynn Las Vegas |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1623996/garth-brooks-emerging-from-retirement-with-solo-shows-at-wynn-las-vegas/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629225113/http://www.cmt.com/news/1623996/garth-brooks-emerging-from-retirement-with-solo-shows-at-wynn-las-vegas/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 29, 2015 |publisher=CMT |date=October 15, 2009 |access-date=October 25, 2015}} Through his elder siblings, Brooks was exposed to a wide range of music. Although he listened to some country music, especially that of George Jones, Brooks was most fond of rock music, citing James Taylor, Dan Fogelberg, and Townes Van Zandt as major influences. In 1981, after hearing "Unwound", the debut single of George Strait, Brooks decided that he was more interested in playing country music.

In 1985, entertainment attorney Rod Phelps drove from Dallas to listen to Brooks. Phelps liked what he heard and offered to produce Brooks' first demo. With Phelps' encouragement, including a list of Phelps' contacts in Nashville and some of his credit cards, Brooks traveled to Nashville to pursue a recording contract; he returned to Oklahoma within 24 hours.See "Chicken Soup for the Country Soul", page 148 Phelps continued to urge Brooks to return to Nashville, which he did. In 1987, Brooks and wife Sandy Mahl moved to Nashville, and Brooks began making contacts in the music industry.

Garth Brooks' eponymous first album was released in 1989 and was a chart success. It peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, and reached No. 13 on the Billboard 200 chart. Most of the album was traditionalist country, influenced in part by George Strait. The first single, "Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)", was a country top 10 success. It was followed by Brooks' first number-one single on the Hot Country Songs chart, "If Tomorrow Never Comes". "Not Counting You" reached No. 2, and "The Dance" reached No. 1; its music video, directed by John Lloyd Miller, gave Brooks his first push towards a broader audience. Brooks has later claimed that out of all the songs he has recorded, "The Dance" remains his favorite. In 1989, Brooks embarked on his first major concert tour, as opening act for Kenny Rogers.

Brooks' second album, No Fences, was released in 1990 and spent 23 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.{{cite web | last = Erlewine | first = Stephen Thomas| title = Garth Brooks | website = Allmusic | url ={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=garth brooks|bio=true}} | access-date = April 23, 2007}} The album also reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200, and eventually became Brooks' highest-selling album, with domestic shipments of 17 million.{{cite web | title = Gold and Platinum | publisher = RIAA | url =https://www.riaa.com/gp/database | access-date = April 23, 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040114052546/http://www.riaa.com/gp/database/ |archive-date=January 14, 2004 }} It contained what would become Brooks' signature song, the blue collar anthem "Friends in Low Places", as well as other popular singles, "The Thunder Rolls" and "Unanswered Prayers".

Each of these songs, as well as "Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House", reached No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart.

While Brooks' musical style placed him squarely within the boundaries of country music, he was strongly influenced by the 1970s singer-songwriter movement, especially the works of James Taylor, whom he idolized and named his first child after, as well as Dan Fogelberg.{{citation | last = Hurst | first = Jack | title = Garth Brooks Credits His Wife for Punching Up His Sagging Career | newspaper = Chicago Tribune | date = April 26, 1989 | url = http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=00248 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150402142245/http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=00248 | url-status=dead | archive-date = April 2, 2015 | access-date = April 23, 2007 }}. Archived from [http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=00248 the original] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621045746/http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=00248 |date=June 21, 2012 }} on March 21, 2017.{{cite web | last = White | first = Timothy | title = James Taylor: Immense Singer, Considerable Cranium | publisher = MOJO |date=September 1997 | url =http://www.james-taylor.com/text/mojo9-97.shtml | access-date = April 23, 2007}} Similarly, Brooks was influenced by the 1970s-era rock of Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen and the operatic rock of Queen with Freddie Mercury.

In his live shows, Brooks used a wireless headset microphone to free himself to run about the stage, adding energy and arena rock theatrics to spice up the normally staid country music approach to concerts. The band KISS was also one of Brooks' early musical influences, and his shows often reflect this. Despite all the cited influences, Brooks stated the energetic style of his stage persona is directly inspired by Chris LeDoux.{{citation | last = Pareles | first = Jon |title = Review/County; Garth Brooks, Genial Superstar, Plays for the Folks Up North | newspaper = The New York Times | date = September 7, 1992 | url =https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE6DA133DF934A3575AC0A964958260 | access-date = April 23, 2007}}

In late 1990, Brooks was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.{{cite web| title = Garth Brooks| url = http://www.opry.com/artists/b/Brooks_Garth.html| website = Opry.com| access-date = June 29, 2012| archive-date = May 24, 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120524213538/http://www.opry.com/artists/b/Brooks_Garth.html| url-status = dead}}{{cite web|title=Opry Member List PDF |url=http://www.opry.com/img/Opry%20Members%20List.pdf |date=April 23, 2012 |access-date=June 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607030858/http://www.opry.com/img/Opry%20Members%20List.pdf |archive-date=June 7, 2012 }}

Brooks' third album, Ropin' the Wind, was released in September 1991. It had advance orders of 4 million copies and entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1, a first for a country artist. The album's musical content was a melange of country pop and honky-tonk; singles included "The River", "What She's Doing Now", and a cover of Billy Joel's "Shameless". It would become Brooks' second-best selling album, after No Fences. The success of Ropin' the Wind further propelled the sales of Brooks' first two albums, enabling Brooks to become the first country artist with three albums listed in the Billboard 200's top 20 in one week.{{Citation | last =Phillips | first =Chuck | title =Garth Brooks Gets a Rope Around Prime-Time TV | newspaper =Los Angeles Times | date =January 29, 1992 | url =http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=00205 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150414165026/http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=00205 | url-status=dead | archive-date =April 14, 2015 | access-date =May 29, 2007 }}. Archived from [http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=00205 the original] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621045653/http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=00205 |date=June 21, 2012 }} on March 21, 2017.

After spending time in Los Angeles during the 1992 riots, Brooks co-wrote a gospel-country-rock hybrid single, "We Shall Be Free", to express his desire for tolerance."Hunter, James. [https://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/11/archives/recordings-view-garth-brooks-takes-a-cue-from-rock.html "Garth Brooks Takes a Cue from Rock,"] New York Times. October 11, 1992. The song became the first single off his fourth album The Chase. The single only reached No. 12 on the Billboard Top Country Singles chart, Brooks' first song in three years to fail to make the top 10.{{citation | last = Gray | first = Timothy M. | title = That was the year that was: A wrap song for '92 | newspaper = Variety | date = December 10, 1992 | url=https://variety.com/1992/voices/columns/that-was-the-year-that-was-a-wrap-song-for-92-102012/ | access-date = 2007-04-03}} Nonetheless, "We Shall Be Free" peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard Christian Songs charts through a marketing deal with Rick Hendrix Company, and earned Brooks a 1993 GLAAD Media Award.{{cite web|url=http://gaytoday.badpuppy.com/garchive/entertain/040599en.htm|title=Gay Today: Entertainment|website=Gaytoday.badpuppy.com|access-date=26 April 2015|archive-date=March 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319004118/http://gaytoday.badpuppy.com/garchive/entertain/040599en.htm|url-status=dead}}{{Citation | last =Phillips | first =Chuck | title =Cut To The Chase, Garth Brooks Stands Alone at No. 1 | newspaper =Los Angeles Times | date =September 30, 1992 | url =http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=00221 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150402094308/http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=00221 | url-status=dead | archive-date =April 2, 2015 | access-date =2007-05-29 }}. Archived from [http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=00221 the original] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621045606/http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=00221 |date=2012-06-21 }} on 21 March 2017. The next single released from The Chase was "Somewhere Other Than the Night", followed by "Learning to Live Again", which peaked at numbers one and two on the Hot Country Songs chart, respectively. The album's final single, "That Summer", would go on to be the most successful single from the album, reaching No. 1 in July 1993.{{Cite web|url=http://www.therightcountry.com/FeatureArtist/GarthBrooks.html|title=This Weeks Feature Artists|website=www.therightcountry.com|access-date=June 17, 2019}}

Brooks released his first Christmas album, Beyond the Season on August 25, 1992. The album included classics such as "White Christmas" and "Silent Night", as well as an original tune, "The Old Man's Back in Town". "Beyond the Season" was the best-selling Christmas album in 1992, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart.Paul Grein (October 29, 2013). "Chart Watch Extra: What Will Be This Year's Top Christmas Album?". Chart Watch. Yahoo.

{{further|The Garth Brooks World Tour (1993–1994)}}

In 1993, Brooks, who had criticized music stores selling used CDs since it led to a loss in proper royalty payments, persuaded Capitol Records to not ship his 1993 album, In Pieces, to stores which engaged in this practice. This led to several antitrust lawsuits against the record label, ending with Capitol shipping the albums to the stores.{{citation | last = Philips | first = Chuck | title = Garth Brooks' distributor says stores dealing in second hand goods can order his new album | newspaper = Los Angeles Times | date = August 8, 1993 | url = http://www.planetgarth.com/gbnews/garth049.shtml | access-date = March 16, 2007 | archive-date = March 14, 2012

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120314044657/http://www.planetgarth.com/gbnews/garth049.shtml | url-status = dead }}

Despite the delay in shipping, In Pieces was another success, peaking at No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums charts, and selling a total of nearly 10 million copies. After a delay in its worldwide release, the album also peaked at No. 2 on the United Kingdom Albums Chart. That same year, "The Red Strokes" became Brooks' first single to make the UK Singles Chart, reaching a high of No. 13; it was followed by "Standing Outside the Fire", which reached No. 23. Previous albums No Fences, Ropin' the Wind and The Chase also remained in the top 30 in the UK Albums Chart.

Brooks' first world tour began in 1993, reaching the UK after many domestic concerts. Brooks sold-out venues such as Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre and London's Wembley Arena, a feat never accomplished by an American country music artist. He also began the London radio station, Country 1035. Despite the disdain of the British media, Brooks' overall popularity in the country was evident, with a top disc jockey, Nick Barraclough, referring to Brooks as Garth Vader (a play on Darth Vader) for his "invasion" of the charts and his success in the country genre. Unlike Alan Jackson, who refused to return to the UK after being treated in a similar negative manner by the press, Brooks would later return in 1996 for more performances.{{citation | last = Sandler | first = Adam | title = Year's top-grossing tour sealed with Kiss | newspaper = Variety | date = December 27, 1996 | url =https://www.variety.com/vstory/VR1117436237.html?categoryid=38&cs=1&query=garth+brooks | access-date = April 3, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071111155218/http://www.variety.com/vstory/VR1117436237.html?categoryid=38&cs=1&query=garth+brooks|archive-date=November 11, 2007}} Brooks also took his World Tour to other regions throughout Europe, as well as Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand.

In 1994, Brooks paid homage to one of his musical influences, KISS, appearing on the tribute compilation, Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved, a collection of songs performed by popular artists from various genres. The unlikely collaboration of Brooks and KISS' rendition of "Hard Luck Woman" was performed live on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and despite its hard-rock appeal, Brooks' version appeared on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

{{further|The Garth Brooks World Tour (1996–1998)}}

In November 1995, Brooks released Fresh Horses, his first album of new material in two years. Within six months of its release, the album had sold over three million copies. Despite its promising start, Fresh Horses plateaued quickly, topping out at quadruple platinum.Erlewine, Stephen Thomas [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p1535/biography|pure_url=yes}} Garth Brooks biography & profile] All Music.com / Allmusic. Retrieved 6–23–08.

The album's lead single, "She's Every Woman" peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart; however, its follow-up single, "The Fever" (an Aerosmith cover) only peaked at No. 23, becoming Brooks' first country single to not chart on the top 10. However, Brooks had three additional top 10 singles from the album, including "The Beaches of Cheyenne", which reached No. 1.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/garth-brooks-mn0000798248/biography|title=Garth Brooks {{!}} Biography & History|website=AllMusic|language=en-us|access-date=June 17, 2019}}

Following the release of Fresh Horses, Brooks embarked on his second world tour. Its total attendance, approximately 5.5 million, ranks third on the all-time list of concert attendance, and its gross of over $105 million ranks it among the highest-grossing concert tours in the 1990s.{{cite magazine|last1=Waddell|first1=Ray|title=Brooks Set For Nine-Show Kansas City Run|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1048444/brooks-set-for-nine-show-kansas-city-run|access-date=March 10, 2016|magazine=Billboard|date=October 8, 2007}}

In 1997, Brooks released his seventh studio album, Sevens. The album was originally scheduled to be released in August 1997, allowing for promotion during Brooks' Central Park concert; however, plans went awry after a dispute within Capitol Records. The Central Park concert went on as planned, receiving 980,000 fans in attendance and becoming the largest concert in park history.{{cite web|title=Garth Brooks: The Entertainer |url=http://garthbrooks.com/dialup/index.cfm?id=3&discoID=22 |website=garthbrooks.com |access-date=March 30, 2016 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103102628/http://garthbrooks.com/dialup/index.cfm?id=3&discoID=22 |archive-date=January 3, 2010 }}

Sevens debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums charts. It later became Brooks' fourth album to reach sales of 10 million copies. The album included the duet "In Another's Eyes" with Trisha Yearwood, which reached No. 2 on Hot Country Songs chart, and its first single, "Longneck Bottle", with Steve Wariner, reached No. 1. The album spawned two additional number-one singles, "Two Pina Coladas" and "To Make You Feel My Love" (a Bob Dylan cover), which also was a top 10 hit on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart and was released on the soundtrack to the film, Hope Floats.

Brooks' first live album, Double Live was released in 1998. Recorded at various shows over the course of his second world tour, the album contained new material not previously released, such as "Tearin' It Up (and Burnin' It Down)" and "Wild as the Wind," featuring Trisha Yearwood. Peaking at No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums charts, Double Live went on to become the best-selling live album of all time, certified 21× Platinum by the RIAA, and is the seventh-most shipped album in United States music history.{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinum.php?content_selector=top-100-albums |title=RIAA List of Best Selling Albums |publisher=Riaa.com |access-date=May 14, 2012}}

In 1998, Brooks also released the first installment of The Limited Series, a six-disc box set containing reissues of his first six studio albums. Each of the reissued albums included a bonus track not available on the original release.

{{main|Chris Gaines}}

In 1999, Brooks took on the persona of "Chris Gaines", a fictitious rock-and-roll musician and character for an upcoming film titled The Lamb. In September 1999, the film's pre-release soundtrack, Garth Brooks in...the Life of Chris Gaines (also dubbed Gaines' Greatest Hits), was released to much public criticism. Brooks also appeared as Gaines in a television mockumentary for the VH1 series Behind the Music, and as the musical guest on an episode of Saturday Night Live, which he also hosted as himself.

Brooks' promotion of the album and the film did not garner excitement, and the failure of the Gaines project was evident mere weeks after the album was released. The majority of the American public was either bewildered, or completely unreceptive to the idea of Brooks portraying a rock-and-roll musician.{{cite web|last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |title=In ... The Life of Chris Gaines Review |website=Allmusic |date=June 13, 2005 |url=http://music.yahoo.com/read/review/14237942 |access-date=April 3, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050829103720/http://music.yahoo.com/read/review/14237942 |archive-date=August 29, 2005 }} Sales of the album were unspectacular, at least compared with most of Brooks' previous albums, and although it made it to No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart, expectations had been higher and retail stores began heavily discounting their oversupply.{{cite news | last = Goodman | first = Dean | title = Brooks Defends Latest Album, Despite Slow Sales | agency = Reuters | date = January 16, 2000 | url = http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=360 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141129084442/http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=360 | url-status=dead | archive-date = November 29, 2014 | access-date = April 3, 2007 }}. Archived from [http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=360 the original] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621045552/http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=360 |date=June 21, 2012 }} on March 21, 2017. Less-than-expected sales of the album (more than two million) brought the project to an indefinite hiatus in February 2001 and Gaines quickly faded into obscurity.{{cite web|title=The Lamb (2003) |publisher=Yahoo Movies |year=2002 |url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/preview/1808404802 |access-date=April 3, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314084209/http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/preview/1808404802 |archive-date=March 14, 2007 }}

Despite the less-than-spectacular response to the Gaines project, Brooks gained his first (and only) Billboard Top 40 pop single in "Lost in You". The album was later certified Double Platinum by the RIAA.

On November 23, 1999, Brooks released his second holiday album, Garth Brooks & the Magic of Christmas. The album peaked at No. 7 on Billboard{{'}}s Top 200 and No. 1 on the Top Country Albums, making it Brooks' 10th number-one album."The Magic of Christmas: Songs From Call Me Claus – Garth Brooks". Billboard.com. Retrieved January 2, 2013.

As his career flourished, Brooks seemed frustrated by the conflicts between career and family. He first talked of retiring from performing in 1992, and again in 1995, but each time returned to touring.{{citation | title = Garth Brooks Does What He Has To – Signing a Rich New Contract and Repairing L.A. | newspaper = The Los Angeles Times | date = January 23, 1993 | url = http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=00229 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150402111140/http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=00229 | url-status=dead | archive-date = April 2, 2015 | access-date = March 16, 2007 }}. Archived from [http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=00229 the original] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621045640/http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=00229 |date=June 21, 2012 }} on March 21, 2017. In 1999, Brooks appeared on The Nashville Network's Crook & Chase program, again mentioning retirement in a more serious tone.{{citation | last = Boehlert | first = Eric | title = Garth Brooks Ponders Retirement Amid Sales Slump | newspaper = Rolling Stone | date = December 16, 1999 | url = http://www.wholenote.com/default.asp?iTarget=http%3A//www.wholenote.com/news/item.asp%3Fi%3D116 | access-date = March 16, 2007 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130616035609/http://www.wholenote.com/n116--Garth-Brooks-Ponders-Retirement-Amid-Sales-Slump | archive-date = June 16, 2013 }} On October 26, 2000, Brooks officially announced his retirement from recording and performing.{{cite web|last=Rosen |first=Craig |title=Garth Brooks Announces Retirement |publisher=Yahoo Music |date=October 26, 2000 |url=http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12057103 |access-date=March 16, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061217105905/http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12057103 |archive-date=December 17, 2006 }} Later that evening, Capitol Records noted Brooks' achievement of selling 100 million albums in the US, celebrating at Nashville's Gaylord Entertainment Center.

Brooks' final album before retirement, Scarecrow, was released on November 13, 2001. The album did not match the sales levels of Brooks' heyday, but still sold well, reaching No. 1 on Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums charts. Although he staged a few performances for promotional purposes, Brooks stated that he would be retired from recording and performing at least until his youngest daughter finished high school.

In 2005, Brooks expressed his interest in returning to live performances; however, he remained adamant to the premise of not releasing new music until 2014. Despite this, later that year, Brooks signed a deal with Walmart, leasing them the rights to his entire catalog following his split with Capitol Records.{{citation | title = Garth Brooks Leaves Label | newspaper = Country Weekly | date = June 6, 2005 | url = http://www.countryweekly.com/scoop/1154 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090725154214/http://www.countryweekly.com/scoop/1154 | url-status=dead | archive-date = July 25, 2009 | access-date = March 16, 2007}}. Archived from [http://www.countryweekly.com/scoop/1154 the original] on March 21, 2017. Brooks was one of the first musicians to sign an exclusive music distribution deal with a single retailer (along with fellow country music artist Ricky Van Shelton, who issued his 1998 album Making Plans through the chain as well).{{citation|last=Newman |first=Melinda |title=Garth Brooks Inks Exclusive Deal with Wal-Mart |newspaper=Billboard Magazine |date=August 19, 2005 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/61724/garth-brooks-inks-exclusive-deal-with-wal-mart |access-date=March 16, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130105951/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/61724/garth-brooks-inks-exclusive-deal-with-wal-mart |archive-date=January 30, 2013 }}{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=437&dat=19970908&id=s9QtAAAAIBAJ&pg=4565,2757848|title=The Nation – Google News Archive Search|access-date=April 26, 2015}}

Three months later, in November 2005, Brooks and Walmart issued an updated The Limited Series compilation, a box set containing reissues of Brooks' albums, including Double Live, and The Lost Sessions, featuring eleven previously unreleased recordings. The box set sold more than 500,000 physical copies on its issue date. By the first week in December 2005, it had sold over 1 million physical copies.{{citation | title = Garth cracks a Million – again | newspaper = Country Weekly | date = December 8, 2005 | url = http://www.countryweekly.com/scoop/1607 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090725154140/http://www.countryweekly.com/scoop/1607 | url-status=dead | archive-date = July 25, 2009 | access-date = March 16, 2007}}. Archived from [http://www.countryweekly.com/scoop/1607 the original] on March 21, 2017.

Brooks took a brief break from retirement early in 2005 to perform in various benefit concerts. He also released a new single, "Good Ride Cowboy", as a tribute to his late friend and country singer, Chris LeDoux, via Walmart.{{cite press release| title = Garth Brooks Boxed Set is Single Biggest Music Event in Wal-Mart History | publisher =Wal-Mart | date = November 29, 2005 | url =http://www.walmart.com/catalog/garth/news_2005-11-29.jsp?dept=4104 | access-date = March 16, 2007}}

In early 2006, Walmart reissued The Lost Sessions as a single CD apart from the box set, with additional songs, including a duet with Trisha Yearwood, "Love Will Always Win", which reached the top 25 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.{{citation | title = Garth's "Lost Sessions" Available Soon |newspaper = Country Weekly | date = January 16, 2006 | url = http://www.countryweekly.com/scoop/1638 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090725154151/http://www.countryweekly.com/scoop/1638 | url-status=dead | archive-date = July 25, 2009 | access-date = March 16, 2007}}. Archived from [http://www.countryweekly.com/scoop/1638 the original] on March 21, 2017. The couple were later nominated for a "Best Country Collaboration With Vocals" Grammy Award.

On August 18, 2007, Brooks announced plans for a new box set, The Ultimate Hits. The new set featured two discs containing 30 classic songs, three new songs, and a DVD featuring music videos. The album's first single, "More Than a Memory", was released on August 27, 2007. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, becoming the highest-debuting single in the chart's history.{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/articles/1568955/20070905/brooks_garth.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930061115/http://www.cmt.com/news/articles/1568955/20070905/brooks_garth.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 30, 2007|title=Garth Brooks Makes History at Country Radio|work=CMT News|access-date=April 26, 2015}}

In November 2007, Brooks embarked on Garth Brooks: Live in Kansas City, performing nine sold-out concerts in Kansas City at the Sprint Center, which had opened a month prior. Originally scheduled to be only one show, the performance expanded to nine due to incredibly high demand, with all nine shows (equaling about 140,000 tickets) selling out in under two hours.[http://www.livedaily.com/news/12935.html Garth Brooks expands concert plans] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091016100314/http://www.livedaily.com/news/12935.html |date=October 16, 2009 }} The final concert of the series was simulcast to more than 300 movie theaters across the U.S.

In January 2008, Brooks embarked on another incredible feat performing five sold-out shows (in less than 48 hours) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles for a fundraiser towards the 2007 wildfires season that impacted much of Southern California's cities and counties. The first concert (of the five) titled Garth Brooks: Live in LA was taped and broadcast repeatedly on CBS with all donations going to all of the victims and families in state of California who were impacted by the fires.

File:Garth Brooks at We Are One (edit).jpg concert in 2009]]

{{Main|Garth at Wynn}}

In January 2009, Brooks made another one of few public appearances since his retirement, performing at the We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial concert in Washington, D.C.. In his three-song set, Brooks performed "We Shall Be Free", along with covers of Don McLean's "American Pie" and the Isley Brothers' "Shout".

On October 15, 2009, Brooks suspended his retirement to begin Garth at Wynn, a periodic weekend concert residency at Encore Las Vegas on the Las Vegas Strip. The schedule allowed Brooks both to have the family life during the week and to continue to perform on the weekend. The financial terms of the agreement were not announced, but Steve Wynn did disclose that he gave Brooks access to a private jet to quickly transport him between Las Vegas and his home in Oklahoma.{{cite news|last1=Lewis|first1=Randy|title=How Steve Wynn won over Garth Brooks|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/10/garth-brooks.html|access-date=March 7, 2016|newspaper=LA Times|date=October 16, 2009}}

Brooks' first weekend on shows in Vegas received positive reviews and was called the "antithesis of Vegas glitz and of the country singer's arena and stadium extravaganzas" by USA Today. The shows featured Brooks performing solo, acoustic concerts, and included a set list of songs that have influenced him. Artists covered in the show include Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Seger, Billy Joel, and Don McLean. His first performances at Encore Las Vegas coincided with his wedding anniversary, and his wife Trisha Yearwood joined him for two songs.

In 2013, influenced by the set list of the Las Vegas shows, Brooks released Blame It All on My Roots: Five Decades of Influences via Walmart, a compilation album consisting of songs Brooks attributes to the development of his unique country pop genre. The box set's albums were individually certified Platinum and the compilation received a Billboard Music Award nomination. In a December 2013 appearance on Good Morning America to promote the album, Brooks also surprisingly announced plans for a world tour, beginning in 2014.{{cite web |title= Garth Brooks Announces World Tour on 'Good Morning America' |url = https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2013/12/garth-brooks-announces-world-tour-on-good-morning-america/ |first= Katie |last= Kindelan |website = ABC News |date= December 9, 2013}}

File:Garth Brooks in Chicago.jpg in 2014]]

{{main|Man Against Machine|The Garth Brooks World Tour (2014–2017)}}

In February 2014, Brooks announced two concerts at Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland, to be held on July 25 and 26, 2014. Due to high demand, three additional shows were added, and a total of 400,000 tickets were sold.{{cite news|url= https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/they-re-gone-400-000-garth-brooks-tickets-sell-out-1.1681933 |newspaper= Irish Times | date=February 6, 2014 |title= They're gone: 400,000 Garth Brooks tickets sell out }} However, due to licensing conflict, Aiken Promotions and Croke Park management were prompted to cancel two of the five concerts after conflict among nearby residents.{{cite news|url= http://www.thejournal.ie/garth-brooks-concernts-croke-park-legal-action-1348786-Mar2014/ |title=Garth Brooks concerts could face legal action from local residents |newspaper= TheJournal.ie|date=March 6, 2014 }} Brooks, committed to performing the five original concerts, refused to follow through with the request to only perform three, and all concerts were cancelled.{{cite web|url =http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/music-news/crushed-garth-brooks-confirms-croke-park-cancellations-30430983.html |title= 'Crushed' Garth Brooks confirms Croke Park cancellations|date=July 14, 2014|work= Irish Independent|access-date=July 14, 2014}}

On July 10, 2014, Brooks held a press conference where he announced his signing with Sony Music Nashville, as well as confirming plans for a new album, world tour, the release of his music in a digital format, and remorse for the Ireland concert controversy. Fifteen days later, tickets first went on sale for the world tour.

On September 3, 2014, Brooks released his comeback single, "People Loving People", in promotion of his world tour and new album, Man Against Machine. The song debuted onto the Nielsen BDS-driven Country Airplay chart at No. 19, tying for the third-highest debut of Brooks' career.Wade, Jessen. "Garth Brooks Returns." Billboard 126.30 (2014): 94. EBSCO. Web. October 1, 2014.{{cite magazine|last1=Leight|first1=Elias|title=Garth Brooks Releases Comeback Single 'People Loving People'|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6236669/garth-brooks-people-loving-people-new-single|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 9, 2014}}{{cite web|last1=Mansfield|first1=Brian|title=Listen to Garth Brooks' 'People Loving People' single|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/09/03/garth-brooks-people-loving-people-single/15032435/|website=USA Today|access-date=September 9, 2014}}

On September 4, 2014, Brooks released his entire studio output on digital for the first time ever. Bypassing traditional digital music service providers, Brooks opted into releasing his albums directly his own new digital music store, GhostTunes.{{cite web|url = http://www.garthbrooks.com/|title= Garth Music Goes Digital |date=September 4, 2014|work= RTE News|access-date=September 4, 2014}} On September 19, Brooks confirmed the release date for his next album, scheduled for November 11 via a press conference in Atlanta. Man Against Machine was released via Pearl and RCA Nashville and was available online exclusively through GhostTunes.{{cite web|url = https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6259028/garth-brooks-reveals-new-album-release-date|title= Garth Brooks Reveals New Album Release Date |date=September 20, 2014|work= Billboard.com|access-date=September 21, 2014}} GhostTunes closed on March 3, 2017. Brooks' digital catalogue moved to Amazon Music, who maintain exclusive rights over it.

In September 2015, it was announced Brooks would reissue his album No Fences later in the year to commemorate its 25-year release anniversary. The release would include a new version of "Friends in Low Places", featuring George Strait, Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, and Keith Urban singing along with Brooks. The album release has since been delayed due to royalty disputes.{{cite magazine|last1=Newman|first1=Melinda|title=Garth Brooks' All-Star 'Friends in Low Places' & Album Reissue On Hold Over Royalty Dispute: Exclusive|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/6685889/garth-brooks-friends-low-places-reissue-royalty-dispute|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 6, 2015}} The track was later featured on his 2016 compilation album, The Ultimate Collection.

{{main|Gunslinger (album)}}

On October 13, 2016, Brooks released the first single, "Baby, Let's Lay Down and Dance", from his upcoming album.{{cite web|last1=Dukes|first1=Billy|title=Garth Brooks, 'Baby, Let's Lay Down and Dance' [Listen]|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/garth-brooks-baby-lets-lay-down-and-dance/|website=Taste of Country|date=October 13, 2016 |access-date=October 13, 2016}} The following week, Brooks released the upcoming album's title, Gunslinger, via Facebook Live.{{Cite web|url=https://tasteofcountry.com/garth-brooks-gunslinger/|title=Garth Brooks' 'Gunslinger' Album: Everything You Need to Know|website=Tasteofcountry.com|date=October 18, 2016 |access-date=August 4, 2021}} It was released on November 11, 2016, as a part of The Ultimate Collection, a compilation album Brooks released through Target. Brooks' other project for 2016 was a duet holiday album with wife Trisha Yearwood, Christmas Together.{{cite web|title=Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood Record Duet Album Over Holiday Break|url=http://wincountry.com/news/articles/2016/jan/20/garth-brooks-and-trisha-yearwood-record-duet-album-over-holiday-break/|website=WNWN|access-date=January 26, 2016|archive-date=January 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125054203/http://wincountry.com/news/articles/2016/jan/20/garth-brooks-and-trisha-yearwood-record-duet-album-over-holiday-break/|url-status=dead}}

After years of royalty disputes and an opposition to online music streaming, Brooks launched a streaming channel on Sirius XM Radio.{{cite web|title=Garth Brooks to Launch His Own Exclusive SiriusXM Channel|url=http://investor.siriusxm.com/investor-overview/press-releases/press-release-details/2016/Garth-Brooks-to-Launch-His-Own-Exclusive-SiriusXM-Channel/default.aspx|publisher=Sirius XM Holdings Inc.|access-date=October 19, 2016}} He also reached an agreement to stream his entire catalogue via Amazon Music.{{cite magazine|last1=Newman|first1=Melinda|title=Garth Brooks Reveals Amazon Streaming Deal Details: Exclusive|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7549052/garth-brooks-streaming-amazon-music-unlimited-exclusive|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 19, 2016}}

File:Garth Brooks (49627465292).jpg

{{Main|The Garth Brooks Stadium Tour}}{{See also|Dive Bar Tour (Garth Brooks)}}

On June 19, 2018, Brooks released a new single, "All Day Long", the first off his 2020 album, Fun. The release also included a B-side, "The Road I'm On".{{cite web |last1=Mastrogiannis |first1=Nicole |title=Garth Brooks Debuts New Single "All Day Long" |date=June 19, 2018 |url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2018-06-19-garth-brooks-debuts-new-single-all-day-long/ |publisher=iHeartRadio |access-date=June 20, 2018}} In August 2018, Brooks announced new live album, Triple Live, to be released in partnership with Ticketmaster.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/8472565/garth-brooks-new-album-triple-live|title=Garth Brooks Announces New Album 'Triple Live' in Partnership With Ticketmaster|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 28, 2018}}

In August 2018, Brooks announced his Stadium Tour, which will visit thirty North American stadiums and showcase Brooks in a football-centric environment.{{cite magazine |last1=Kruwh |first1=Nancy |title=Game On! Garth Brooks Announces a 3-Year Stadium Tour in the Works |url=https://people.com/country/garth-brooks-announces-stadium-concert-tour/ |magazine=People |access-date=October 19, 2018}} In promotion of the tour, Brooks performed the first concert at the University of Notre Dame's football stadium in 2018{{cite web|title=Garth Brooks unveils details for Notre Dame Stadium concert |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/entertainment/music/2018/08/27/garth-brooks-unveils-details-notre-dame-stadium-concert/1108026002/|publisher=IndyStar |access-date=October 21, 2018}} He released the second single, "Stronger Than Me", from his upcoming 2019 album release following a performance dedicated to his wife Trisha Yearwood at the CMA Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2018-11-14-garth-brooks-new-song-stronger-than-me-2018-cmas/|title=Garth Brooks Tearfully Dedicates 'Stronger Than Me' To Trisha Yearwood|last=Fields|first=Taylor|date=November 14, 2018|website=iHeart Radio}} On August 14, 2021, he performed his largest ever ticketed concert at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., selling 90,000 tickets.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailynebraskan.com/culture/garth-brooks-plays-memorial-stadium-sets-ticket-sale-record/article_a5f12a0a-fd94-11eb-8561-b707e5e42892.html|title=Garth Brooks plays Memorial Stadium, sets ticket sale record|date= August 14, 2021|website=Daily Nebraskan}}

The third single from his upcoming album, "Dive Bar", a duet with Blake Shelton, was released in June 2019.{{cite magazine |last1=Freeman |first1=Jon |title=Garth Brooks, Blake Shelton Team Up for Rowdy Duet 'Dive Bar' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/garth-brooks-blake-shelton-duet-dive-bar-849428/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=June 18, 2019}} Brooks also embarked on the Dive Bar Tour, a promotional tour in support of the single, visiting seven dive bars throughout the United States.{{cite magazine |last1=Newman |first1=Melinda |title=Garth Brooks Dives into Seven-City Bar Tour |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/8518861/garth-brooks-dives-into-7-city-bar-tour |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 16, 2019}}

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Brooks and wife Trisha Yearwood performed an informal concert broadcast on Facebook Live. The website crashed multiple times as an estimated 5.2 million streamed the broadcast. As a result of this, Brooks and Yearwood performed a concert in the same format the following week, broadcast live on CBS, along with a donation of $1 million to relief efforts.{{cite web |last1=Leimkuehler |first1=Matthew |title=Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood pull fans together for hope, love and a few covers on request show |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2020/04/01/garth-brooks-trisha-yearwood-cbs-live-request-show-recap-highlights/5110034002/ |newspaper=USA Today |access-date=April 2, 2020}} The CBS special scored an estimated 5.6 million viewers.{{cite news|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-wednesday-cable-originals-network-finals-4-1-2020.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402205414/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-wednesday-cable-originals-network-finals-4-1-2020.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 2, 2020|title=Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals and Network Finals|first=Mitch|last=Metcalf|publisher=Showbuzz Daily|date=April 2, 2020|access-date=April 3, 2020}} On July 7, Brooks and Yearwood performed a "part 2" to their previous online concert, taking song requests and again broadcast on Facebook Live.{{cite news |last1=Houghton |first1=Cillea |title=Garth Brooks hosting another livestreamed concert on Facebook |url=https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/garth-brooks-hosting-livestreamed-concert-facebook-watch-71538988 |newspaper=Good Morning America |access-date=July 25, 2020}} On June 27, 2020, Brooks performed a concert broadcast at 300 drive-in theaters throughout North America.{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Lottie Elizabeth |title=At $100 a car, was the Garth Brooks drive-in show worth it? |url=https://www.deseret.com/entertainment/2020/6/29/21307349/garth-brooks-drive-in-concert-live-music-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic |access-date=July 25, 2020 |publisher=Deseret News |date=June 29, 2020}}

Brooks released his most recent album, Fun, on November 20, 2020.{{cite news |last1=Yahr |first1=Emily |title=Garth Brooks on his Charley Pride duet, 'Shallow' cover and the truth behind that Trump rumor |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2020/11/19/garth-brooks-new-album/ |access-date=November 20, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 19, 2020}}

On January 20, 2021, Brooks performed "Amazing Grace" at the inauguration of Joe Biden.{{Cite web|date=January 20, 2021|title=Garth Brooks sings 'Amazing Grace' for Biden inauguration|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-garth-brooks-sings-amazing-grace-for-biden-inauguration|access-date=January 20, 2021|website=PBS NewsHour|format=Video|language=en-us}} He said his performance was an opportunity "to serve" and is a "statement of unity."{{Cite web|title=Garth Brooks on why he's performing at Biden's inauguration|url=https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/garth-brooks-perform-bidens-inauguration-75325490|access-date=January 19, 2021|website=Good Morning America|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Garth Brooks|url=https://www.garthbrooks.com/news/garthbrooks-presidential-inaugration|access-date=January 21, 2021|website=www.garthbrooks.com}}

On April 30, 2022, Brooks performed in Tiger Stadium on the campus of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. When he performed his signature hit "Callin' Baton Rouge," he became the second person, after LSU quarterback Tommy Hodson, to excite the crowd to a degree that the noise level registered on the university's seismograph – registering as an earthquake caused by excited fans.{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/33856319/garth-brooks-causes-latest-earthquake-lsu-tiger-stadium | title=Garth Brooks causes latest earthquake at LSU's Tiger Stadium | date=May 4, 2022 }}

On November 14, 2022, Brooks announced his second concert residency, Garth Brooks/Plus ONE, at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.{{cite web |last1=FitzPatrick |first1=Hayley |last2=Howe |first2=Katie |title=Garth Brooks announces new 2023 Las Vegas residency |url=https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/garth-brooks-announces-2023-las-vegas-residency-93132645 |website=Good Morning America |publisher=ABC News Internet Ventures |access-date=November 14, 2022}} He released his most recent album, Time Traveler, in November 2023.{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/country/garth-brooks-new-album-time-traveler-release-date-1235454383/ |issn=0006-2510 |language=en-US |magazine=Billboard |last=Newman |first=Melinda |date=October 25, 2023 |accessdate=November 23, 2023 |title=Garth Brooks Announces 14th Studio Album 'Time Traveler': Here's When It Arrives |department=Country}}

On November 24, 2023, Brooks headlined an Amazon Music Live concert special, Garth Brooks: Dive Bar Concert. The concert took place at Brooks' Nashville bar Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk.{{cite news |last1=Nicholson |first1=Jessica |title=Garth Brooks to Headline First Amazon Music Live Concert on Black Friday |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/country/garth-brooks-amazon-music-live-concert-1235462549/ |access-date=December 11, 2023 |publisher=Billboard |date=November 2, 2023}}

On January 9, 2025, Brooks along with his wife Trisha Yearwood performed the John Lennon song "Imagine" at the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.{{Cite web |title=Live updates: Biden delivers eulogy and grandson speaks of Carter's humanitarian accomplishments |url=https://apnews.com/live/jimmy-carter-funeral-updates#00000194-4b9c-d698-afdf-dffe189a0000 |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=AP News |language=en}}

The vast majority of Brooks' recordings have used the same studio band, known collectively as the "G-Men". These are Bruce Bouton (steel guitar), Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar), Mike Chapman (bass guitar), Rob Hajacos (fiddle), Chris Leuzinger (electric guitar), Milton Sledge (drums), and Bobby Wood (keyboards), along with sound engineer Mark Miller, who took over from Allen Reynolds as Brooks' producer starting with Blame It All on My Roots: Five Decades of Influences.{{cite web|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2016/10/18/garth-brooks-g-men-get-their-moment-spotlight/91732552/|title=Garth Brooks' G-Men get their moment in the spotlight|date=October 18, 2016|work=The Tennessean|access-date=July 28, 2018}} Chapman died on June 13, 2016.{{cite web|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/bassist-mike-chapman-dead-dies/|title=Country Bassist Mike Chapman Dead at 63|date=June 17, 2016|work=Taste of Country|access-date=July 28, 2018}}

In 1998, Brooks launched his Touch 'em All Foundation with Major League Baseball. He also began with a short career in baseball, when he signed with the San Diego Padres for spring training in 1998 and 1999.{{cite web|url=http://www.planetgarth.com/gbnews/garth209.shtml|title=Garth Brooks News Archive: Now pinch running, Garth Brooks|access-date=April 26, 2015|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924073938/http://www.planetgarth.com/gbnews/garth209.shtml|url-status=dead}} Brooks' performance on the field did not warrant management placing him on the regular season roster; however, he was offered a non-roster spot, but declined it.{{cite web|url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/1999/04/07/bas_258477.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308051500/http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/1999/04/07/bas_258477.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 8, 2016|title=Garth Brooks pulls plug on baseball career|website=chronicle.augusta.com|agency=Associated Press}} The following season, Brooks signed with the New York Mets. This spring-training stint was also a poor performance for Brooks, resulting in a zero-for-seventeen batting record.{{cite news|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2000/03/19/mets_garth_ap/ |work=CNN |title=Mets grant Garth Brooks unconditional release |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203063910/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2000/03/19/mets_garth_ap/ |archive-date=December 3, 2013 }} In 2004, Brooks returned to baseball with the Kansas City Royals.{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page3/story?page=10bqs/brooks|work=ESPN |title=Top Sports Searches |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114050706/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page3/story?page=10bqs%2Fbrooks |archive-date=November 14, 2014}} He got his first and only hit off Mike Myers during his final spring training game with the Royals.{{cite web|last1=Caple |first1=Jim |title=Brooks taking his cuts again this spring |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page3/story?page=10bqs/brooks |website=ESPN |access-date=October 16, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114050706/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page3/story?page=10bqs%2Fbrooks |archive-date=November 14, 2014}}

In 2019, Brooks made a return to spring training, joining the Pittsburgh Pirates to promote his charity.{{cite news |last1=Encina |first1=Eduardo |title=Around the Grapefruit League: Garth Brooks lands in Pirates camp |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/2019/02/25/around-the-grapefruit-league-garth-brooks-lands-in-pirates-camp-continuing-his-mission-of-helping-kids-in-need/ |newspaper=Tampa Bay Times |access-date=March 1, 2019}}

In 2005, Brooks ended his association with Capitol Records and established his own record label, Pearl Records.{{cite magazine|title=Garth Splits With Capitol|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1411376/garth-splits-with-capitol|access-date=December 5, 2014|magazine=Billboard|date=June 3, 2005|archive-date=July 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725034341/http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1411376/garth-splits-with-capitol|url-status=dead}} Brooks has released four compilation albums via Pearl Records, as well as his 2014 and 2016 studio albums plus any future releases (also released through RCA Records Nashville).

In 2010, Brooks purchased Jack's Tracks, a recording studio founded by Jack Clement in 1971 and sold to Allen Reynolds in 1975, where most of Brooks' albums were recorded. In 2012, in honor of his 50th birthday, Brooks renamed the studio Allentown Studios.{{cite web|url=https://nashvillesites.org/records/jacks-tracks-recording-studio|title=Jack's Tracks Recording Studio|website=nashvillesites.org|access-date=July 30, 2024}}{{cite web|last=Castorena|first=Shauna|title=Garth Brooks Explains "Inside Studio G", and discusses Allentown|url=https://countrymusicnewsblog.com/garth-brooks-explains-inside-studio-g-and-discusses-allentown/|website=countrymusicnewsblog.com|date=July 12, 2016}}

{{Main|GhostTunes}}

In September 2014, Brooks established GhostTunes, a digital music store featuring his own digital music, as well as over ten million songs from other artists. The store, contracted with "the big three" record labels, allows for autonomous pricing and distribution format, resulting in the most proper royalty payments for artists and songwriters.{{cite news|last1=Karp|first1=Hannah|title=Garth Brooks Launches Download Store|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/garth-brooks-to-launch-music-download-store-1415594399|access-date=December 5, 2014|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=November 9, 2014}} In March 2017, GhostTunes officially closed, merging with Amazon Music.{{cite web |url=https://ghosttunes.com/ |title=GhostTunes is closed |website=GhostTunes |access-date=May 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630162108/https://ghosttunes.com/ |archive-date=June 30, 2017}}

File:Garth Brooks 2019 by Glenn Francis.jpg, at the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards]]

Brooks graduated from Oklahoma State University where he starred on the track and field team in the javelin throw. He later completed his MBA from Oklahoma State and participated in the commencement ceremony on May 6, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.indyposted.com/160857/garth-brooks-earns-masters-degree-attends-graduation-ceremony/ |title=Garth Brooks Earns Masters Degree, Attends Graduation Ceremony |last=Johnson |first=James |publisher=indyposted.com |access-date=May 14, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724062855/http://www.indyposted.com/160857/garth-brooks-earns-masters-degree-attends-graduation-ceremony/ |archive-date=July 24, 2011 }}

Brooks married songwriter Sandy Mahl on May 24, 1986. The couple had three daughters: Taylor Mayne Pearl (b. 1992), August Anna (b. 1994), and Allie Colleen Brooks (b. 1996).{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1711350/garth-brooks-becomes-a-grandfather.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729001902/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1711350/garth-brooks-becomes-a-grandfather.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 29, 2013|title=Garth Brooks Becomes a Grandfather|work=CMT News|access-date=April 26, 2015}}{{cite news | url = http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/garth-brooks-is-a-grandfather-2013267 | title=Garth Brooks Is a Grandfather! | date=July 26, 2013 | work = Us Weekly | first= Brittany | last = Galla | access-date= December 9, 2013}} Brooks and Sandy separated in March 1999, announcing their plans to divorce on October 9, 2000, and filed for divorce on November 6, 2000.{{cite web|last=Rosen |first=Craig |title=Garth Brooks To Divorce |publisher=Yahoo Music |date=October 9, 2000 |url=http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12054809 |access-date=March 16, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061215114335/http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12054809 |archive-date=December 15, 2006 }}{{cite news | title = Garth Brooks' divorce finalized | work = BBC News | date = December 18, 2001 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1717257.stm | access-date = March 16, 2007}} The divorce became final on December 17, 2001.{{citation | last = MacDonald | first = Patrick | title = Garth and Trisha, A dynamic duo | newspaper = The Seattle Times | date = July 8, 1998 | url = http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=00185 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141129084546/http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=00185 | url-status=dead | archive-date = November 29, 2014 | access-date = March 16, 2007 }}. Archived from [http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=00185 the original] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621045709/http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=00185 |date=June 21, 2012 }} on March 21, 2017.

Brooks remarried on December 10, 2005, to country singer and cookbook author Trisha Yearwood. Yearwood has included various recipes created or inspired by Brooks in her published works, including Garth's Breakfast Bowl, a breakfast dish including cheese and garlic tortellini.{{cite web |last1=Yearwood |first1=Trisha |title=Garth's Breakfast Bowl |url=https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/trisha-yearwood/garths-breakfast-bowl-recipe-2109796 |website=Food Network |publisher=Television Food Network, G.P |access-date=November 18, 2019}}

In July 2013, Brooks became a grandfather when August had daughter Karalynn with Chance Michael Russell.{{cite web|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/garth-brooks-grandfather/|title=Garth Brooks Becomes a Grandfather|work=Taste of Country|date=July 26, 2013 |access-date=April 26, 2015}}

{{See also|Garth Brooks: Live in LA}}

In 1999, Brooks began the Teammates for Kids Foundation, which provides financial aid to charities for children.{{citation | title = Teammates for kids homepage | url = http://www.teammatesforkids.com | access-date = August 1, 2007}} The organization breaks down into three categories spanning three different sports:

• Touch 'Em All Foundation – Baseball Division
• Top Shelf – Hockey Division
• Touchdown – Football Division

Brooks is also a fundraiser for various other charities, including a number of children's charities and famine relief. With wife Trisha Yearwood, Brooks sang Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Who'll Stop the Rain" on the Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast nationwide telethon for Hurricane Katrina relief.{{cite web | title = Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast | publisher = ABC |date=September 2005 | url =http://abc.go.com/specials/shelterfromthestorm.html | access-date = March 16, 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070912051040/http://abc.go.com/specials/shelterfromthestorm.html |archive-date = September 12, 2007}} He performed the Garth Brooks: Live in LA benefit concerts, five sold-out concerts over a two-day period at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on January 25 and 26, 2008 (setting numerous records at the high-profile venue in the process and accomplished a feat done by no other artist in music history to perform all 5 shows in a 48-hour time frame). These concerts were staged to raise money for Fire Intervention Relief Effort, serving those impacted by the 2007 California wildfires. Tickets were priced at $40 each and all five shows (totaling more than 85,000 tickets) sold out in 58 minutes. CBS broadcast the first concert live as a telethon for additional fundraising.{{cite web|url=http://www.staplescenter.com/news/detail/garth-brooks-sells-out-five-los-angeles-shows-with-all-proceeds-going-to-provide-assistance-to-recent-fire-victims-and-the-future-of-fire-fighting-in-the-state-of-california|title=Garth Brooks Sells Out Five Los Angeles Shows with All Proceeds Going To Provide Assistance To Recent Fire Victims and the Future of Fire Fighting in the State of California|publisher=Staples Center|access-date=April 26, 2015|archive-date=April 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415023929/http://www.staplescenter.com/news/detail/garth-brooks-sells-out-five-los-angeles-shows-with-all-proceeds-going-to-provide-assistance-to-recent-fire-victims-and-the-future-of-fire-fighting-in-the-state-of-california|url-status=dead}}

Brooks, along with wife Yearwood, has supported Habitat for Humanity's work over the years. In December 2010, Brooks played nine shows in less than a week in Nashville at Bridgestone Arena to benefit victims from the May 2010 Nashville flood. Over 140,000 tickets were sold and $5 million raised.{{Cite web|url=https://www.boomsbeat.com/articles/259201/20170422/30-mind-blowing-facts-fan-know-favorite-garth-brooks.htm|title=30 Mind Blowing Facts Every Fan Should Know About Fan Favorite Garth Brooks|last=Karnick|first=Ruby|date=April 22, 2017|website=BOOMSbeat|language=en|access-date=March 1, 2019}}

On July 6, 2013, Brooks joined with Toby Keith for a benefit concert for victims of the 2013 Oklahoma tornadoes. The sold-out show featured artists Mel Tillis, John Anderson, Willie Nelson, Trisha Yearwood, Sammy Hagar, Kellie Coffey, Ronnie Dunn, Carrie Underwood and Krystal Keith. It was held at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2013/06/13/toby-keith-garth-brooks-plan-okla-relief-concert/2421345/ |title=Toby Keith, Garth Brooks plan Oklahoma relief concert |date=June 13, 2013 |agency=Associated Press |work=USA Today |access-date=June 23, 2013 }} Most recently, while between legs of his world tour in 2015, Brooks performed a sold-out concert in Barretos, Brazil to benefit the Hospital de Câncer de Barretos.{{cite news|title=Garth Returns To Brazil!|url=http://garthbrooks.com/garth-brooks-in-brazil/|access-date=March 11, 2016|work=garthbrooks.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311125022/http://garthbrooks.com/garth-brooks-in-brazil/|archive-date=March 11, 2016|url-status=dead}}

In a 1999 interview with George, Brooks said, "But if you're in love, you've got to follow your heart and trust that God will explain to us why we sometimes fall in love with people of the same sex."{{cite web|url=http://gaytoday.badpuppy.com/garchive/entertain/040599en.htm|title=GLAAD's Hollywood Hotsheet|last=Horn|first=William|work=Gay Today|access-date=February 28, 2014|archive-date=March 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319004118/http://gaytoday.badpuppy.com/garchive/entertain/040599en.htm|url-status=dead}} Lyrics to his song, "We Shall Be Free", features the line, "When we're free to love anyone we choose," which has been interpreted as a reference to same-sex relationships.{{cite news|date=April 1999|title=George|quote="What's odd is that nobody assumed it could mean interracial marriages or interfaith marriages. They immediately went straight to the homosexual thing."}} Brooks won a 1993 GLAAD Media Award for the song.

In 2000, Brooks appeared at the Equality Rocks benefit concert for gay rights. He sang a duet with openly gay singer George Michael.{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1476896/garth-brooks-george-michael-to-duet-at-gay-rights-benefit.jhtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140228113033/http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1476896/garth-brooks-george-michael-to-duet-at-gay-rights-benefit.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 28, 2014|title=Garth Brooks, George Michael to Duet at Gay Rights Benefit|date=April 4, 2000|work=CMT News|access-date=February 28, 2014}}

Brooks' half-sister, Betsy Smittle, who died in 2013, was a musician who released her own album Rough Around the Edges (as Betsy) and was part of Brooks' band for some years. She also worked with the late country star Gus Hardin and other musicians in Tulsa. Smittle was a lesbian, and Brooks has credited her with some of the inspiration for his support for same-sex marriage.{{cite web|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/obituaries/localobituaries/betsy-smittle-superstar-garth-brooks-half-sister-and-former-bandmate/article_096f70ca-7412-5cbf-b062-469f8362793e.html|title=Betsy Smittle, superstar Garth Brooks' half-sister and former bandmate, dies at 60|last=Stanley|first=Tim|date=November 7, 2013|work=Tulsa World|access-date=February 28, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://oklahomarock.com/betsy-smittle-tulsa-musician-and-garth-brooks-sister-dead-at-60/|title=Betsy Smittle, Tulsa Musician and Garth Brooks' Sister, Dead at 60|date=November 4, 2013|work=OklahomaRock.com|access-date=February 28, 2014|archive-date=March 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304160427/http://oklahomarock.com/betsy-smittle-tulsa-musician-and-garth-brooks-sister-dead-at-60/|url-status=dead}}

In October 2024, Brooks was sued by his former hairstylist and makeup artist who claimed she was sexually harassed by him on several occasions. She also claimed that Brooks raped her during a trip the two took to film a Grammy tribute in 2019.{{Cite web |last=Wagmeister |first=Elizabeth |date=October 3, 2024 |title=Garth Brooks accused of sexual assault and battery in lawsuit from hair-and-makeup artist who worked for him. |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/03/entertainment/garth-brooks-accused-sexual-assault?Date=20241003&Profile=CNN |access-date=October 3, 2024 |website=CNN}} Brooks has denied the allegations, calling them a "shakedown" and an extortion attempt. He initially sued his accuser under a pseudonym in an attempt to block the allegations from coming to light.{{Cite web |last=Wagmeister |first=Elizabeth |date=2024-10-03 |title=Anonymous celebrity lawsuit asks court to declare sexual assault accuser's allegations untrue — before she's even sued |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/03/entertainment/celebrity-lawsuit-sexual-assault-allegations/index.html |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=CNN}} In response to the lawsuit naming him, Brooks named his accuser in a countersuit.{{Cite web |last1=Blackwelder |first1=Carson |last2=Jane Bernabe |first2=Angeline |date=2024-10-09 |title=Garth Brooks files lawsuit in response to rape, sexual assault accusations |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/garth-brooks-files-lawsuit-response-rape-sexual-assault/story?id=114656752 |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=ABC News}}{{Cite web |last=Sisario |first=Ben |date=2024-10-09 |title=Garth Brooks Names Woman Who Accused Him of Rape |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/09/arts/music/garth-brooks-names-rape-accuser.html |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=New York Times}}

File:Garth Brooks.jpg

{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Garth Brooks}}

Brooks has won a record 22 Academy of Country Music Awards and received a total of 47 overall nominations. His 13 Grammy Award nominations have resulted in 2 awards won, along with Billboard Music Awards, Country Music Association Awards, and many others. Brooks' work has earned awards and nominations in television and film as well, including the Primetime Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2010, he was inducted into the Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame.{{cite web |title=Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame Inductees |url=https://www.cfdrodeo.com/cfd-old-west-museum/our-story/history/cheyenne-frontier-days-hall-of-fame-inductees |website=Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum |access-date=October 2, 2018}} He has also been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.{{cite news |url=https://eu.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2016/10/26/garth-brooks-ricky-skaggs-among-musicians-hall-fame-inductees/91953666/ |title=Garth Brooks, Ricky Skaggs among Musicians Hall of Fame inductees |first=Dave |last=Paulson|work=Tennessean|date= October 26, 2016 }}

In 2020, Brooks was awarded the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Age 57 at the time he was named as the Gershwin honoree, he is the youngest recipient of the award. Also in 2020, Cher presented Brooks with the Billboard Icon Award.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/bbma/9466052/garth-brooks-2020-billboard-music-awards-icon/|title = Icon Garth Brooks Delivers a Rousing Medley of Hits at 2020 Billboard Music Awards| magazine=Billboard }}

In 2021, Brooks was named a recipient for the 43rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/honors/2020-honorees/|title=The 43rd Kennedy Center Honorees Are...|website=Kennedy-center.org|access-date=August 4, 2021}}

According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Brooks was the best-selling solo artist of the 20th century in America.

{{cite web |title = The American Recording Industry Announces its Artists of the Century | publisher = RIAA | date = November 10, 1999 | url =https://www.riaa.com/news/newsletter/press1999/111099.asp | access-date = March 16, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070311085033/http://www.riaa.com/news/newsletter/press1999/111099.asp |archive-date = March 11, 2007}} This conclusion drew criticism from the press and many music fans who were convinced that Elvis Presley had sold more records, but had been short-changed in the rankings due to faulty RIAA certification methods during his lifetime.{{cite web | last = Quinn | first = Brian | title = Elvis' American Record Sales A Request for Action | publisher = Elvis World-Japan | url =http://www.biwa.ne.jp/~presley/elnews-ElvisRecordSales.htm | access-date = March 16, 2007}} Brooks, while proud of his sales accomplishments, stated that he too believed that Presley must have sold more.{{cite web | title = Is Elvis the Biggest Selling Recording Artist? |publisher = Elvis Information Network| url =http://www.elvisinfonet.com/elvisvsbeatlespart1.html | access-date = March 16, 2007}}

The RIAA has since reexamined their methods for counting certifications. Under their revised methods, Presley became the best-selling solo artist in U.S. history, making Brooks the number-two solo artist, ranking third overall, as the Beatles have sold more albums than either he or Presley.{{cite web | title = Top Artists | publisher = RIAA | date = July 31, 2006 | url =https://www.riaa.com/gp/bestsellers/topartists.asp | access-date = March 16, 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070304033156/http://www.riaa.com/gp/bestsellers/topartists.asp |archive-date = March 4, 2007}} The revision brought more criticism of the accuracy of the RIAA's figures, this time from Brooks' followers. On November 5, 2007, Brooks was again named the best selling solo artist in US history, surpassing Presley after audited sales of 123 million were announced.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/11/06/garth-brooks-dethrones-elvis-as-best-seller-clapton-and-winwood-team-up-nirvana-music-secured-for-biopic/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071108224812/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/11/06/garth-brooks-dethrones-elvis-as-best-seller-clapton-and-winwood-team-up-nirvana-music-secured-for-biopic/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 8, 2007|title=Garth Brooks Dethrones Elvis as Best-Seller, Clapton and Winwood Team Up, Nirvana Music Secured for Biopic|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=June 27, 2009}} In December 2010, several more of Presley's albums received certifications from the RIAA. As a result, Elvis again surpassed Brooks.{{cite web|url=http://riaa.org/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS |title=RIAA certifications for Elvis Presley |publisher=RIAA |access-date=February 3, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820142502/http://riaa.org/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS |archive-date=August 20, 2010}} {{as of|2014|October}}, the RIAA lists Presley's total sales at 134.5 million and Brooks' at 134 million.{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinum.php?content_selector=top-selling-artists |title=RIAA Top Selling Artists|website=Riaa.com |access-date=October 5, 2014}} Subsequently, Man Against Machine has been certified by the RIAA as Platinum and listing Brooks sales as exceeding 136 million, placing Brooks again as the number 1 selling solo artist.

In 2012, Brooks officially passed the Beatles as the top-selling act of the past 20 years, moving 68.5 million units worldwide, almost 5 million more than the Beatles.{{cite web|url=http://www.theboot.com/2012/01/23/garth-brooks-top-selling-soundscan-beatles/|title=Garth Brooks Bests Beatles as Top-Selling Act of Last 20 Years|work=The Boot|date=January 23, 2012 |access-date=April 26, 2015}} In May 2014, Brooks' total album sales reached 69,544,000 copies, which makes him the best-selling album artist in the U.S., ahead of the Beatles (65,730,000), Metallica (54,365,000), Mariah Carey (54,280,000) and Celine Dion (52,234,000).{{cite web|title=Chart Watch: Mariah...The Disappointed Chanteuse|date=May 29, 2014 |url=https://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/chart-watch-mariah-disappointed-chanteuse-220501848.html|publisher=Paul Grein|access-date= May 30, 2014}}

In September 2016, Brooks became the first and only artist in music history to achieve seven career Diamond Award albums, according to the RIAA (surpassing the previous tied record of six next to The Beatles).{{Cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/|title=Gold & Platinum|website=RIAA|access-date=August 4, 2021}}

On June 16, 2021, Brooks won the Pollstar award as the "country touring artist of the decade" (2010s). Brooks thanked his band for the companionship during all those years.{{cite news |last1=Willman |first1=Chris |title=Pollstar Awards Laud Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Garth Brooks and Others as Touring Artists of the Decade |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/pollstar-awards-touring-artists-decade-beyonce-1234998873/ |access-date=June 17, 2021 |work=Variety |date=June 16, 2021}}

In 2014, Brooks was awarded the Arkansas Traveler certificate.{{cite web|url=http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2014/dec/11/garth-brooks-promises-guaranteed-good-time-lr-show/?f=entertainment-music|title=Garth Brooks promises 'guaranteed good time' at NLR shows|date=December 11, 2014}}

{{Main|Garth Brooks discography}}

• Garth Brooks (1989)
• No Fences (1990)
• Ropin' the Wind (1991)
• Beyond the Season (1992)
• The Chase (1992)
• In Pieces (1993)
• Fresh Horses (1995)
• Sevens (1997)
• Garth Brooks in...the Life of Chris Gaines (1999)
• Garth Brooks & the Magic of Christmas (1999)
• Scarecrow (2001)
• Man Against Machine (2014)
• Christmas Together {{small|(with Trisha Yearwood)}} (2016)
• Gunslinger (2016)
• Fun (2020)
• Time Traveler (2023)

{{Main|List of Garth Brooks concert tours}}

• The Garth Brooks World Tour (1993–1994)
• The Garth Brooks World Tour (1996–1998)
• Garth at Wynn (2009–2014)
• The Garth Brooks World Tour (2014–2017)
• Dive Bar Tour (2019)
• The Garth Brooks Stadium Tour (2019–2022)
• Garth Brooks/Plus ONE (2023)

• List of best-selling music artists
• List of best-selling music artists in the United States
• List of highest-grossing concert tours

{{Reflist}}

• {{citation |last=Cox |first=Patsi Bale |title=The Garth Factor: The Career Behind Country's Big Boom |url=https://archive.org/details/garthfactorcaree0000coxp |publisher=Center Street |location=New York |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-59995-099-0}}

• {{citation|last=Feiler|first=Bruce S.|title=Dreaming Out Loud: Garth Brooks, Wynonna Judd, Wade Hayes, and the Changing Face of Nashville|year=1998|publisher=HarperCollins|isbn=978-0-380-97578-5|url=https://archive.org/details/dreamingoutloudg00feil_0}}
• {{citation|last=McCall|first=Michael|title=Garth Brooks: A Biography|year=1991|publisher=Bantam Books|isbn=978-0-553-29823-9|url=https://archive.org/details/garthbrooksbiogr00mcca}}
• {{citation|last=Mitchell|first=Rick|title=Garth Brooks:One of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House|publisher=Simon & Schuster|year=1993|isbn=978-0-671-79688-4|url=https://archive.org/details/garthbrooksoneof00mitc}}
• {{citation|last=Morris|first=Ed|title=Garth Brooks: Platinum Cowboy|year=1993|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-0-312-08788-3}}
• {{citation|last=O'Meilia|first=Matt|title=Garth Brooks: The Road Out of Santa Fe|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press|year=1997|isbn=978-0-585-14880-9}}
• {{citation|last=Sgammato|first=Jo|title=American Thunder: The Garth Brooks Story|publisher=Random House Publishing Group|year=2000|isbn=978-0-345-43950-5}}

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{{Garth Brooks|state=expanded}}

{{Garth Brooks singles}}

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{{Academy of Country Music Award for Entertainer of the Year}}

{{American Music Award for Artist of the Year}}

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{{Grand Ole Opry members}}

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Category:1962 births

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