82 Facts About Garth Brooks

1.

Troyal Garth Brooks was born on February 7,1962 and is an American country singer and songwriter.

2.

Since 1989, Brooks has released 23 records in all, which include 13 studio albums, two live albums, three compilation albums, three Christmas albums, and four box sets, along with 77 singles.

3.

Garth Brooks has won several awards in his career, including two Grammy Awards, 17 American Music Awards and the RIAA Award for best-selling solo albums artist of the century in the US.

4.

Troubled by conflicts between career and family, Garth Brooks retired from recording and performing from 2001 until 2005.

5.

In 2005, Garth Brooks started a partial comeback, giving select performances and releasing two compilation albums.

6.

Garth Brooks was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on October 21,2012, having been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame the year before.

7.

Garth Brooks was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2016 with his studio musicians, The G-Men.

8.

In 2020, Garth Brooks became the youngest recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

9.

Troyal Garth Brooks was born on February 7,1962, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

10.

Garth Brooks was the youngest child of Troyal Raymond Brooks Jr.

11.

Garth Brooks received a track scholarship to Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, where he competed in the javelin.

12.

In 1985, Garth Brooks began his professional music career, singing and playing guitar in Oklahoma clubs and bars, most notably Wild Willie's Saloon in Stillwater.

13.

In 1981, after hearing "Unwound", the debut single of George Strait, Garth Brooks decided that he was more interested in playing country music.

14.

Garth Brooks' eponymous first album was released in 1989 and was a chart success.

15.

Garth Brooks has later claimed that out of all the songs he has recorded, "The Dance" remains his favorite.

16.

In 1989, Garth Brooks embarked on his first major concert tour, as opening act for Kenny Rogers.

17.

Similarly, Garth Brooks was influenced by the 1970s-era rock of Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen and the operatic rock of Queen with Freddie Mercury.

18.

In late 1990, Garth Brooks was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.

19.

Garth Brooks released his first Christmas album, Beyond the Season on August 25,1992.

20.

In 1993, Garth 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.

21.

Garth Brooks took his World Tour to other regions throughout Europe, as well as Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand.

22.

In 1994, Garth 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.

23.

In November 1995, Garth Brooks released Fresh Horses, his first album of new material in two years.

24.

However, Garth Brooks had three additional top 10 singles from the album, including "The Beaches of Cheyenne", which reached No 1.

25.

In 1998, Garth Brooks released the first installment of The Limited Series, a six-disc box set containing reissues of his first six studio albums.

26.

In 1999, Garth Brooks took on the persona of "Chris Gaines", a fictitious rock-and-roll musician and character for an upcoming film titled The Lamb.

27.

Garth Brooks 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 hosted as himself.

28.

The majority of the American public was either bewildered, or completely unreceptive to the idea of Garth Brooks portraying a rock-and-roll musician.

29.

Garth Brooks first talked of retiring from performing in 1992, and again in 1995, but each time returned to touring.

30.

On October 26,2000, Garth Brooks officially announced his retirement from recording and performing.

31.

In 2005, Garth Brooks expressed his interest in returning to live performances; however, he remained adamant to the premise of not releasing new music until 2014.

32.

Garth Brooks was one of the first musicians to sign an exclusive music distribution deal with a single retailer.

33.

Garth Brooks took a brief break from retirement early in 2005 to perform in various benefit concerts.

34.

Garth Brooks released a new single, "Good Ride Cowboy", as a tribute to his late friend and country singer, Chris LeDoux, via Walmart.

35.

In January 2008, Garth Brooks embarked on another incredible feat performing five sold-out shows 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.

36.

In January 2009, Garth 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, DC.

37.

In 2013, influenced by the set list of the Las Vegas shows, Garth Brooks released Blame It All on My Roots: Five Decades of Influences via Walmart, a compilation album consisting of songs Garth Brooks attributes to the development of his unique country pop genre.

38.

In February 2014, Garth Brooks announced two concerts at Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland, to be held on July 25 and 26,2014.

39.

Garth Brooks, committed to performing the five original concerts, refused to follow through with the request to only perform three, and all concerts were cancelled.

40.

On July 10,2014, Garth 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.

41.

On September 3,2014, Garth Brooks released his comeback single, "People Loving People", in promotion of his world tour and new album, Man Against Machine.

42.

On September 4,2014, Garth Brooks released his entire studio output on digital for the first time ever.

43.

On October 13,2016, Garth Brooks released the first single, "Baby, Let's Lay Down and Dance", from his upcoming album.

44.

Garth Brooks' other project for 2016 was a duet holiday album with wife Trisha Yearwood, Christmas Together.

45.

Garth Brooks reached an agreement to stream his entire catalogue via Amazon Music.

46.

On June 19,2018, Garth Brooks released a new single, "All Day Long", the first off his 2020 album, Fun.

47.

In promotion of the tour, Garth Brooks performed the first concert at the University of Notre Dame's football stadium in 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.

48.

Garth Brooks embarked on the Dive Bar Tour, a promotional tour in support of the single, visiting seven dive bars throughout the United States.

49.

On June 27,2020, Garth Brooks performed a concert broadcast at 300 drive-in theaters throughout North America.

50.

Garth Brooks released his most recent album, Fun, on November 20,2020.

51.

On January 20,2021, Garth Brooks performed "Amazing Grace" at the inauguration of Joe Biden.

52.

The vast majority of Garth Brooks' recordings have used the same studio band, known collectively as the "G-Men".

53.

In 1998, Garth Brooks launched his Touch 'em All Foundation with Major League Baseball.

54.

Garth Brooks began with a short career in baseball, when he signed with the San Diego Padres for spring training in 1998 and 1999.

55.

In 2004, Garth Brooks returned to baseball with the Kansas City Royals.

56.

Garth Brooks got his first and only hit off Mike Myers during his final spring training game with the Royals.

57.

In 2019, Garth Brooks made a return to spring training, joining the Pittsburgh Pirates to promote his charity.

58.

In 2005, Garth Brooks ended his association with Capitol Records and established his own record label, Pearl Records.

59.

Garth Brooks has released four compilation albums via Pearl Records, as well as his 2014 and 2016 studio albums plus any future releases.

60.

In September 2014, Garth Brooks established GhostTunes, an online music store featuring his own digital music, as well as over ten million songs from other artists.

61.

Garth Brooks graduated from Oklahoma State University where he starred on the track and field team in the javelin throw.

62.

Garth Brooks later completed his MBA from Oklahoma State and participated in the commencement ceremony on May 6,2011.

63.

Garth Brooks remarried on December 10,2005, to country singer and cookbook author Trisha Yearwood.

64.

In July 2013, Garth Brooks became a grandfather when August had daughter Karalynn with Chance Michael Russell.

65.

In 1999, Garth Brooks began the Teammates for Kids Foundation, which provides financial aid to charities for children.

66.

Garth Brooks is a fundraiser for various other charities, including a number of children's charities and famine relief.

67.

Garth Brooks 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.

68.

In December 2010, Garth Brooks played nine shows in less than a week in Nashville at Bridgestone Arena to benefit victims from the May 2010 Nashville flood.

69.

On July 6,2013, Garth Brooks joined with Toby Keith for a benefit concert for victims of the 2013 Oklahoma tornadoes.

70.

In 2000, Garth Brooks appeared at the Equality Rocks benefit concert for gay rights.

71.

Garth Brooks sang a duet with openly gay singer George Michael.

72.

Garth Brooks worked with the late country star Gus Hardin and other musicians in Tulsa.

73.

Smittle was a lesbian, and Garth Brooks has credited her with some of the inspiration for his support for same-sex marriage.

74.

Garth Brooks has won a record 22 Academy of Country Music Awards and received a total of 47 overall nominations.

75.

Garth Brooks' work has earned awards and nominations in television and film as well, including the Primetime Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards.

76.

Garth Brooks was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012.

77.

Garth Brooks has been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.

78.

In 2020, Garth Brooks was awarded the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

79.

In 2021, Garth Brooks was named a recipient for the 43rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors.

80.

In September 2016, Garth Brooks became the first and only artist in music history to achieve seven career Diamond Award albums, according to the RIAA.

81.

On June 16,2021, Garth Brooks won the Pollstar award as the "country touring artist of the decade".

82.

Garth Brooks thanked his band for the companionship during all those years.