When someone mentions Garth Brooks, what do you think of? His marriage to Trisha Yearwood? Songs like "Friends in Low Places"? His consistent successes and massive popularity? All those are legit facts about the star. But there is more to his stature in country music than that. He rewrote the playbook of country music, not only for himself, but for other artists. Brooks' brash, boundary-pushing triumphs characterize him and set him apart. And you may not even be aware of everything he has changed for the better.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Brooks Hoisted Country Music Into the Stratosphere
Per Taste of Country, singer Phil Vassar was queried on Taste of Country Nights about who raised the bar for what country stars get for a concert. His answer was unequivocal. "Garth [Brooks]. Garth definitely took things to a new level. Just the energy of the shows, that Garth put into it."
According to the outlet, "Brooks single-handedly brought country music to the forefront of American culture in the early '90s, bringing the genre's stock way up. We were in high demand, and he knew it."
Vassar added, "For me, that was some of the greatest moments in country music."
His Hits Helped Chart a New Path
Fans could not get enough of this rambunctious maverick. Smashes like "Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)" were wildly successful. That songs was followed by more heady chart-toppers from him.
Also, he was performing in stadiums, the type of mammoth venue that had been the sole preserve of rock bands. All of a sudden, country was very welcome in places other than small, intimate hideaways. Brooks & Dunn were also shifting to larger-capacity sites. The result was volcanic. Raucous and rollicking, these concerts - no, they were full-blown shows - were anything but traditional country fare.
As the outlet notes, Brooks took to donning a headset mic. No longer was he tethered to a handheld one with a cord. That liberated him to frolic across the stage with abandon and connect more closely with the audience. Brooks was amazing and the crowds loved every bit of it.
Other Artists Followed Brooks' Lead
He set the pace for others. They understood that if they could do as he did, it meant colossal paydays for them. Brooks thus upped the ante for everybody. That meant they had to elevate their showmanship quotient exponentially like he did. All told, since Garth Brooks came along, country music has turned the page and never been the same.
