Garth Brooks' career is unmatched. His achievements include selling over 170 million records, with nine going Diamond (10 million copies each). The former bouncer is also the best-selling solo artist in U.S. history.
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He has also won multiple top music awards, including Grammys and Academy of Country Music Awards, and is a member of both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2021, he received a Kennedy Center Honor.
Brooks' tour with his wife Trisha Yearwood, which began in 2014, broke attendance records and grossed over $360 million. Despite numerous accomplishments, the "Shameless" singer has only now achieved this particular career milestone.
Garth Brooks Has an Announcement
Earning the title of the "World's Largest Music Festival" in 1999, Milwaukee's Summerfest has hosted everyone from Tom Petty to Prince and even Jason Aldean. One of the big names missing from the past lineup: Garth Brooks.
That changed today when the singer's social accounts announced that he will kick off the opening night of Summerfest on June 17, 2026. Tickets will go on sale Friday, Sep. 12, at 10 a.m. Central Time. It will be Brooks' first show in the Wisconsin city in more than a decade.
Sarah Pancheri, President and CEO of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., said, "We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Garth Brooks to Summerfest and cannot imagine a better way to kick off the festival in 2026. This show is not to be missed. We've seen countless iconic performances over nearly six decades, and this promises to be one of the most memorable yet."
What Is Summerfest, Anyway?
If you're thinking about coming up to Milwaukee to visit Summerfest, you'd better gird your loins. It is a festival unlike any other.
Taking place over three weekends along the beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline, multiple acts from across the music spectrum perform over multiple stages located across the grounds, with many shows included in the admission price. There's also great local food, craft beer, and a carnival-like atmosphere.
Past performers have included Riley Green, The Avett Brothers, Lainey Wilson, James Taylor, and Megan Thee Stallion.
For more information about Summerfest and Garth Brooks' performance, click here.
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