Why Garth Brooks didn't sing at event

By Brandy McDonnell

Published: November 20, 2007

Despite the fireworks displays, appearances from big-name Oklahoma stars and historical nature of the event, some viewers left Friday’s Oklahoma Centennial Spectacular dissatisfied.

Although he was listed as one of the five headliners for the event, country music star Garth Brooks didn’t perform.

“Garth Brooks was very happy to be a presenter at the Oklahoma Centennial Spectacular. He was never intended to perform,” said his spokeswoman, Nancy Seltzer, in an e-mail to The Oklahoman.

During the show, Brooks, 45, delivered a tribute to the victims of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and introduced fellow country luminary Reba McEntire, who sang “If I Had Only Known” in their honor.

“From across the dark abyss of pain and grief where the Murrah building once stood, there now shines a light ... We honor those victims tonight by looking to the future,” Brooks said during the star-studded show.

Brooks, one of the top solo artists in U.S. music history, retired in 2001 to become a stay-at-home dad to his three daughters.

However, Brooks ended his nine-year touring hiatus earlier this month with a series of nine sold-out concerts in Kansas City, Mo. He played the final show, which was simulcast in movie theaters across North America and Europe, two days before the centennial event.

He also recently released a new single, “More Than a Memory,” and three-disc set “The Ultimate Hits.”

On the NewsOK.com forums, some fans expressed confusion, disappointment and anger that Brooks did not sing. One poster described it as “false advertisement,” another as “a pretty low-class thing.”

At the end of the show, some people in the audience seemed to be chanting, “Garth, Garth, Garth.”

In a statement issued to The Oklahoman through Jones Public Relations, the Oklahoma Centennial Commission said Brooks wasn’t performing when he was invited two years ago to be part of the show.

“When the Centennial Commission invited Oklahoma performers to participate in the Centennial Spectacular, they eagerly accepted and volunteered their time and talent. This was nearly two years ago when Garth had chosen to take time off to spend time with his family. Therefore, a special role was created for Garth to honor Oklahomans who were affected by the Murrah Building tragedy on April 19, 1995. Even then, he graciously volunteered to fulfill this heartfelt segment in the program with no compensation because he wanted to show his love for Oklahoma. He presented this powerful segment of the program with extraordinary grace, dignity and compassion,” according to the statement.

“Oklahoma is fortunate to have so many talented sons and daughters who are immensely generous and donated their time and talents to commemorate Oklahoma’s 100th anniversary of statehood.”

Jeanie McCain Edney, the commission’s deputy director, said by the time Brooks began performing again, the program for the spectacular was already locked.

“The spectacular was already scripted, it was timed for telecast, everything had been set. ... We were already extremely, extremely tight on timing, and had trimmed and edited and so forth. So it was impossible to put a number in. Totally impossible,” Edney said, noting the show still ran 20 minutes over the planned two-hour length.

Brooks was the only musician in the extensive, cross-genre lineup who did not perform. The other country music stars identified as headliners — McEntire, Toby Keith, Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill — played at least one of their songs.

“He was contributing in a very significant and special way to the performance, so we wanted to include him among the performers and we regret if people misunderstood that,” Edney said. “He was willing to take on this role and speak about one of the most momentous and tragic events in the history of our state, (which) we felt deserved recognition. And we are certainly sorry if people were disappointed in that representation. It most certainly should not reflect on Garth.”

At the spectacular’s pre-show press conference, Brooks wowed Underwood, who has called him one of her idols, when he entered in the final few moments. He said it was great to be a part of the event.

He said he loved the sincerity, pride and respectfulness of Oklahomans.

“There’s something about Oklahoma. It’s the land of common sense for me, which I love. You guys have got the best state motto of anybody: Labor conquers all. Shut your mouth, roll your sleeves up and go to work. That’s what we love,” he said.

Edney said hoped people still would have good memories of the spectacular.

“We are just very grateful to everyone who gave — and I mean gave — of their time and talents to this spectacular. And we hope that people will treasure it in the years ahead,” she said.

Contributing: The Associated Press.

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