Garth Brooks takes on role as producer for TV's ‘Unanswered Prayers'

“Thank God and Allen Reynolds, the producer ... it's as fresh as the day he cut it. It just stands up to time really well,” he said.

Brooks, who grew up in Yukon, was involved throughout the filmmaking process, from sitting down with the screenwriters and visiting the set to going to dailies and, naturally, working on the music.

“If you learn real quick that you really have no control over it, you'll be a lot better. You just don't. There's just too many hands, too many different opinions,” he said. “And you just pray and look for good karma that everything kind of runs on the same theme. And this one really did. The crew was sincere, cast was sincere, and it was wonderful.”

Actress Patty Duke, who has a supporting role in the telefilm, said her visits with Brooks were memorable.

“Though we had never met, he has been a real hero in our family. We just love his work,” she said in a separate teleconference. “I was delightfully surprised at how funny, witty he is. I mean, he had me laughing the whole time we spent together. And his song ‘Unanswered Prayers' says a lot to all of us who wish for things that maybe it's better that we didn't have.”

With his trademark Oklahoma humor, Brooks suggested another song that would make an intriguing film: “That Summer,” his 1993 hit about a teenager who goes to work for a lonely widow and finds romance with her.

“I'd like to see Halle Berry (in it), and I'd like to play the young boy,” he joked with a laugh “Course, I'd have to ask Ms. Yearwood if that's OK. I'm sure she'd be fine with it.”

Contributing: Assistant Features Editor Lillie-Beth Brinkman.