About this Artist
Certified by the RIAA as the #1 selling solo artist in US history, GARTH BROOKS has sold well in excess of 128 million albums. He is the only solo artist in RIAA history to have 6 albums top the 10 million mark. Garth Brooks, The Ultimate Hits has gone gold, platinum and 5x platinum or 2.5 million in sales representing 5 million discs sold. Last year, Garth became the first artist to put out a simultaneous edition of his latest collection for a charitable cause. Brooks made country music history in September 2007 when his new single, “More Than a Memory,” debuted at Number One on Billboard's Country Singles chart. November 6, 2007 saw the launch of the pink edition of The Ultimate Hits available only at the Susan G Komen website or at other Susan G Komen events. His body of work – including the groundbreaking No Fences, Ropin’ The Wind, The Hits, and Double Live – propelled country music as a genre to the front pages of newspapers worldwide and the covers of magazines, to the point where Forbes declared on its cover, “Country Conquers Rock” and featured Garth in a major music piece. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Garth Brooks is the top-selling solo artist of the 20th century.
The key to his record-setting success lies within the personality and talent of Garth Brooks. It has been said that through the 1990s, Garth’s only real competition was himself. He brought daring individualism and a love of music to the table. His wide range encompasses a variety of styles, which include working class blues, honky tonk, bluegrass, and arena rock. His easy-going, approachable charisma was matched only by his fearless willingness to take chances and step outside the lines. He has had an unprecedented run so far, and opened the doors for many more country artists to follow.
Garth has received every accolade the recording industry can bestow on an artist, including: 2 Grammy’s, 17 American Music Awards, 11 Country Music Association Awards, 18 Academy of Country Music Awards, 5 World Music Awards, 12 People’s Choice Awards, and 36 Billboard Music Awards. He was named Artist of the ‘90s at the 1997 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, received the Artist Achievement Award at the 1997 Billboard Music Awards, and was named Artist of the Decade at the American Music Awards in 2000 and the Academy of Country Music Awards in 1999.
In the midst of one of the most successful careers in music history, Garth retired from touring in 1998. His days are now spent raising his three daughters and in the company of his soul mate, wife, and fellow entertainer, Trisha Yearwood. Garth is a man of great humanity. His retirement is often placed on hold to perform for charities that are close to his heart. Last year, he performed five concerts in two days where proceeds from 83,000 tickets sold were donated to the victims of the 2007 Southern California fires. Portions of the live concert were edited into a TV special titled, Garth Brooks: Live in L.A where viewers donated to the organization Fire Intervention Relief Effort (FIRE).
Then, on January 18, 2009 Garth had the privilege of playing with America’s best performers at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. as the centerpiece for a pre-inauguration concert for President-elect Barack Obama. During HBO’s We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial” Garth headlined with such songs as, “American Pie,” “Shout,” and “We Shall Be Free.” Barack and Michelle Obama and their girls, Joe and Jill Biden, and an enthusiastic crowd that was estimated at 300,000 all danced and sang along to Garth Brooks performance.