Garth Brooks Makes History with First Concert at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium
It was a “once in a lifetime show,” the iconic country singer said.
Garth Brooks made history Thursday night when he launched The Garth Channel with an exclusive concert live from Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium in front of a packed house of SiriusXM listeners.
Hours before taking the stage, he reflected on the significance of playing The Ryman at a press conference held at SiriusXM’s studios, just around the corner from the historic venue.
After The Highway’s Storme Warren, Producer Britt, and Buzz Brainard warmed up the crowd with their pre-show broadcast, it was time for the main event. Garth began his show alone, standing in front of the curtain as he paid tribute to his heroes with a medley of their songs, while also honoring his late friend and bandmate Mike Chapman, whose name was scrawled on his acoustic guitar.
The first full song he played, after noting his careful deliberation, was a cover of Keith Whitley’s “Don’t Close Your Eyes.” The first Garth original, however, was the crowd favorite “Friends in Low Places,” which became a massive audience sing-along.
The show wouldn’t have been complete, however, if “one of the top five female voices of all time,” his wife Trisha Yearwood, didn’t join him for this momentous occasion. The first couple of country music treated fans to a rendition of their 1997 duet, “In Another’s Eyes,” and later debuted a new song, titled “Whiskey To Wine,” which immediately became a fan favorite.
Garth humbly spoke before the show that he was nervous and “trying not to bawl like a baby” about doing justice to the legends who graced The Ryman’s stage before him. He can rest easy tonight.
