Garth Brooks is an American country singer and songwriter known for integrating pop and rock elements into the country genre, leading to immense popularity in the United States.
He has released numerous successful albums, with nine certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America, including hits like No Fences and Ropin’ the Wind.
Brooks has won multiple awards, including two Grammy Awards and 17 American Music Awards.
He took a break from 2001 to 2005 but made a comeback with a world tour in 2014.
Brooks’ honky-tonk, Friends In Low Places, located in Nashville, features a rooftop bar called The Oasis and offers vintage Garth t-shirts.
Additionally, he hosts a show called INSIDE STUDIO G.
Brooks’ music career has been marked by chart-topping albums and numerous accolades.
Background
Brooks was born on February 7, 1962, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Troyal Raymond Brooks Jr., an oil company draftsman, and Colleen McElroy Carroll, a 1950s-era country singer.
His parents’ second marriage gave him four older half-siblings, namely Jim, Jerry, Mike and Betsy.
Growing up in Yukon, Oklahoma, the family hosted weekly talent nights, where Brooks learned to play the guitar and banjo.
Although his primary focus was athletics, he developed an interest in music during his time at Oklahoma State University, where he formed his own band, Santa Fe.
Brooks’s mother had a brief recording career with Capitol Records in the 1950s, but he initially exhibited little interest in music, preferring athletics.
Net worth
Brooks’ net worth is estimated to be around $400 million, with a significant portion attributed to his successful music career, including diamond-certified albums and record-breaking tours.
His financial success is further enhanced by his strategic diversification into television, film and digital ventures, showcasing his business acumen and ability to connect with a global audience.
Salary
Brooks’ salary highlights are impressive, with the country music star known to earn as much as $90 million in a touring year.
His earnings are variable, ranging between $60 million and $90 million annually, depending on the frequency and success of his concert tours.
In 2019, Brooks grossed a remarkable $76.1 million from his stadium tour, earning approximately $5.8 million from each concert that year.
Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, he maintained his live performances, with a renewed sense of purpose in 2021, earning nearly $6.4 million for each concert that year.
Brooks’ ability to draw large crowds and deliver dynamic live performances has solidified his position as one of the highest-paid celebrities globally, showcasing both his resilience and commitment to his fans.
GhostTunes
Brooks’ GhostTunes was a digital and physical distribution platform created as an alternative to iTunes.
Launched in 2014, it allowed users to access music, merchandise like T-shirts and CDs, and offered licensing deals with major music labels.
GhostTunes differentiated itself by letting labels set prices, formats, and royalty payments.
Brooks, the driving force behind GhostTunes, aimed to challenge the existing music industry model.
Despite its unique approach, GhostTunes faced challenges due to consumer behavior favoring more established retailers like iTunes and Amazon.
Eventually, in 2017, GhostTunes merged with Amazon Music, marking the end of its independent operation.
This transition allowed users to transfer their libraries to Amazon Music for free, aligning with Brooks’ decision to move his catalog exclusively to Amazon.
The platform’s closure highlighted the competitive landscape of the digital music industry and the difficulties faced by new entrants like GhostTunes.
Pearl Records
Brooks founded Pearl Records in 1993, establishing his own record label.
Through Pearl Records, Brooks has released several compilation albums, including his 2014 and Time Traveler albums.
The label has been instrumental in Brooks’ music career, allowing him to maintain creative control and release music that has contributed to his immense success in the music industry.
Pearl Records has been a platform for Brooks to showcase his talent and produce albums that have achieved significant commercial success, with many of his albums reaching Diamond certification, a testament to his popularity and influence in the country music genre.
Album sales
Brooks has sold over 144,601,500 albums worldwide, with 137,833,333 sold in the United States and 520,000 in the United Kingdom.
His best-selling album is No Fences, which has sold over 18,770,000 copies.
Notably, Brooks has achieved remarkable success with multiple albums reaching impressive sales figures, such as The Chase, In Pieces, Fresh Horses and Sevens, which all average nearly 8 million in sales.
Brooks holds the record for the most RIAA certified Diamond albums, with nine albums achieving this prestigious status.
Additionally, his album Double Live stands out with 21x Platinum certification in the United States.
Despite some controversies surrounding his sales figures, Brooks’ success in the music industry is undeniable, with his ability to engage audiences and maintain a strong presence in the country and mainstream music scenes.
Real estate
Brooks owns several impressive real estate properties across the United States.
In Goodlettsville, Tennessee, near Nashville, he and his wife Trisha Yearwood have a 300-acre estate with a 5,551 square foot home named ‘Blue Rose Estate,’ featuring 13 rooms, 7 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, a pool, spa, garage and basement.
In Owasso, Oklahoma, they have a French country style home on 2.4 acres, boasting 14,089 square feet with 7 bedrooms, 9.5 bathrooms, 2 kitchens, a screening room, gym and a 5-car garage.
Previously, they owned a $7 million mansion in Malibu’s Paradise Cove, a 4,200 square foot ranch-style home with 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms.
Trisha also put her Brentwood, TN home on the market for $4.5 million, featuring 6,553 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms and modern amenities.
Additionally, Brooks and Yearwood have a beach house in Malibu, which they sold in 2016 for close to $7 million.
Early career
Brooks was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1962, and grew up in a musical family.
His mother was a country singer who recorded for Capitol Records.
Brooks initially focused on athletics, but after graduating from Oklahoma State University with a degree in advertising, he moved to Nashville to pursue a career in music.
His first attempt in Nashville was unsuccessful, and he returned to Oklahoma.
In 1986, he married Sandy Mahl, and the following year, they moved back to Nashville.
Brooks was signed to Capitol Records in 1988 and released his debut album in 1989.
His breakthrough came with the release of his second album, No Fences, in 1990, which sold over 17 million copies.
Brooks’s music combined country, pop, and rock elements, making him popular beyond the country genre.
He has released numerous successful albums, including Ropin’ the Wind and The Chase and has won multiple awards, including two Grammy Awards.
Breakthrough
Brooks’ breakthrough came in 1990 with the release of his album, No Fences, which eventually sold over 10 million copies.
This album, featuring hits like Friends in Low Places, catapulted him from a honky-tonk performer to a concert headliner.
Brooks’ unique blend of soft laments and raucous cowboy rock, combined with his energetic and mobile stage presence, contributed to his success.
His integration of pop and rock elements into country music earned him immense popularity, particularly in the United States.
Baseball career
Brooks tried out for the San Diego Padres in 1998 and 1999 but was not offered a contract.
In 2000, he joined the New York Mets for spring training but was released after having a zero-for-17 batting record.
In 1999, Brooks also participated in spring training with the Kansas City Royals but did not secure a spot on the team.
He used his time with various baseball teams to promote his Teammates for Kids Foundation, which supports charities for children.
Brooks has also played football and ran track and field, receiving a track scholarship to Oklahoma State University.
Acting career
Brooks’ acting career has been marked by missed opportunities and controversial decisions.
Despite being offered roles in major films like Twister and Saving Private Ryan, Brooks turned them down due to various reasons.
He declined a role in Saving Private Ryan because he didn’t want to share the spotlight with other prominent actors like Matt Damon and Tom Hanks.
Similarly, he refused a role in Twister because he didn’t want to share the screen with a tornado, which he believed was the real star of the film.
These decisions, along with claims of egotism and burning bridges with industry figures like Tim Burton and 20th Century Fox, have shaped a narrative around Brooks as a somewhat enigmatic figure in the acting world.
Despite these missed opportunities, Brooks’ focus has predominantly remained on his successful music career.
Tours and live performances
Brooks is a renowned country singer and songwriter who has embarked on numerous concert tours and live performances throughout his career.
He has performed in various settings, including world tours, residencies and benefit concerts.
Some of his notable tours include the Ropin’ the Wind Tour, The Garth Brooks World Tour and The Garth Brooks World Tour, which was ranked among the highest-grossing concert tours of the decade.
Brooks has also been involved in benefit concerts, such as the 2007 California wildfires relief efforts, where he performed five sold-out concerts at the Staples Center within 48 hours, and the 2010 Tennessee floods relief efforts, where he raised over $3.5 million through nine sold-out concerts at the Bridgestone Arena.
In 2013, he performed a benefit concert in Oklahoma to raise money for the state’s tornado relief efforts, raising nearly $2 million.
Brooks’ live performances have been praised for their high energy and pyrotechnics, which have contributed to a hard rock-country crossover style.
Fans have described his concerts as “completely excellent” and “incredible,” highlighting his and his band’s energy, especially during two-show nights.
Trisha often accompanies him on tour, adding to the dynamism of his performances.
Brooks’ recent tours include The Garth Brooks World Tour (2014-17), which supported his comeback album, Man Against Machine, and his 2020 Stadium Tour, which included a drive-in concert experience.
His concerts have broken attendance records at various venues, such as the Nissan Stadium in Nashville, where he set a new record for any concert at the stadium with over 71,000 tickets sold.
Awards and nominations
Brooks has been nominated for a total of 169 awards, winning 91 of them.
These accolades span across various award-giving bodies, including the Academy of Country Music Awards, American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and Grammy Awards.
In the Academy of Country Music Awards, Brooks has been nominated 49 times and has won 23 of those nominations.
His wins include Entertainer of the Year in 1991, 1992, 1997 and 1998, Male Vocalist of the Year in 1991 and 1992 and Album of the Year for No Fences in 1990 and The Chase in 1992.
In the American Music Awards, Brooks has been nominated 21 times and has won 17 of those nominations.
He has won the Favorite Country Male Artist award eight times, from 1991 to 1996 and in 2008 and 2014.
He has also won the Favorite Country Album award six times, for No Fences in 1992, Ropin’ the Wind in 1993, In Pieces in 1994, The Hits in 1995, Fresh Horses in 1997 and Sevens in 1998.
In the Billboard Music Awards, Brooks has been nominated 23 times and has won 19 of those nominations.
He has won the Top Country Artist award in 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1998 and the Top Country Album award in 1992 for Ropin’ the Wind and in 1993 for The Chase.
In the Grammy Awards, Brooks has been nominated 11 times and has won two of those nominations.
He won the Best Country Album award in 1992 for Ropin’ the Wind and the Best Male Country Vocal Performance award in 1998 for Longneck Bottle.
In addition to these awards, Brooks has also been nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program in 1998 and for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special in 1998.
He was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song – Motion Picture in 2001 for When You Come Back to Me Again and for a Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals in 2003 for Squeeze Me In, in 2002 for Beer Run (B Double E Double Are You In?) and in 2007 for Love Will Always Win.
He was also nominated for a PFCS Award for Best Original Song in 2001 for When You Come Back To Me Again and for an OFTA Film Award for Best Music, Original Song in 2002 for When You Come Back to Me Again.
Philanthropic works
Brooks is renowned for his extensive philanthropic efforts, focusing on children’s charities, disaster relief, education, health, homelessness and more.
He co-founded the Teammates for Kids Foundation, engaging over 4,300 professional athletes to raise funds for children’s causes.
Brooks and his wife have volunteered with Habitat for Humanity for over a decade, supporting initiatives like building homes and participating in the Carter Work Project.
Their involvement extends to various events and projects, emphasizing the importance of decent, affordable shelter in the U.S. and globally.
Brooks’ charitable endeavors also include hosting events like ProCamp to engage kids with professional athletes, showcasing his commitment to children’s well-being.
Personal life
Brooks has been married twice.
His first marriage was to Sandy Mahl from 1986 to 2001, with whom he had three daughters, Taylor, August and Allie.
After their divorce, Brooks married Trisha in 2005.
Although they don’t have children together, Yearwood has been a significant part of Brooks’ daughters’ lives, often referring to herself as their “bonus mom”.
Brooks has expressed his deep love for Trisha, even getting emotional when discussing their relationship.
His daughters are now grown up, with Allie pursuing a career in music.