Pull up a chair, friends. This week in country music history has a story that still makes people say “wait, he did what?” On October 26, 2000, Garth Brooks stood in front of reporters in Nashville, just ahead of a gala celebrating 100 million albums sold, and said, “I’m here to announce my retirement.” Family would come first, he explained, and he planned to stay off the road until his youngest daughter went to college.
Why Garth Brooks’ Retirement Still Matters
The biggest star in the genre chose to step away at the very top, and then the story did not end there. He released the album Scarecrow on November 13, 2001, suspended his retirement on October 15, 2009 to start the Garth at Wynn residency in Las Vegas, and announced his Sony Music Nashville deal on July 10, 2014. His world tour kicked off that September. If you have ever watched a favorite artist take a break and wondered whether they would come back, Garth is Exhibit A that a pause is not always a goodbye. Want the latest? Catch up on everything we have covered in our Garth Brooks archive.
Also on the Country Music Calendar This Week
October 26: A Hall of Fame Sunday
On October 26, 2014, the Country Music Hall of Fame welcomed Mac Wiseman, the late Hank Cochran, and Ronnie Milsap in Nashville. Vince Gill, Martina McBride, and Hunter Hayes performed tributes, and Cochran’s widow, Suzi, accepted his medallion.
October 26: Happy Birthday, Keith Urban
Keith Urban was born in Whangarei, New Zealand, in 1967. Vince Gill invited him to join the Grand Ole Opry on April 10, 2012, and he was inducted eleven days later.
October 28: Remembering Porter Wagoner
Porter Wagoner passed away in Nashville in 2007 at age 80, with Dolly Parton at his side. Porter introduced Dolly on his show in 1967, and the two made country duets that people still sing along to. He joined the Opry in 1957 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2002. (We said goodbye to Dolly this August, and you can revisit our tribute to the Smoky Mountain Songbird.)
October 28: Charlie Daniels and Brad Paisley Share a Birthday
Charlie Daniels was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, in 1936. He joined the Opry on January 19, 2008, and went into the Hall of Fame in October 2016. Brad Paisley was born on the same date in 1972 in Glen Dale, West Virginia, and became an Opry member on February 17, 2001. One day, two guitar slingers, plenty of fiddle and flat-picking between them.
November 1: Lyle Lovett’s Birthday
Lyle Lovett was born in 1957 in Houston and raised in nearby Klein, Texas. He has four Grammy wins to his name, including Best Country Album for The Road to Ensenada. Few artists make a Large Band feel this cozy.
Your Turn: Which Country Comeback Meant the Most to You?
Here is the part we love most. Garth walked away in 2000 and came back on his own terms. Which artist’s return to the stage, the studio, or the Opry circle meant the most to you? Tell us in the comments, and let us know who we should feature next.
Missed our earlier history posts? Read last week’s edition on Kenny Rogers’ farewell concert and a new Opry member, or go back to Oct. 12 to 18.
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