The Garth Brooks World Tour (2014–2017)
The Garth Brooks World Tour[5][6] was a concert tour by American singer Garth Brooks with Trisha Yearwood. Beginning on September 4, 2014, in Rosemont, Illinois, the tour was Brooks' first in thirteen years after coming out of retirement. It launched in support of his 2014 album, Man Against Machine, continuing through the release of his 2016 album, Gunslinger.
Associated album
September 4, 2014
December 23, 2017
8
390 in North America
High demand has prompted multiple concerts to be added in each city, with Brooks performing two shows per night in some cases. With 390 shows performed following the conclusion of its eighth leg in 2017, the tour has broken the record for the most all-time concerts in a tour.[7] It also holds the record for the highest-grossing country music tour of all time, surpassing Soul2Soul: The World Tour by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.[8]
Conception[edit]
Garth Brooks' first and second world tours, 1993–94 and 1996–98 respectively, were both successful. After his multi-year residency at Wynn Las Vegas, yet not embarking on a multi-city tour for thirteen years, Brooks announced plans for a world tour during an interview on Good Morning America in December 2013.[9] He later confirmed his tour and plans for an upcoming album during a press conference on July 11, 2014.[10] On July 15, Brooks stated on his website that each city on the tour would be individually released, and the first concert would take place at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. Days later, Brooks announced ten additional shows, all at the same arena.[11] Brooks has continued the pattern of announcing the next city every few weeks, both in an effort to generate excitement and urgency, as well as an attempt to combat ticket resale. The tour was in extremely high demand. Typically, two or three shows were announced in one market at a time, with more shows added based on real-time statistics of demand.[12]
Format and setlists[edit]
Show outline[edit]
Depending on the specific venue, the show begins with a performance from opening act and backing vocalist Karyn Rochelle.[60] The stage consists of a large cube video monitor, featuring four sides showing Brooks' logo prior to the concert beginning. At the start, the cube is raised and Brooks appears as the first song is played. He begins his set, performing nearly all popular songs from his early albums. Yearwood then accompanies Brooks for a duet, followed by performing a select few of her songs. Brooks returns to perform additional songs, then two separate sets of encores.[60]
Special performances and broadcasts[edit]
During the second concert of the tour in Rosemont, Illinois on September 5, 2014, Kelly Clarkson made a surprise appearance to perform the duet "PrizeFighter", alongside Yearwood (Brooks normally sings Clarkson's verses).[65] Clarkson also made an appearance and sang the duet once again at the concert in Atlanta on September 19, 2014.[64] Brooks made national headlines in November 2014 after noting a fan's sign at a concert in Minneapolis. The sign, reading "Chemo this morning. Garth tonight. Enjoying the dance.", caught Brooks' attention during his performance of "The Dance". After getting emotional, Brooks expressed his support.[66] Later that same month, Brooks performed "People Loving People" on the American Music Awards of 2014 live via satellite from the concert in Greensboro, North Carolina.[67] On the second to last concert of Brooks' six-night residency in Boston on January 25, 2015, Lee Brice joined him on stage and the two performed "More Than a Memory".[68] Brice also opened for Brooks during his first show in Bossier City on July 29, 2016 and again performed the duet during Brooks' set.
At a Pittsburgh concert on February 7, 2015, Brooks' birthday, Pittsburgh Steelers' coach Mike Tomlin, as well as players Ben Roethlisberger, Cameron Heyward, Heath Miller, and Brett Keisel joined Brooks on stage, singing "Happy Birthday" and presenting him a jersey.[69]
On November 10, 2016 a concert special showcasing the tour's shows from Yankee Stadium aired in 4K exclusively through AT&T and DirecTV on Audience.[70]
Total available grossing: $364.3 million from 366 shows.