Garth Brooks Explains Why He Declined Inauguration Performance Invitation
Garth Brooks' decision to not perform at President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration or the events surrounding it was based on his tour schedule, the country star says. Brooks explained the situation during Monday night's (Jan. 16) Inside Studio G Facebook Live chat.
Brooks' good friend Steve Wynn is in charge of the entertainment portion of the 2017 presidential inauguration, and according to the singer, the two talked about the possibility of Brooks performing but "left it up to karma." Brooks was waiting to see if he'd need to expand his World Tour stop in Cincinnati, Ohio, due to fan demand.
“If Cincinnati goes two weekends instead of one, then, of course, we are out," Brooks says. "Sure enough, Cincinnati did five shows, two weekends, and backed us up into there, so we got knocked out of it."
Brooks and wife Trisha Yearwood will be performing in Cincinnati on Jan. 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29. Inauguration Weekend is Jan. 19-22.
When Brooks and Yearwood were in New York City to perform at the 2016 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony, TMZ asked the country superstar if he'd consider performing at Trump's inauguration. At that time, Brooks said that he hadn't been asked to do so (a fact that he confirmed during Monday night's Facebook Live chat) but, when pressed, said, “It’s always about serving. It’s what you do.”
On Monday night, Brooks added that he will be praying for both President Obama and President-elect Trump as they transition out of and into, respectively, the role of president.
“We can’t thank the Obamas enough for serving this country,” Brooks says. “And may God hold Trump’s hand in the decisions that he makes in this country’s name as well.”
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