Sometimes having a setback like finding out you’re an hour short of getting your college degree can seem defeating. For Garth Brooks the experience was transforming, even revolutionary.
After completing his studies at Oklahoma State University and even walking in their commencement ceremony, he got a letter from the school saying that he was a hour short of graduating. He was told to go back and complete his studies.
But how was he going to pay for it? “I didn’t have my scholarship anymore. That was done. My federal grant that I had to pay back on my loans was done. I didn’t know how to pay for my last class of college,” says Brooks. “So I took my guitar down to a place called, Willy’s Saloon, and played for tips. That’s how it started.”
Then one night turned into two nights. Two nights turned into three nights a week. “Suddenly I was playing music all the time and having a blast thinking, hey, maybe this is what you’re supposed to be doing,” he exaplains. “I would have probably never done this if I would have graduated on time. But that one hour made me go back and try to find a way to make a living to do it. Music was going to be it.”
Music has been it for Garth Brooks in a big, big way. Now he’s the top selling solo artist in US history with 136 million albums and the only solo performer to have six records reach the 10 million mark.
Brooks continues to set records. On July 8th and 9th he will be the first country artist to perform at Yankee Stadium in New York City. The shows also mark his first New York concert since the historic Garth: Live from Central Park concert in 1997. A true family affair, his wife Trisha Yearwood will perform too. “New York City and country music… you never thought the two would never go together,” says Brooks. “This place has showed me that everything here is epic. And even though I don’t look like I fit here. They’ve always made me feel like I fit.”
This week Brooks stopped by Yankee Stadium to talk to Parade and other reporters.
Do you remember one of your first connections with Yankee Stadium?
I know this is going to sound crazy, but my first experience with Yankee Stadium, where I really fell in love with it was through music. It was through Billy Joel’s Live at Yankee Stadium. It was fantastic. Billy talked about his boyhood. He talked about White Castle. They had some great musicianship going on. And Jon Small who shot that film will be shooting this concert. Also, to get to live among people who are larger than life is a pretty cool. That’s why we’re here –– to try to create something that is bigger than yourself alone.
How would you describe your love of baseball?
I love baseball. One of my favorite things is the speech in Field of Dreams about baseball and how it has rolled on and depicted the times of this nation. Baseball is my life and it’s my favorite place to have dinner and take a nap.
Everything tastes better at the baseball game. Everything does. In college, at Oklahoma State, they would let you bring pizza in. I couldn’t afford seats. I was a student. So I’d sit on left field, which was just grass. People would bring McDonald’s in. And I swear, a McDonald’s burger inside the stadium tastes a lot better than outside the stadium. I know it’s baseball. Baseball is everything.
What do you feel you owe to your fans?
If you think I belong to them, yes I do. They are my boss. I never worked for better people. And the great thing about my gig is, what is good for them is good for me. How sweet is that? I do work for them.
When I was 17 and didn’t have any money, my high school sweetheart, Tammy, surprised me with tickets to see Queen. Now we’re talking. Freddie Mercury was the entertainer of a lifetime. The whole time during this concert, I remember it like yesterday,I tried for three seconds to lock eyes with this guy. Just to say thank you. Thank you. I know this might sound demented, but I’ve made decisions based on your lyrics. I’ve had days that were going crappy and your music turned it around.
And now what’s funny is I’ve spent the last 25 years of my life as an entertainer trying as much as I can with each person that’s out there, to lock eyes for three seconds. To say, “thank you. Thank you for my life. Thank you for my kids’ college. Thank you for my dad’s sleep.” My dad wanted me to get a real job like dads do. And I don’t blame him at all for that. But I know that was a great feeling for my father finally say, “okay, this kid can provide for his family doing music,” which was never really a certain thing. You just want to say, “thank you.” I work for them and I’m proud.
You took off many, many years from touring and recording to be with your family. What did you learn from that experience?
I learned how lucky and how fortunate I was. People talk about that choice. If you were afforded that choice. If everybody in this room was afforded that choice, we’d all make the same choice. To be able to afford to get off to raise your kids, and never miss a day; everyone would take that. It’s a beautiful thing.
Have your daughters expressed thanks for the time you took off?
16 years of the greatest gift I ever received was the chance to go home and raise our babies. I think I only understood what my parents did for me until after my parents were gone.
The truth is they’re right in sweet spot of their lives. It’s their lives. It’s their turn. If you’re looking for gratitude, gratefulness, what I suggest for parents is that they spend time encouraging. Let {your kids} go out and mistakes. If you’re not making mistakes you’re not trying. Run behind them with your hands out. Thank god they’re healthy and survived their teen years. Enjoy them.
Tickets for Garth Brooks’ July 8th and 9th Yankee Stadium concerts go on sale May 20th. Learn more at garthbrooks.com.
View the original at Parade or follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Google+