Nobody saw it coming.
While the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors was stacked with country royalty and heartfelt tributes, it was Garth Brooks who flipped the script and lit the place on fire. In front of a packed house in Washington, D.C., and a front row that included President Donald Trump and Gene Simmons himself, Garth tore into a rock and roll classic that had the whole room on their feet.
Yes, that Garth Brooks. And that rock classic. “Shout It Out Loud” by KISS.
This year’s Kennedy Center Honors paid tribute to icons across genres and included the King of Country himself, George Strait. Many fans were expecting Garth to take the stage with a heartfelt tribute to his longtime friend and musical hero. After all, who better to sing for George than the guy who has publicly credited Strait as one of his biggest inspirations? So, when Garth stepped up and did not sing for George, but instead delivered a full-throttle rock performance for KISS, fans were understandably surprised and maybe even a little confused.
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But leave it to Garth to keep things interesting. When he stepped onto that stage and said, “No, we are in the right segment of the show, people,” it was clear he was about to shake the room. And shake it, he did.
Garth launched into KISS’ 1976 hit “Shout It Out Loud” and in true Garth fashion, he did not just perform it. He owned it. From the opening chords to the final chorus, Brooks unleashed an unexpected but unstoppable energy and channeled the spirit of rock in a way few country artists ever could.
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Gene Simmons, seated next to President Trump, was seen smiling, clapping, and even singing along. It was a moment of pure crossover greatness as rock and country crashed together in the best possible way. The crowd roared, the lights were blazing, and Brooks proved once again that no stage is too big and no genre too bold.
This was not Garth’s first time honoring a musical legend at the Kennedy Center. As a 2020 honoree himself, he has had the chance to pay tribute to heroes like Loretta Lynn, George Jones, and even Billy Joel. But as he told CBS, this moment meant something different. He said the great thing about the Kennedy Center is that it shows the diversity of the music he grew up on. KISS fits in that wild and diverse kind of music they were all raised on.
The performance brought the energy of a sold-out stadium to one of the most formal nights in the entertainment world. That is what makes Garth, well, Garth. He can bring down the house with a tearjerker ballad or crank up the volume with some face-melting rock and roll. Either way, he leaves it all on the stage.
For a night meant to honor lifetime achievements in the performing arts, Garth Brooks delivered a performance that reminded us why he is not just a country superstar but a performer in the truest sense of the word.
While his surprise choice left many wondering why he did not sing for George Strait, there is no denying he brought the house down. KISS got their crown, and Garth proved once again that no matter the genre, he is still one of the greatest entertainers alive.
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