Why did Garth Brooks Opt-Out the CMA Entertainer of the Year Award?

Garth Brooks won his 7^th CMA Entertainer of the Year award in 2019. Now, he is taking himself out of the conversation in the category. Here is why.

2019 Backlash

The term superstar has been bounced back and forth in the music industry. For Garth Brooks, it is a word that completely defines how his career has evolved in the past years.

Winning the CMA Entertainer of the Year is not an easy feat to attain, but winning it seven times? That makes him a superstar. Brooks won his seventh Entertainer of the Year Award last year and was clear that it would not be his last, not until July 29, 2020. 

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A post shared by Garth Brooks (@garthbrooks) on Nov 13, 2019 at 9:26pm PST

Brooks held a virtual press conference yesterday, July 29, 2020. It was not for an album launch or a new single to watch out for, but it was for him to announce that he will be pulling his self-aside in contention for the upcoming CMA Entertainer of the Year Award. This followed the backlash he received after winning last year’s award but with Carrie Underwood becoming the first woman to be nominated for the category after three years.

Brooks described that night as something that he was prepared to give an ovation for Underwood since it’s obvious that it would be her night. However, Brooks won the award. Seeing tweets about his winning haunted him for 8-months. Finally, he decided that it was time to pass the award to the younger faces and names of Country Music. The 58-year old country superstar also said that he reached the point when winning an award does not thrill him anymore.

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A post shared by Garth Brooks (@garthbrooks) on Feb 19, 2020 at 4:18am PST

Fans and Artists Reactions

Following Garth Brooks’s virtual press conference, the country music world was divided in opinions. There were those who expressed that Brooks should not have called himself off for winning the award. Others saw it as an act of selflessness in Brooks’ part to pave the way for the future faces of country music. 

Blake Shelton agreed to what Steve Wariner tweeted. Wariner posted that it is an impossible thing to not notice why Garth Brooks always wins the ‘Entertainer of the Year.’ It’s evident in every live performance which he has done over the years. 

Fans joined in the throng of tweets and praised Brooks for what he was willing to give up so that others may also shine in the industry.

What do you think about Garth Brooks pulling out because of the contention for the CMA Entertainer of the Year Award?

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A post shared by Garth Brooks (@garthbrooks) on Jun 29, 2020 at 5:00pm PDT