Nov.

20, 2014

Garth Brooks returns in a big way

By Jessica Coston
Garth Brooks stood in awe of his fans enthusiasm Thursday night during his first trip to North Carolina
in 16 years.
As part of a world tour to promote his first album in 13 years, Brooks played a five-day series of shows at
the Greensboro Coliseum Complex last week. At Thursday nights show, he sang new songs and old
favorites to a crowd of thousands.
Several times throughout the night, he marveled at how well the crowd remembered his songs after his
absence of almost 15 years.
On Oct. 26, 2000, Brooks announced his retirement from recording and touring. He said he made the
decision to leave the industry so he could be at home more to rear his children. Now that his children
are older, he has returned.
On July 10, he announced his new album, Man Against Machine, and a new world tour with his wife,
Trisha Yearwood.
Greensboro was the sixth stop on Brooks world tour, which started in September. At the show he said
that North Carolina audiences were some of his favorite to play for, taking a moment to comment on
the crowds enthusiasm after singing his hit The Dance.
All of a sudden its starting to dawn on me, he said. I left the greatest gift that Ive ever been given,
that was from you and God, at the time to watch my children grow. But what Ive learned, tonight it
finally hit me.
You guys never went anywhere.
Brooks plays his last show in Greensboro Sunday night. The next stop on his tour is St. Louis.