Garth Brooks Performs, Joins Austin City Limits Hall of Fame

Garth Brooks' heart is as big as Texas for the iconic television series Austin City Limits. This year, as ACL celebrates its 50th anniversary, the feeling is mutual.

To cap the series' fifth decade, ACL will air a special episode at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on Saturday, May 3 -- Austin City Limits Hall of Fame Honors Garth Brooks.

"Always try to associate your name with a name greater than your own," Garth said. "Being associated with ACL has been one of the greatest assets of my career. I can't thank Terry and the gang enough for all the years and all the love."

ACL executive producer Terry Lickona explained: "You can't tell the story of Austin City Limits without Garth Brooks. Garth gets it. He gets what makes Austin City Limits special and why it's an honor for an artist to step onto that stage and deliver the best performance of their life. And it's an honor for us to share that stage with artists like Garth, who have so much to offer."

Garth adapted his stadium-sized show for an intimate hour-long singalong at ACL's studio home, ACL Live, in Austin, Texas. The broadcast, which will stream online at pbs.org/austincitylimits, will also include Garth sharing stories and memories from his 35 years of experience performing on Austin City Limits. He made his debut in 1990 on Season 15.

"To be involved in Austin City Limits – not only their Hall of Fame but on the 50th anniversary – it's like two-fold for me, right?" Garth said. "I mean, I've been watching this show since I was a kid. To get to be on it is a dream. To get to be now in the Hall of Fame is a dream. And to get to be part of their 50th anniversary – how's it get better than that?!"

Garth's wife Trisha Yearwood also appears on the show as does Lickona, who inducts him into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame. Yearwood joined the ACL Hall of Fame in 2023 alongside John Prine.

"Austin City Limits has always kind of been the 'real' meter, right?" Garth said. "The realistic kind of 'gut check.' 'Hey – are you an artist that puts the music first?' It's kind of all you see on there. So, the fact that they have invited you – the fact that you get to actually play Austin City Limits is a nod [to] what they think the music means to you as an artist…and what they think the music means to the people that come see you as an artist. It's a beautiful marriage. It's a family."

Austin City Limits Hall of Fame Honors Garth Brooks will air at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on Saturday, May 3. Watch Live on PBS; Stream on PBS.org or the PBS App.