GARTH BROOKS WATCHES – AND REFLECTS – AS TRISHA YEARWOOD RECEIVES “ICON AWARD”

Garth Brooks accompanied wife Trisha Yearwood as she was among those saluted at the annual ACM Honors Wednesday night in Nashville (at the historic Ryman Auditorium)…and he couldn’t stop smiling – and reflecting – as she was saluted with the Academy of Country Music’s Icon Award.

“I was just so proud. I’m always proud of her, but to see and hear her recognized like that – and to hear people use the word ‘icon’ in the same breath as her name – just took me someplace new,” Garth said. “She is an icon. I know what a world-class talent and force she is…and we all know what an incredible vocalist she is…but I love it when others really take notice, too,” he added, thinking also of other recent accolades she’s received (such as the inaugural June Carter Cash Humanitarian Award at this year’s CMT Awards, induction to the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame a year ago, and recognition from country radio in the form of the Country Radio Broadcasters’ Artist Achievement Award).

“It just got me to thinking…a true icon is one who makes history...and I started remembering of all these moments where she’s had that ‘iconic’ kind of impact – and they all add up.”

- “When she released ‘She’s In Love With the Boy’ – and they said this last night – it was the first time in history a female artist had a debut single go to number-one on the country charts for multiple weeks. She became the first country music female in history whose debut album sold over a million copies. The single turned out to be the most-played song on radio for the decade of the ’90s and continues to be one of the most-played songs. And it should be.”

- “In the mid-’90s, she found herself performing with Luciano Pavarotti in Italy at his invitation…at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta…and at The Oscars when ‘How Do I Live’ was nominated. My favorite moments in entertainment are when talent asks for talent. From Pavarotti flying her to Italy to sing with him, to closing The Olympics with a performance of “The Flame” as the fire in the cauldron was extinguished, to performing on The Oscars – these kinds of invitations rarely happen. For them to happen to the same artist puts her in an elite class of icons.”

- “I will be forever in debt to that woman for the courage she had at a time when Garth Brooks’ career really needed it. My music was tied up…there was no way to release it…and she gave us a way to share new music with people when she decided to include ‘In Another’s Eyes’ on her Songbook: A Collection of Hits album. That’s not just what an icon does – it’s what a leader who has a passion for music does!”

- “Trisha took things that mean the world to her – family and memories of her dad and mom and her sister – and shared them with the whole world in a way no one else has really done with her cookbooks and TV show. And she’s still doing it! There’s no way to know how many people she has touched with her food and stories on top of those she’s reached with her music. And she’s great at all of it. I know – I got to taste and test it all!”‍

- “I’ve often shared that when Miss Yearwood married me, she also married my girls. The impact she has had on our daughters by showing them by example that women can not only become whatever they can dream, but also be the best at it. That's iconic."

- “When First Lady Rosalynn Carter requested that Trisha sing at her funeral, the entire world watched as one iconic Georgia girl was honored by another iconic Georgia girl in what Trisha has deemed ‘the honor of a lifetime.’ Feminine strength of class and timelessness was on display during the First Lady's service.”  

- “I think Trisha’s next iconic moments are yet to come. And they may be her most iconic yet. I’m watching her tap into a songwriting talent that I’ve always known is in her. And everyone is going to be blown away – trust me. I am. And I just know there’s a moment in her future that’s going to make me even more proud – if that’s even possible – than I am right now. I can see it. There’s a brass plaque…a rotunda…I really can see it. Especially after what I saw this week. And if I’m lucky, I’ll be at her side and I will be the proudest person in the room – I promise you.”

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