TIMELESS: GARTH’S FIRST NETWORK TELEVISION SPECIAL, “THIS IS GARTH BROOKS!” MOVED COUNTRY MUSIC INTO PRIME TIME AND TO THE TOP OF THE CHARTS

28 Million Viewers Tuned In, Giving NBC Its Highest Friday-Night Ratings in Over Two Years

In 1991, Garth Brooks’ reputation as an electrifying entertainer, combined with chart-topping hits from Garth Brooks and No Fences, led NBC to approach him about doing his first network television special.  When it aired in January 1992, “This is Garth Brooks!” was seen by 28 million viewers, ranked #9 in weekly Nielsen ratings, and gave NBC its highest Friday-night ratings in more than two years.  It was the fuel that ignited Garth’s phenomenal ascent, laid the groundwork for a long list of future television specials, and blazed a path for country music’s unprecedented growth and success in the ‘90s.

"We knew we had something special with the live show," Garth’s manager Bob Doyle recalls. “It all came together at this moment and gave us a platform to let the world see Garth Brooks on a much broader level.”

“Some people are never going to buy a ticket, maybe because they can’t afford it, maybe because of where they live . . . but man, you still want them to see the show, to be a part of it.  Rick Ludwin at NBC made it possible,” Garth says.  

“This is Garth Brooks!” was filmed at Reunion Arena in Dallas over several nights in September 1991.  Significantly, September also marked the release of Ropin’ the Wind and the beginning of SoundScan, the system that scanned the barcode of every album purchased and provided the sales data that determined an album’s Billboard chart position.  Based on SoundScan data, Ropin’ the Wind made history as the first album to debut at #1 on the Billboard pop and country album charts.  

When “This is Garth Brooks!” aired four months later, it unleashed a wave of record sales like country music had never seen.  Garth’s first three albums--Ropin’ the Wind, No Fences, and Garth Brooks—occupied the #1, #2, and #3 positions on Billboard’s Country Albums chart for 11 consecutive weeks starting Feb. 1, 1992.