In his second of two press conferences today, Garth Brooks announced he’s coming out of retirement for a five-year residency at the Encore Theatre at Wynn Las Vegas.The Grammy award-winning singer will perform four shows a weekend – one show Friday night, two on Saturday and one on Sunday – playing fifteen weekends a year.
Brooks broke the big news along with Steve Wynn, chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts, during a press conference held in the Encore Theatre.
Brooks officially retired in 2001 to spend time with his wife, country singer Trisha Yearwood, and his three daughters, ages 17,15 and 13. The singer explained that the residency still allows him to spend time with his family – especially because Wynn threw in a private jet to get Brooks back to his home in Oklahoma as soon as possible.
“When Steve Wynn approached me about playing … he didn’t throw money at me … he listened to my story,” Brooks said. “He’s taken care of my children, he’s taken care of my wife. … My life is not going to change in the next five years except I’m going to get to play live music, which I’m excited about.”
The first weekend of shows is set for December 11-13 2009, followed by gigs January 1-3, 2010, January 22-24, 2010, February 12-14 and February 26-28, 2010. Brooks noted that new dates would be announced four times a year.
Brooks said he was excited to play the Encore Theatre after playing larger venues like arenas and stadiums that were built for sports rather than sound.
The show will feature just Brooks and his guitar, which the country singer says “takes me back to the early days.” Brooks will also be joined by some special guests every now and then, including wife, Trisha Yearwood.
Although Brooks officially retired from touring in 2001, in 2005 he began occasionally playing one-off events. He last performed January 18, 2009 at the Lincoln Memorial at Washington, D.C. for “We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration.” Before that he performed at Los Angeles’ Staples Center five times in one weekend last year.
During a Q&A at the press conference, Brooks said that he won’t be making any new music until his youngest daughter is on her way to college. He also noted that the Wynn residency will be his only shows on the books until that point.
He added that after all the girls graduate high school, the family will relocate from Oklahoma to New York so Yearwood can pursue a career on Broadway.
Brooks will be the first permanent headliner at the Encore Theatre since Danny Gans. The singer/entertainer died from a combination of prescription painkillers and a heart condition in May 2009.
Brooks has sold more albums in the US--upwards of 128 million--than any solo artist in history, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. In addition to his two Grammys, Brooks has also racked up 11 Country Music Association awards.
