Country singing legend Garth Brooks, who retired in 2000, announced from the stage of the Grand Old Opry in Nashville on October 15, 2009 that he is coming back.
Garth laid out a preliminary plan for reporters today detailing his 5 year contract to perform weekend concerts that will take place at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas Resort Casino Towers. It is the former entertainment home of the late Danny Gans, who died in May 2009.
A press conference was held at 1:00 p.m. PT this afternoon at the Nevada venue, where he and business tycoon Steve Wynn provided a broad overview of Brooks latest entertainment enterprise. He will entertain primarily on weekends in a loose schedule that will continue to meet the needs of his family. New concert dates will be developed on a quarterly basis, taking into consideration the schedules of Garth’s children and important dates that will require his attendance on their behalf.
Wynn has given Garth free reign to do whatever he likes on stage and has provided him with an aircraft that will shuttle his family back and forth between Vegas and Nashville.
Concert tickets will be available for sale starting October 24, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. PT. Seats will be assigned and security measures are being taken to ensure that tickets don’t end up in the hands of scalpers, according to Steve Wynn. Dates thus far are December 11-13, Jan 1-3, Jan 22-24, Feb 12-14, and Feb 26-28.
The 47-year-old suffered several life altering events that led to his sudden departure from the business. His mother died in 1999 and he split with his wife of 14 years in October 2000. Directly on the heels of his marital collapse, he announced that he was retiring from recording and performing until his children were grown.
Brooks married country singer Trisha Yearwood in 2005. His three daughters are Taylor Mayne Pearl, 17, August Anna, 15, and Allie Colleen, 13.
Brooks has sold more than 128 million albums in the U.S. During the 90s, he was one of the most popular concert attractions in the world.
View more photos of the couple below.