Garth will be popular, but not the huge success he was in the late 80's. His old fans will return, but few new ones. Too many years away without a hype machine drumming how great he is into people's consciousness. From here on in it will be fading glory.

I'm not a fan of Brooks' music, but any male celebrity willing to be an old French whore for an SNL sketch is all right in my book.

Stinky Boots: let's hunt and kill garth brooks.

But we didn't get Billy Ray Cyrus or Michael Bolton yet.

Garth Brooks is a good entertainer. I bought some of his CDs when I was a kid, and I still sing along with some of his songs if I hear them. The problem comes when people try to classify him as country. He comes from Oklahoma, he wears a hat, and he sings about rodeo, but his style is inoffensive light rock. You can complain that he implicitly gives permission for much of the terrible redneck music that poses as country today, but he (and they) are not country music.

I realize this puts him in the solidly at a bulls-eye of hatred for both fans of old school country music and fans of rock who aren't interested in hearing about the rural lifestyle he often sings about. You really have to be a walking assault on good taste to get a show in Las Vegas anyway, so this fits.

Bonanza Jellybean: Stinky Boots: let's hunt and kill garth brooks.

But we didn't get Billy Ray Cyrus or Michael Bolton yet.

We really should have gotten to Billy Ray Cyrus a long time ago. That is a mistake that is going to haunt us for a long time.

Garth Brooks put on a good show--I saw him in Lexington KY during the height of his career (coworker won free tickets, you would have thought she won the lottery). Usually all country performers do is stand there and sing but Garth had all the lights and the big stage and was flying over the crowd. It was blowing all the rednecks' minds. Now pretty much all the country acts put on the same kind of shows.

/agree he's light pop with a twang

The return of the fat white guy in tight jeans. Nation rejoice!

worrie: The 123 million people who have his albums would hardly qualify this article as needing a "stupid" tag

Actually it would more than qualify it, it would justify it.

19 Kilo: And yet, Hank Williams is still not in the Hall of Fame.

Sybarite: I'm not a fan of Brooks' music, but any male celebrity willing to be an old French whore for an SNL sketch is all right in my book.

Forget that, he was the guest on the best episode of MUPPETS TONIGHT. (new window)

/MAAAMMMMMBBBOOOOOO!!!!!

I'm not a country music fan, so I never really judged Brooks on his music. He was a good sport on SNL, and I think the Chris Gaines concept was an interesting idea that went horribly awry and turned into a joke. But I give the guy credit for trying, you know? As far as leaving the business to be with his kids, well, John Lennon did that when Sean was born. Once again, something I can respect. I'll save my hate for artists who never take chances.

/Looking at you Coldplay