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Tee Gentry

When Garth Brooks Was An Opening Act

Author Tee Gentry

We all know him as a guy that sells out stadiums worldwide, but everybody has to start somewhere.  In Garth Brooks’ case, he was an opening act for a huge country star, and it was a great stage to get lots of visibility and pick up a few fans along the way.

The year was 1989, and the headliner was Kenny Rogers. Garth told Billboard magazine-

Kenny Rogers, by working with him, became one of my heroes. Just watching how he treated his band, his guys, everybody, they’d all been with him for 100 years. It was like, “This is how you do it.” I’m really, really thankful that Bob was smart enough to tell me to get on that tour.

There was no way you could be around him and not learn something. He was one of the most successful artists on the planet. If you want to do record sales, look at “The Gambler” and go, “Oh, okay, you can sell that many?” Because I think that sold something stupid, like 13 or 14 million. It showed all of us that country artists can do this as well.

Garth and Kenny remained friends over the years, and Garth became the biggest country act around.

On a side note-

I first saw Garth at the old Beachwagon bar in Myrtle Beach. There were two country bars at the beach at the time……The Beachwagon and Cowboy’s Nightlife. Then one evening while I was on vacation, I decided to go see Clint Black at Cowboys, but it was sold out, so I went to see the new guy, Garth, at the Beachwagon. He performed for about 30 people that night and went to everyone in the bar and thanked them for coming. Class act.

Check out the photos below. Garth surprised a few fans in Nashville at a small bar on Broadway a few years ago, and I was lucky enough to be there to snap a few pictures.

 

11 Garth Brooks Finds That Will Bring Out All His Friends In High or Low Places

If there’s something here you decide you just must have, we’ve provided links to the product websites.  When you click on the link and make a purchase, Beasley Media Group may earn a commission. We are an Amazon Associate and earn from qualifying purchases. 

 

Garth Brooks is a superstar who sells out stadiums all over the country and the world. Garth isn’t afraid to market himself and shares his fair share of merch with his fans himself. We dove deep into the internet to find some unique items for the Garth fan in all of us. And with over 157 million albums sold worldwide, most of us have been buying his music for years.

 

Please note that items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time we published this list. Have an idea for a fun theme for a gift idea list you’d like us to create?  Drop us a line at [email protected]. 

Tee has worked with KICKS 99 for over 24 years as Operations Manager and Program Director and is on-air each afternoon 3p-7p. When he’s not working, you’ll find him traveling the back roads, taking pictures, and searching for the next dive diner. Favorite place to visit? That’s easy. Folly Beach, SC. He’s usually there at least a few times a year. He lives in North Augusta and on Saturdays in the fall, you’ll find him cooking out and watching his Clemson Tigers. Tee likes to write about travel, Augusta local dive bars and diners and destinations in the Carolinas, as well as new business.

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