Watch Ernest Perform A Cover Of Garth Brooks’ ‘The River’
While Ernest is currently on island time, that hasn’t stopped him from sharing yet another incredible country cover. The singer-songwriter posted a video of himself today (3/11) performing Garth Brooks’ “The River.”
RELATED: Ernest Releases New Country Single, “Kiss Of Death”
Brooks’ “The River” was the fifth single to come from his third studio album in 1991 titled Ropin’ The Wind. It became the country legend’s ninth No. 1 hit. He co-wrote the song alongside Victoria Shaw.
Ernest garnered comments from fellow country stars, musicians, and fans including the ones seen here below.
“Cool stuff.” – Dan Smyers
“Can I please touch that guitar next time I see you.” – Steven James
“The St Thomas sessions just hit different.”
“Doing the man some serious justice with this one.”
“The RivERN.”
“This is beautiful. Incredible cover!” – Lewis Cooper
“First thing I heard this morning, love that song and your version of it.”
Now that Ernest has shared his cover to the world of Brooks’ track, perhaps, he’ll stop over at his new spot in Nashville, which officially opened last week, Friends In Low Places Bar & Honky Tonk. That would be one amazing guest appearance if you ask me.
Ernest has previously shared covers on his Instagram page of Keith Whitley’s “Miami, My Amy,” George Strait’s “I Just Want To Dance With You,” George Jones’ “He Stopped Loving Her,” Merle Haggard’s “That’s The Way Love Goes,” and many more.
Over the weekend, Ernest shared a series of photos with his wife Delaney Royer, and son, Ryman. They are shown enjoying some fun in the sun in St. Thomas with the caption, “Little island getaway before this new ‘wave.'”
Back in the fall, Ernest introduced his next chapter of music with the release of his latest single, “Kiss of Death,” and joined Steve Aoki on a new collaboration titled “Us.” The new music follows his 2022 sophomore album, Flower Shops, and the release of ERNEST & The Fellas Unplugged in 2023.
Five Garth Brooks Songs That Made Him An Icon
"Callin' Baton Rouge" (1994)
Chris Weeks/Liaison/Getty Images
Garth was not the first artist to record it. In an album liner notes, he said, “I have always been a fan of ‘Baton Rouge.’ I was, still am and always will be a fan of the members of New Grass Revival, four guys well ahead of their time (even if they came out thirty years from now). ‘Baton Rouge’ was a single for them about the time my first album was released.”He continued, “This song did not even break the top thirty, and I believe it did not get a fair shot. When we recorded it, it seemed only natural to bring in the guys from New Grass Revival – Pat Flynn, Bela Fleck, John Cowan, and Sam Bush, teamed with Jerry Douglas. This was the first time the New Grass Revival had been together since their breakup over a year prior to the recording of this song. It was a very good day and an extremely proud moment, and I think this is reflected in the cut itself.”
"The Thunder Rolls" (1991)
Adele Starr/Getty ImagesGarth co-wrote this dark number-one song. He said of the song, “There is no doubt that the toughest song in the GB catalog has to be ‘The Thunder Rolls.’ This song came out fighting the day it was released. It was originally cut by Tanya Tucker in 1988 but was never put on an album. It came back to us in time for No Fences. My hat’s off to Pat Alger, a great writer and friend, and to music itself because only music could withstand what this song has gone through.”
The lyrics include, “The thunder rolls / And the lightnin’ strikes / Another love grows cold / On a sleepless night / As the storm blows on / Out of control / Deep in her heart / The thunder rolls.”
"If Tomorrow Never Comes" (1989)
Frederick M. Brown/Getty ImagesGarth’s second radio single and his first number-one single on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. “If Tomorrow Never Comes” was named Favorite Country Single in the American Music Awards of 1991. Brooks noted that the song “will probably always be my signature song.” Garth also said that the song is about the love of a father to his daughter, not to his lover. He co-wrote the song with Kent Blazy.
"Friends In Low Places" (1990)
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesOne of the biggest songs in his career and the name of his new downtown Nashville bar. During a press conference when the bar opened, Garth said that when it came out and succeeded (four weeks at number-one) so much, nobody knew his name, but “everyone” knows “Friend In Low Places.” The song won both the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association awards for 1990 Single of the Year.
"The Dance" (1990)
Stephen Chernin/Getty Images“The Dance” was the single released before “Friends in Low Places,” and also shot to number one on the country charts. In 1990, it was named both Song of the Year and Video of the Year by the Academy of Country Music. It was awarded the number 14 position in the CMT 100 Greatest Songs of Country Music broadcast in 2003. It also is in the number 5 position on the network’s The Greatest: 100 Greatest Music Videos special in 2004.
In 2001, after the death of Dale Earnhardt, Brooks was invited to the NASCAR Awards ceremony honoring Earnhardt to play the song as a tribute.
