Garth Brooks Paid Tribute To Elton John: Gershwin Award
Garth Brooks paid tribute to Elton John and his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin at the annual presentation of the Library of Congress’ Gershwin Prize for Popular Song (known by many as simply the “Gershwin Award”).
Four years ago, Garth received the honor, and last week (3/20), he had the honor of helping pay tribute to Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Their famous partnership breaks down like this: Elton composes the music and Bernie writes the lyrics. This is how most of Elton’s songs have been written (although he has occasionally worked with other lyricists).
Photo – Shannon Finney/Getty Images
Greatest Music Catalog
Brooks said before his performance, “It might be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, music catalogs out there! We’re talking about singles. I mean…(singing) ‘Goodbye yellow brick road….’ Oh – so good! (singing) ‘I guess that’s why they call it the blues….’ He goes on, man. (singing) ‘Daniel is traveling tonight on a plane….'”
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Elton John’s Songs
He continued singing more, “In Vegas, every now and then we’ll do (sings) ‘What do I got to do to make you want me?’ Oh, ‘Sorry [Seems to Be the Hardest Word]’ – what a beautiful chord…chord progression. It’s just everything.”
“The song that’s under the radar that I just love of Elton’s was (sings) ‘Oh, Nikita, you will never know….’ I love that. (sings) ‘Never know a single thing about my home….’ Awww – it’s just so good. And it’s been years and years and years of just hit after hit after hit.”
Garth commented on getting the honor with an audience filled with lawmakers and government figures. “It’s a serious thing, the Library of Congress (Gershwin Prize for Popular Song). It’s an honor. And it’s an honor to get to play for who you’re playing for, too. It’s a sweet night.”
The Library of Congress’ Gershwin Prize for Popular Song tribute to Elton John and Bernie Taupin will air on PBS on April 8.
Room For Everyone In Country
Regarding another pop star, Brooks believes that there is room for everyone in country music. When Garth celebrated his bar opening recently, I asked his thoughts on Beyonce's big entrance into country music, charting her song “Texas Hold’ Em” at number one in its first week out. It made Beyonce the first Black female artist ever to hold the top spot on the Billboard Country Songs chart.
Brooks told me, “Everybody’s welcome in country music, and that’s what I love about it. So, in our era, if you want to go back to where we were at, Kenny Rogers came over from pop, if you remember, right? He became one of the biggest country artists ever.”
He added, “Taylor Swift went from country to pop the other way and became one of the biggest artists ever.”
According to The New York Post, Beyonce’s other country single, “16 Carriages,” also released on February 11, debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard country chart.
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