Year’s Top Story: Garth Brooks

When Garth Brooks announced his return to the music business, it wasn’t a complete surprise.  Back when he retired, he said that he would return after his youngest daughter graduated high school.  He also mentioned it a year ago when he was promoting a collection of music from his influences.  But on July 10th, Garth made it official with a Nashville press conference.  He announced a new record contract, with an album called “Man Against Machine,” released on November 11, and a 3 year World Tour.   Response to Garth’s return was impressive.  He sold over a million tickets in just the first 3 months of the tour, and he broke attendance records in several cities.  When he co-hosted Country Countdown USA, he told host Lon Helton that he has concert dates on the books through 2017.

But Garth wasn’t the only country star making news in 2014.  Luke Bryan kicked off his That’s My Kind of Night Tour at the start of the year, and by the end, had the top country tour of the year, with over 1.2 million tickets sold, and grossing $62 million.  Luke coupled that with a series of #1 hits, including “Play It Again,” “Drink A Beer,” and “Roller Coaster.”  When the year ended, Luke was named the CMA’s Entertainer of the Year, and was presented the award by none other than Garth Brooks.

Luke may have had the #1 tour, but right behind him was George Strait.  The Cowboys Rides Away Tour grossed #61 million in 2014, and the final show at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas broke a record with over 106,000 tickets sold.  He enlisted a dozen top stars, including Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Vince Gill, Eric Church, Faith Hill, Miranda Lambert, and Martina McBride to join him for a special night.  That show closed out George’s touring career.  He vowed he’d continue to play occasional shows, but no more touring.  That capped a career that began in 1981, with a string of 60 #1 hits, and numerous awards.  In April, George won the Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year.

Also making news in 2014: Jason Aldean, who had the #3 country tour of the year.  Earlier in the year, he announced a partnership with Major League Baseball, and played a number of sold-out shows in baseball stadiums during the summer.  Jason also had the #1 most-played Song of 2014 with “When She Says Baby.”   On October 6th, Jason released “Old Boots, New Dirt,” and the album quickly became the first platinum-selling album of the year.  As the year ended, Jason announced that he was engaged to marry Brittany Kerr.  Jason told Country Countdown USA’s Lon Helton that he expected to get married early in the new year.

There were several weddings in 2014.  The Band Perry’s Kimberly married baseball star J.P. Arencibia on June 12th. Jerrod Niemann married Morgan Petek on October 12th in Puerto Rico.  Love & Theft’s Stephen Barker Liles tied the knot this year as well. So did Montgomery Gentry’s Eddie Montgomery.   Brantley Gilbert announced his engagement during the year.  So did Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard.

Carrie Underwood gave us a Labor Day weekend surprise by announcing she was expecting a baby.  During the CMA Awards, Carrie’s co-host Brad Paisley spilled the beans that the baby was going to be a boy.  The baby is expected in the spring.  In the meantime, Carrie released her “Greatest Hits: Decade #1” at the end of the year.

Miranda Lambert had another banner year in 2014.  She once again picked up the ACM and CMA Female Vocalist of the Year awards.  She released a new album, “Platinum,” in June.  She had an exhibition of some personal items at the Country Music Hall of Fame.  And she headlined her own Platinum Tour, while also joining Jason Aldean on his stadium shows.

Her husband Blake Shelton was busy with his TV career, once again coaching a team on The Voice.  In the summer, he headlined a tour, and also released a new album in September.

Eric Church began the year with the release of a new album, “The Outsiders.”  In the fall, he launched The Outsiders World Tour.  When Grammy nominations were announced, Eric picked up four.

Kenny Chesney returned after a year off.  He released a new album, called “The Big Revival,” and the first single, “American Kids,” quickly went to #1.  Chesney will kick off The Big Revival Tour in March of 2015, with special guests Jason Aldean, Brantley Gilbert, and Jake Owen.

Country legends Reba McEntire and Brooks & Dunn announced they’ll headline a series of shows at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas starting in June.  They’ll replace Shania Twain, who concluded her two-year run in December.

VOTE in our poll of the Top Country Stories of 2014! Click HERE

 

Category: NEWS