Garth Brooks talks influences, hit songs and why a woman should be president

The last time Garth Brooks headlined Bridgestone Arena it was a sold-out, multi-night stand in 2017 to cap his history-making world tour that sold more than 6 million tickets.

There was a full band. Brooks wore his cowboy hat. He had a setlist packed with his hits. There was an appearance from Trisha Yearwood and full staging to boot.

Wednesday night, Brooks returned to the space to play a 90-minute show for hundreds of country radio executives in town for the 50th Country Radio Seminar that is in progress through Friday at Omni Nashville Hotel. But this time, the fan experience was much different. Brooks swapped his Stetson for a ballcap. He gave his band the night off and accompanied himself on guitar. Brooks' song choices came from the crowd and he played as many songs (or parts of them) popularized by his heroes as he did of the ones that made him a household name. The staging was minimal, although he did manage to project his logo around the cavernous space to create a wallpaper effect. He told stories, did impressions (Willie Nelson) shared his thoughts, answered questions and offered advice. 

"I love country music because it spans so many things," Brooks said. "I'll never forget the first time I heard George Strait. I've wanted to be George Strait my whole life."

He followed up with Strait's hit "Amarillo by Morning." In the theme of singer/songwriters by whom Brooks was influenced, he played Billy Joel's "Piano Man," James Taylor's "Carolina In My Mind" and he talked about the relatability of Jim Croce.

"I can't hang upon no lover's cross for you," Brooks quotes. "Are you kidding me?"

He dusted off his hits "Unanswered Prayers" and "That Summer," much to the delight of the audience. 

Prompted by a question about his wife Trisha Yearwood, Brooks shared his thoughts on women.

"Women have to work 1,000 times harder to get a tenth as much," Brooks said. "I think a woman should run the country. Not to get political, but a woman is going to use (her brain). A man is going to use (his fist,) and that never works."

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Brooks reminisced about recording the video for "The Red Strokes," playfully refused to reprise his character Chris Gaines, and recalled the time Forest Whitaker called to chat with him about participating in the soundtrack for the Sandra Bullock movie "Hope Floats."

Brooks said he flew out to meet Whitaker and was confused to find out that Whitaker, who was directing the film, didn't want Brooks to write new music for his flick or rerecord any of his old hits. Instead, he wanted Brooks to cover someone else's song. 

"Why I am here," Brooks recalled wondering. "Oh, it's Bob Dylan? I'm cool again."

Brooks did a version of Dylan's "Make You Feel My Love" for the soundtrack.

When someone shouted the singer's hit "Somewhere Other Than the Night," he obliged. 

"It's my mom and dad's favorite song," he said. "It would be my pleasure."

His acoustic guitar strapped to his body, Brooks casually walked from one end of the stage to the next. He chatted with the audience and played "Standing Outside the Fire" and "Wolves."

"Singles are always the safest things they can be," Brooks said. "What's going to (upset) the least amount of people. It's the album cuts that save people's lives. We've got to find a way for albums."

Brooks sang a bit of Don McClean's "American Pie" and the audience chimed in.

"As an artist, your only hope is that you have a song that everyone knows the words to," he said. "I might have been one of those lucky artists that got a song that everyone knows the words to ... and it's been a (heck of a) ride ever since."

He started "Friends in Low Places" and the crowd sang along.

Brooks said his thank yous and left the stage, but the audience wouldn't budge until he re-emerged to sing "The Dance."

"Take it home," he said, as fans closed the night singing Brooks' songs back to him.

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