Your support helps us tell the story
Our mission is to provide unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds accountability and uncovers the truth.
Every donation counts, whether it’s $5 or $50.
Please support us in providing agenda-free journalism.
learn more
Country singer Garth Brooks has denied rape and assault allegations against her former hair and makeup artist, who filed a lawsuit alleging that he assaulted her at a hotel during a business trip in 2019.
The anonymous accuser, referred to in the complaint as “Jane Roe,” also alleges that throughout 2019, Brooks repeatedly groped her while she was doing her hair and makeup and made sexually explicit comments to her.
In her lawsuit, she claimed that the Grammy Award-winning singer exposed himself to her multiple times and told her about his sexual fantasies.
She said she was forced to continue working for him due to financial hardship and claimed that he knowingly exploited her.
In a statement, Brooks, 62, called the allegations “lies” and said he was “incapable” of acting in the manner he is accused of.
“I trust the system, I’m not afraid of the truth, and I’m not who they portray me to be,” he said.
Open image in gallery
Garth Brooks denies allegations against him (Getty Images for Country Music H)
One of the biggest country music stars of the ’90s, Brooks continues to sell millions of records and fill out shows across the country.
He was born Troyal Garth Brooks in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1962, the youngest son of Troyal Raymond Brooks, an oil company draftsman, and his mother, Colleen, also a singer. Encouraged to sing from an early age, he learned to play both the guitar and banjo, and began performing in local clubs and bars. Brooks was discovered by an entertainment lawyer who offered to produce the first demo. He moved to Nashville in 1987.
His self-titled debut album was released in 1989 and included singles such as “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” which became his first number one single on the Hot Country Songs chart, and was a country-pop hit. – Obtained support slot for late artist Kenny Rogers.
Amazon Music gives you unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts
Sign up now for a 30-day free trial
sign up
Amazon Music gives you unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts
Sign up now for a 30-day free trial
sign up
Brooks released his second album, No Fences, in 1990, which claimed him as one of the biggest new stars of the decade, and included the song “Friends,” which is now his signature song.・In Low Place” is included. No Fences remained at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart for 23 weeks and reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200. He became a member of the Grand Ole Opry later that year.
Open image in gallery
Garth Brooks and co-host Dolly Parton at the 2023 Country Music Awards (Getty Images)
As a country artist, his public support for LGBT+ people caused controversy in the notoriously conservative Nashville industry. His 1993 song “We Shall Be Free” was boycotted by radio stations in some countries, but its lyrics include “When we’re free to love whoever we choose.” It was The accompanying music video features celebrity cameos from lesbians Martina Navratilova and Lily Tomlin.
In a 1999 interview with George, he said: “But if we’re in love, we have to follow our hearts and trust God to explain why we fall in love with people of the same sex.” Transgender people in 2023 Influencer refuses to boycott Bud Light amid backlash over partnership with Dylan Mulvaney, instead holding Bud Light at Nashville bar Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky Tonk continued to provide. Brooks credits his half-sister, musician Betsy Smittle, as the inspiration behind his support for same-sex marriage.
Brooks has been married twice, first to songwriter Sandy Marr, and has three daughters, Taylor, August, and Allie. He also has a granddaughter, Karalyn, who was born to August and his partner Chance Michael Russell. Brooks and Merle separated in 1999. Their divorce was finalized two years later. He married country singer and cookbook author Trisha Yearwood in 2005.
Open image in gallery
Mr. Brooks (left) and his wife Trisha Yearwood (Associated Press)
Arguably one of the strangest chapters in Brooks’ career is his infamous alter ego, Chris Gaines. He was a brooding, sex-addicted alt-rocker who released a fake greatest hits record, Garth Brooks Presents…The Life of Chris Gaines, in 1999. .
The album, which was to be included in the unreleased mystery thriller The Lamb, in which Brooks was scheduled to star, was a huge flop, selling only 2 million copies, with Brooks complaining that he had “serious identity issues”. It was heavily criticized by critics who thought that it might have a problem. He has reportedly refused to talk about it ever since. A 2019 Daily Beast article about this unfortunate record included a comment from his publicist: “Garth no longer speaks about Chris Gaines.”
Brooks’ stance on streaming has also made headlines over the years, and he has been embroiled in a number of disputes over royalties. In 2014, he launched iTunes competitor GhostTunes after refusing to have his music sold on the platform. Two years later, he signed an exclusive deal with Amazon to stream his songs, explaining his logic that the conglomerate could also sell physical copies of his albums.
“The reality is that Amazon is also a retailer,” he said at a country radio seminar in Nashville last year. “So you can sign a streaming deal, but part of it is moving the physical unit to get the songwriters paid…I still support the songwriters, because I Because I’m one of them!” he continued. “Everything I do for the songwriters, I do for myself.”
Open image in gallery
Garth Brooks attends the 2022 Kennedy Center Reception hosted by President Joe Biden (Getty Images)
In 2015, Brooks topped Forbes magazine’s annual list of the world’s highest-paid country artists, with an estimated income of $90 million (£68 million) over the past year. That year, he resumed touring for the first time in more than a decade, selling more than 2.5 million tickets at arena shows across the United States. According to his official website, he remains the best-selling solo artist in U.S. history with 20 Billboard No. 1 singles and 157 million record sales. He has been nominated for 13 Grammy Awards and won twice, including for the title song from his third album, 1991’s Ropin’ the Wind.
His latest album, Time Traveler, was released last year and explores the country’s history through 10 songs.
In a statement regarding the accusations against him, Brooks told Deadline through his representative: Check out our millions of dollars. It felt like a loaded gun was being swung at my face. ”
He continued: “Hush money is still hush money, more or less.” “In my mind, it means admitting the things that you cannot do yourself, the ugly things that a human being should never do to another person.”
Lawyers representing the accusers said in a statement to CNN that they are “confident that Brooks will be held accountable for his actions.”
“We commend our client’s courage in moving forward with the charges against Garth Brooks,” the statement said. “The charges filed today demonstrate that sex offenders exist not only in corporate America, in Hollywood, in the rap and rock and roll industries, but also in the world of country music.”
Rape Crisis provides support to survivors of rape and sexual abuse. Call 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland or visit the website www.rapecrisis.org.uk. If you are in the United States, call Rainn at 800-656-HOPE (4673).
