Garth Brooks has had a nice, long retirement. Now, it appears to be over.
At a news conference Thursday in Nashville, Brooks, 52, is expected to announce details of his comeback, most likely including plans for a world tour.
The country superstar, who ranks behind only The Beatles and Elvis Presley in U.S. album sales, walked away from the music business in 2001 to raise his three daughters. Since then, he has only sporadically performed and released music.
It's possible he'll reveal only a portion of his master plan at the event. Or a tour could be only part of what he announces:
- New music: Sony Music Nashville is hosting the news conference. "I would suspect there'll be some announcement about new music," says Lon Helton, publisher of trade publication Country Aircheck. Brooks could reveal details of a new single and, perhaps, an album.
- A TV special: Brooks events rarely come without a televised component. Garth Brooks, Live From Las Vegas drew more than 9 million viewers for CBS last November.
- Digital sales: Brooks has never made his music available for download. "Until we get variable pricing, until we get album-only (downloads) ... you won't see my stuff on (iTunes)," he told reporters in 2009. If Brooks has overcome the digital hurdle, that would likely bring huge sales.
If he does announce a tour, it could continue into 2016 or beyond. He is possibly the only act capable of making U2's huge 360 tour look like a weekend jaunt.
Brooks may no longer carry the chart clout he did in the '90s, however: Only one of the seven tracks he has released to radio since his last studio album topped the country airplay charts.
Once, Brooks was country music's dominant act on every level. Can he regain that status?
"For most artists, I would say there's no chance in hell," Helton says. "I would also say, you never underestimate Garth Brooks."
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