Garth Brooks: Gershwin Prize

♪ ♪ ♪ BOTH: Six o'clock on Friday evening, ♪ ♪ Momma doesn't know she's leaving, ♪ ♪ 'Til she hears the screen door slamming, ♪ ♪ Rubber squealin', gears a-jamming, ♪ ♪ Local country station just a-blaring on the radio, ♪ ♪ Pick him up at seven and they're headin' to the rodeo, ♪ ♪ Momma's on the front porch, ♪ ♪ Screamin' out her warning, ♪ ♪ "Girl, you better get your red head, ♪ ♪ Back in bed before the morning.

♪ [fiddle solo].

♪ Nine o'clock the show is ending, ♪ ♪ But the fun is just beginning, ♪ ♪ She knows he's anticipating, ♪ ♪ But she's gonna keep him waiting, ♪ ♪ Grab a bite to eat and then they're heading ♪ ♪ to the honkey tonk, ♪ ♪ But loud crowds and line dancing, ♪ ♪ Just ain't what they really want, ♪ ♪ Drive out to the boondocks, and park down by the creek, ♪ ♪ And where it's George Strait 'til real late, ♪ ♪ And dancing cheek to cheek, hey!

♪ ♪ Ain't going down 'til the sun comes up, ♪ ♪ Ain't givin' in 'til they get enough, ♪ ♪ Going 'round the world in a pick-up truck.

♪ ♪ Ain't goin' down 'til the sun comes up.

♪ [fiddle solo].

♪ Ten 'til twelve is wine and dancing, ♪ ♪ Midnight starts the hard romancing, ♪ ♪ One o'clock that truck is rocking, ♪ ♪ Two is coming, still no stopping, ♪ ♪ Break to check the clock at three, ♪ ♪ They're right on where they wanna be, ♪ ♪ Four o'clock get up and going, ♪ ♪ Five o'clock that rooster's crowing... ♪ ♪ Ain't going down 'til the sun comes up, ♪ ♪ Ain't givin' in 'til they get enough, ♪ ♪ Going 'round the world in a pick-up truck, ♪♪ Let me hear it!

♪ AUDIENCE: Ain't goin' down 'til the sun comes up.

♪ ♪ BOTH: Six o'clock on Saturday, ♪ ♪ Her folks don't know he's on his way, ♪ ♪ The stalls are clean, the horses fed, ♪ ♪ They say she's grounded 'til she's dead, ♪ ♪ But here he comes around the bend, ♪ ♪ Slowing down, she's jumping in, ♪ ♪ Hey, mom, you're daughter's gone, ♪ ♪ And there they go again.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Ain't going down 'til the sun comes up, ♪ ♪ Ain't givin' in 'til they get enough, ♪ ♪ Going 'round the world in a pick-up truck.

♪ ♪ URBAN: Ain't goin' down 'til the sun comes up.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ BROOKS: Yea, yea, yea, yea.

♪ ♪ Say, ah!

♪♪ ANNOUNCER: From Washington, DC, The Library of Congress presents the 2020 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

With an all-star salute to this year's honoree, Garth Brooks.

Performances by Keith Urban, Chris Stapleton, Trisha Yearwood, Keb Mo, Ricky Skaggs and Lee Brice.

Plus an unforgettable, intimate concert from Garth Brooks, with a special appearance by the Howard University Chorale and your host, Jay Leno.

LENO: Thank you very much.

♪ [ Friends in Low Places by Garth Brooks].

♪ LENO: Thank you, good evening and welcome to the 2020 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

Tonight we honor the remarkable American songbook of Garth Brooks.

Now, Garth is the most normal superstar I have ever met.

He's that, well he's that rare combination of extremely talented singer and songwriter and goofball that used to kick the back of your seat in the eighth grade, you know what I'm saying?

He hasn't changed a whole lot.

My favorite thing about Garth is he loves his fans as much as they love him.

You know, as I was coming into work one morning at The Tonight Show the security guard say, Who's on tonight?

And I said Garth Brooks, and he went, Oh no.

I went, Not a fan?

And the guy goes, No, I'm a huge fan.

It's just the last time he was here he must've taken a picture with every person in the audience.

I didn't get out of here till 10 o'clock at night!

[laughter].

But my favorite Garth Brooks fan encounter is this one, okay, one day Garth's sitting in a restaurant, he's eating, he notices a guy staring at him, from across the room, you know.

He figures he wants an autograph, and the guy's, the guy's looking at him and Garth, come on.

The guy goes, no, no.

Oh, thinks the guy left.

Garth finishes his meal, goes in the restroom, sits down on the John... the guy comes in, opens the stall door and says, I didn't wanna bother you while you were eating... could you sign this?

Okay, okay, that's, okay that's a fan encounter, okay.

Now, let's get back to the real reason we're here tonight the music of Garth Brooks.

Please welcome 5-time Grammy-winning country superstar, Chris Stapleton.

[cheering and applause].

♪ ♪ ♪ STAPLETON: His eyes are cold and restless, ♪ ♪ his wounds have almost healed.

♪ ♪ She'd give half of Texas, to change the way he feels.

♪ ♪ She knows his love's in Tulsa and she knows he's gonna go.

♪ ♪ Well it ain't no woman flesh and blood, ♪ ♪ it's that damned old rodeo.

♪ ♪ Well it's bulls and blood, it's dust and mud, ♪ ♪ it's the roar of a Sunday crowd.

♪ ♪ It's the white in his knuckles, ♪ ♪ the gold in the buckle, he'll win the next go 'round.

♪ ♪ It's boots and chaps, it's cowboy hats, ♪ ♪ it's spurs and latigo.

♪ ♪ It's the ropes and the reins, and the joy and the pain, ♪ ♪ and they call the thing rodeo.

♪ ♪ She does her best to hold him, ♪ ♪ when his love comes to call.

♪ ♪ But his need for it controls him, ♪ ♪ and her back's against the wall.

♪ ♪ And it's So long girl I'll see you, ♪ ♪ when it's time for him to go.

♪ ♪ You know the woman wants her cowboy, ♪ ♪ like he wants his rodeo.

♪ ♪ Well it's bulls and blood, it's dust and mud, ♪ ♪ it's the roar of a Sunday crowd.

♪ ♪ It's the white in his knuckles, ♪ ♪ the gold in the buckle, he'll win the next go 'round.

♪ ♪ It's boots and chaps, it's cowboy hats, ♪ ♪ it's spurs and latigo.

♪ ♪ It's the ropes and the reins, and the joy and the pain, ♪ ♪ and they call the thing rodeo.

♪ ♪ GROUP: Woo-hoo.

♪ ♪ STAPLETON: It'll drive a cowboy crazy, ♪ ♪ it'll drive a man insane.

♪ ♪ He'll sell off everything he owns, ♪ ♪ just to pay to play the game.

♪ ♪ And a broken home and some broken bones, ♪ ♪ is all he'll have to show, ♪ ♪ for the years that he spent chasin', ♪ ♪ this dream they call rodeo.

♪ ♪ Well it's bulls and blood, it's dust and mud, ♪ ♪ it's the roar of a Sunday crowd.

♪ ♪ It's the white in his knuckles, ♪ ♪ the gold in the buckle, ♪ ♪ he'll win the next go 'round.

♪ ♪ It's boots and chaps, it's cowboy hats, ♪ ♪ it's spurs and latigo.

♪ ♪ It's the ropes and the reins, ♪ ♪ and the joy and the pain and they call the thing rodeo.

♪ ♪ It's the broncs and the blood, ♪ ♪ it's the steers and the mud and they ♪ ♪ call the thing rodeo.

♪ ♪ Oh, oh.

♪ ♪ GROUP: Woo-hoo-ooh-ooh.

♪ ♪ Woo-hoo... ♪♪ [cheering and applause].

STAPLETON: I'm just gonna take this in a minute and remember the time that Garth Brooks opened for me.

[laughter].

Man, such an honor to be here, thank you for having us Garth and, you know, when I was about 17, I, I scalped a ticket to one of your shows, sat in the very back row, my back was against the wall and I never heard a word you said all night because everybody in the audience was singing every word to every song.

And that's why Garth Brooks deserves to be here tonight, because he knows how to touch the people with a song.

Now there was one song that he played that night that nobody knew, it was a Billy Joel song, that's the one song I heard that night was Billy Joel song, it was not this song I'm about to play, but this song also happens to be a Billy Joel song, but I learned it from you.

So uh, thank you for all the music.

BROOKS: I love ya.

STAPLETON: Yeah, I love you too, buddy.

[applause].

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Well, I'm shameless, ♪ ♪ when it comes to lovin' you.

♪ ♪ I'll do anything you want me to, ♪ ♪ I'll do anything at all.

♪ ♪ And I'm standin', here for all the world to see.

♪ ♪ Oh, baby that's what's left of me, ♪ ♪ don't have very far to fall.

♪ ♪ You know now I'm not a man who's ever been, ♪ ♪ Insecure about the world I've been livin' in.

♪ ♪ I don't break easy, I have my pride, ♪ ♪ But if you need to be satisfied.

♪ ♪ I'm shameless, honey I don't have a prayer, ♪ ♪ Every time I see you standin' there, ♪ ♪ I go down upon my knees.

♪ ♪ GROUP: On my knees.

♪ ♪ STAPLETON: And I'm changin', ♪ ♪ swore I'd never compromise, ♪ ♪ Oh, but you convinced me otherwise, ♪ ♪ I'll do anything you please.

♪ ♪ You see in all my life I've never found, ♪ ♪ What I couldn't resist what I couldn't turn down.

♪ ♪ I can walk away from anyone I ever knew, ♪ ♪ But I can't walk away from you.

♪ ♪ I have never let anything have this much ♪ ♪ control over me.

♪ ♪ I work too hard to call my life my own.

♪ ♪ And I've made myself a world And it's worked so perfectly.

♪ ♪ But it's your world now I can't refuse, ♪ ♪ I've never had so much to lose.

♪ ♪ Oh, I'm shameless.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ You know it should be easy for a man who's strong, ♪ ♪ To say he's sorry or admit when he's wrong.

♪ ♪ I've never lost anything I've ever missed, ♪ ♪ But I've never been in love like this.

♪ ♪ It's out of my hands.

♪ ♪ I'm shameless.

♪ ♪ I don't have the power now and I don't want it anyhow, ♪ ♪ so I gotta let it go.

♪ ♪ Oh, I'm shameless.

♪ ♪ Shameless as a man can be.

♪ ♪ You make a total fool of me, I just wanted to you to know.

♪ ♪ Oh, I'm shameless.

♪ ♪ I just wanted you to know.

♪ ♪ Oh, I'm shameless.

♪ ♪ Oh, I'm down on my knees, I'm shameless.

♪♪ Thank you very much.

Thank you, Garth.

[cheering and applause].

BROOKS: Hi, I'm Garth Brooks, right now you're probably saying, What in the heck's a Garth Brooks?

NARRATOR: Despite a childhood focused more on sports, Garth Brooks was always surrounded by music, thanks to his mother Colleen, a singer and his older siblings, Garth was exposed to a wide variety of music and not just country.

In 1985, Garth decided to leave sports behind and began playing bars and clubs in and around Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Later that year, he made his first trip to Nashville.

♪ BROOKS: This old highway's gettin' longer.

♪♪ NARRATOR: Only to return home in frustration after just one day.

♪ BROOKS: Seems there ain't no end in sight.

♪♪ NARRATOR: Two years later, Garth came back to Nashville and this time it stuck.

BROOKS: Pretty much an honor to come down here and play this for you, I appreciate it.

NARRATOR: After meeting Bob Doyle, the man who would become his longtime manager, Garth signed with Capitol Records and soon recorded songs for what became his self-titled debut.

♪ BROOKS: If tomorrow never comes.

♪♪ NARRATOR: With notable numbers like, If Tomorrow Never Comes, and The Dance.

♪ BROOKS: I could have missed the pain, ♪ ♪ but I'd of had to miss ♪ ♪ the dance.

♪♪ NARRATOR: The album went to number two on the Billboard Country charts and Garth booked his first major concert tour as an opening act for Kenny Rogers.

Said one Capitol executive at the time, Garth wanted to be an artist more than he wanted to be a star.

Despite the success of his first album, no one could have predicted the heights that lay ahead.

♪ BROOKS: The thunder rolls, and the lightning strikes.

♪♪ NARRATOR: In 1990, Garth released, No Fences which spent six months as country's number one album.

Showcasing Garth's ability to reach an audience beyond country radio thanks to smash hits like Friends in Low Places, No Fences cemented Garth Brooks as a bona fide superstar.

♪ BROOKS: Well I got friends in low places, ♪ ♪ where the whiskey drowns ♪ ♪ and the beer chases my blues away.

♪ NARRATOR: By the time Ropin' the Wind was released in 1991, Garth had ushered in a new era in music, which Time Magazine dubbed, Country's Big Boom.

The album also marked the first time in Billboard history that a country artist debuted at number one on the pop charts.

♪ BROOKS: But I will sail my vessel ♪ ♪ Til the river runs dry.

♪♪ NARRATOR: Biographer Edmund Morris said this of Garth's newfound fame, His songs and attitude implored people to embrace the world because it is a place filled with small but urgent wonders " Following the Los Angeles riots in 1992, Garth recorded the Gospel-tinged anthem, We Shall Be Free a profound clarion for tolerance that remains as relevant today as it was nearly 30 years ago.

♪ BROOKS: Have a little faith, hold out, ♪ ♪ because we shall be free.

♪♪ NARRATOR: Garth's broad appeal, owed much to the fact that his musical influences stretched well beyond country, thanks to his love of singer/songwriters like James Taylor and Dan Fogelberg and rock icons like Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and Queen.

♪ BROOKS: She had a need to feel the thunder.

♪♪ NARRATOR: And despite the remarkable success of these record setting early releases, Garth, in a sense, was just getting started.

As the rest of the world would soon find out.

BROOKS: Welcome, to the 90s.

ANNOUNCER: Please welcome, five time Grammy winning, singer/songwriter Keb Mo.

[applause].

Mo: Wow, well, it's an honor to be here.

Garth, thank you so much for what you do, I model my whole life after you.

When I grow up, I wanna be just like you.

And um, so, thank you, when I was asked to do this I called your co-writer on this song and got some backstory on it, so I could do the best I could and uh to represent, because I know it's a song that means a lot to you, so, here goes nothing.

Here goes something, excuse me.

Alright, here we go.

♪ ♪ ♪ You know a dream is like a river, ♪ ♪ ever changin' as it flows.

♪ ♪ And a dreamer's just a vessel, ♪ ♪ that must follow where it goes.

♪ ♪ Trying to learn from what's behind you, ♪ ♪ and never knowing what's in store.

♪ ♪ Makes each day a constant battle, ♪ ♪ just to stay between the shores.

♪ ♪ And I will sail my vessel, 'til the river runs dry.

♪ ♪ Like a bird upon the wind, these waters are my sky.

♪ ♪ I'll never reach my destination, if I never try.

♪ ♪ So I will sail my vessel, 'til the river runs dry.

♪ ♪ Too many times we stand aside,♪ ♪ and let the waters slip away.

♪ ♪ 'Til what we put off 'til tomorrow, ♪ ♪ what now has come today.

♪ ♪ So don't you sit up on the shoreline and ♪ ♪ say you're satisfied.

♪ ♪ Choose, choose to chance the rapids, ♪ ♪ and dare to dance the tide.

♪ ♪ And I will sail my vessel, 'til the river runs dry.

♪ ♪ Like a bird upon the wind, these waters are my sky.

♪ ♪ I'll never reach my destination, if I never try.

♪ ♪ So I will sail my vessel, 'til the river runs dry.

♪ ♪ There's bound to be rough waters and I know ♪ ♪ I'll take some falls.

♪ ♪ But with the good lord as my captain, ♪ ♪ I can make it through it all.

♪ ♪ And I will sail my vessel, 'til the river runs dry.

♪ ♪ Like a bird upon the wind, these waters are my sky.

♪ ♪ I'll never reach my destination, if I never try.

♪ ♪ So I will sail my vessel, ♪ ♪ 'til the river runs dry.

♪ ♪ I will sail my vessel, 'til the river runs dry.

♪ ♪ Oh yeah.

♪♪ [applause].

Thank you.

LENO: It's nice that you all paid attention to that no cell phones warning.

Yeah.

[laughter].

You know, it was great to have Garth as a frequent guest on the "Tonight Show".

From the earliest days, until he appeared with me on my very last show, I was very touched that he did that.

No one was more giving of his time, and his talent.

He was the only artist, whenever he came on the show I sung along every single time cause they all knew the words just as you all do here tonight.

So, it a huge honor to be here, and I can't think of anyone more deserving of this night, and this honor.

Now, joined by the Washington's own Howard University Chorale, once again, Keith Urban.

URBAN: Thank you so much.

Before I get going I want to say Garth, first of all, that was fun.

[laughter].

When I got the invite to do this, it was the most incredible honor to get asked to come and play at this, so first of all congratulations to you on this this extraordinary and well-deserved award.

[applause].

I just want to uh, also point out I have a connection with Miss Trisha, she toured Australia in the late 90s and did a whole bunch of shows and I was her opening act during that tour, so that's the first connection.

And then in 1992 I was playing in a cover band five nights a week, and we did two of Garth's songs in our band.

One of them was Ain't Going Down Till the Sun Comes Up and uh, the other one was this song, and I was a fan of you right from day one, but it, it went to a whole new level when I heard this song, that Garth wrote with Stephanie Davis in 1992, and for someone of your caliber, and in your position to write a song with so much weight and gravitas, and to address issues.

That comment on, when we're free to love anyone we choose , when we all can worship from our own kind of pews .

[applause].

C'mon man.

That song is almost 30 years ago, way ahead of your time Garth Brooks.

And uh, the pioneers get the arrows, and I appreciate you taking every one them for all of us, because you definitely set the path.

I love you, brother.

[applause].

♪ This ain't comin' from no prophet, ♪ ♪ just an ordinary man.

♪ ♪ When I close my eyes I see, the way this world should be.

♪ ♪ When we all walk hand in hand.

♪ ♪ CHORALE: Ooh, ooh, ooh.

♪ ♪ URBAN: When the last child cries for a crust of bread.

♪ ♪ When the last man dies for just words that he said.

♪ ♪ When there's a shelter over the poorest head.

♪ ♪ We shall be free.

♪ ♪ When the last thing we notice is the color of skin.

♪ ♪ And the first thing we look for is the beauty within.

♪ ♪ When the skies and the oceans are clean again.

♪ ♪ Then we shall be free.

♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh.

♪ ♪ We shall be free.

♪ ♪ We shall be free.

♪ ♪ Stand straight, walk proud.

♪ ♪ 'Cause we shall be free.

♪ ♪ When we're free to love anyone we choose.

♪ ♪ When this world's big enough for all different views.

♪ ♪ And when we're all free to worship from our ♪ ♪ own kind of pews.

♪ ♪ Then we shall be free.

♪ ♪ And I can feel it comin'.

♪ ♪ We shall be free.

♪ ♪ We shall be free.

♪ ♪ Yes we will.

♪ ♪ Have a little faith, hold out.

♪ ♪ 'Cause we shall be free.

♪ ♪ And when money talks for the very last time.

♪ ♪ When nobody walks a step behind.

♪ ♪ When there's only one race and that's mankind.

♪ ♪ We shall be free.

♪ ♪ I can feel it coming now.

♪ ♪ CHORALE: We shall be free.

♪♪ URBAN: Help us out now.

♪ We shall be free.

♪ ♪ Hey!

♪ ♪ Stand straight.

♪ ♪ Have a little faith.

♪ ♪ CROWD: We shall be free.

♪ ♪ URBAN: Hey, yes we will.

♪ ♪ We shall be free.

♪ ♪ Oh don't you feel it comin' on now, now, now.

♪ ♪ We shall be free.

♪ ♪ Stand straight.

♪ ♪ Walk proud, cause we shall be free.

♪ ♪ Yes, we will.

Yes, we will.

♪ ♪ We shall be free, we shall be free.

♪ ♪ We shall be free.

♪ ♪ Yeah I know, I know, I know, someday we will ♪ ♪ all be free.

♪ ♪ You know it's true Garth Brooks yes you do.

♪♪ [applause].

Howard University Choral choir!

God bless you all, together we're stronger.

BROOKS: Somebody asked, you know, how do you write tunes, and I've said this in several interviews as a thing of, and this is one of the places you do it best at, because you have the high rise buildings, you look out and you watch these people walking underneath you.

And 99 out of 100 of em, you know, pass each other and they keep going in, but it's that one time where someone stops, looks back, looks back.

And all of a sudden you know they've known each other from somewhere.

That's why I want to write about.

ANNOUNCER: Please welcome Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, Lee Brice.

[applause].

BRICE: Wow.

Garth definitely has a special way of putting words together.

He always has, whether it's singing for a big crowd in a live situation, or an interview or when he's talking to you, just you, making you feel like you're the only person in the room.

And I'm more than honored and humbled to be able to say that I was a part of writing a song that my hero recorded, so here we go.

♪ People say she's only in my head.

♪ ♪ It's gonna take time but I'll forget.

♪ ♪ They say I need to get on with my life.

♪ ♪ But what they don't realize, ♪ ♪ is when your dialing six numbers ♪ ♪ just to hang up the phone.

♪ ♪ Driving cross town just to see if she's home.

♪ ♪ Waking a friend in the dead of night just to hear 'em say ♪ ♪ it'll be alright.

♪ ♪ When you're finding things to do not to fall asleep, ♪ ♪ 'cause you know she'll be there in your dreams.

♪ ♪ That's when she's, more than a memory.

♪ ♪ Took a match to everything she ever wrote, ♪ ♪ watched all her words go up in smoke.

♪ ♪ Tore all the pictures off the wall, ♪ ♪ but that ain't helping me at all.

♪ ♪ 'Cause when you're talking out loud and nobody's there, ♪ ♪ and you look like hell and you just don't care.

♪ ♪ And you're drinking more than you've ever drank.

♪ ♪ Sinking down lower than you've ever sank.

♪ ♪ When you find yourself falling down upon your knees.

♪ ♪ Praying to God begging him please, ♪ ♪ That's when she's, more than a memory.

♪ ♪ More, oh she's more.

♪ ♪ GROUP: She's more.

♪ ♪ BRICE: She's more... ♪ ♪ When you're dialing her number just to ♪ ♪ hang up the phone.

♪ ♪ Driving cross town just to see if she's home.

♪ ♪ Waking a friend in the dead of night just to hear 'em say ♪ ♪ it's gonna be alright.

♪ ♪ When you're finding things to do not to fall asleep, ♪ ♪ 'cause you know she'll be there in your dreams.

♪ ♪ That's when she's, ♪ ♪ more than a memory.

♪ ♪ Oh she's more.

♪ ♪ People say she's only in my head.

♪ ♪ It's gonna take time and I'll forget.

♪ Thank y'all very much.

[applause].

ANNOUNCER: Please welcome Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Ricky Skaggs.

[applause].

SKAGGS: Congratulations, buddy.

This is a big thing, son.

This is a big deal.

Thank you for all you've done for all of us in country music and all of us in America, America loves you and owns you, so we're glad for you Garth, God bless you.

Okay then, I heard that this was Garth's favorite song, so I'm glad to get to do it.

Is that right?

Okay.

DRUMMER: 1, 2, 3, 4.

♪ SKAGGS: I spent last night in the arms of a ♪ ♪ girl from Louisiana.

♪ ♪ And though I'm out on the highway, ♪ ♪ my thoughts are still with her.

♪ ♪ Such a strange combination of a woman and a child.

♪ ♪ Such a strange situation stoppin' every hundred miles.

♪ ♪ Callin' Baton Rouge.

♪ ♪ A replay of last night's events come rollin ♪ ♪ through my mind.

♪ ♪ Except a scene or two, erased by sweet red wine.

♪ ♪ I see a truck stop sign ahead, so I change lanes.

♪ ♪ I need a cup of coffee, and a couple dollars change.

♪ ♪ Callin' Baton Rouge.

♪ ♪ Operator won't you put me on through.

♪ ♪ I gotta' send my love down to Baton Rouge.

♪ ♪ Hurry up, put her on the line.

♪ ♪ I gotta' talk to the girl just one more time.

♪ ♪ Yeah now.

♪ [fiddle solo] Yeah Jimmy.

♪ Hello Samantha dear, I hope you're doin' fine.

♪ ♪ And it won't be long until I'm with you all the time.

♪ ♪ But until then I'll spend my money, ♪ ♪ up right down to my last dime.

♪ ♪ Oh-ho-ho, callin' Baton Rouge.

♪ ♪ Operator won't you put me on through.

♪ ♪ I gotta' send my love down to Baton Rouge.

♪ ♪ Hurry up, put her on the line.

♪ ♪ I gotta' talk to the girl just one more time.

♪ ♪ Oh-ho-ho, callin' Baton Rouge.

♪ ♪ Sweet Baton Rouge.

♪ ♪ My Baton Rouge, ho, oh, oh, oh.

♪♪ Yeah!

How bout this band!

[applause].

Thank you so much!

ANNOUNCER: Please welcome, New York Times best-selling author, Margaret George.

GEORGE: Well, it is fitting to honor Garth Brooks for the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, because the Library of Congress is the modern descendant of the legendary Library of Alexandria which held all the books in the ancient world.

Books are made up of words, and so are songs, and they both exist to tell a story.

Garth Brooks is a master storyteller in his songs.

There is just no one else like Garth Brooks!

[applause].

Besides being a musical genius, he's a writer, an athlete, a humanitarian, and, very important, fun to be with.

I first met him over a decade ago when he asked me to join him in a writing project about an historical character who had intrigued him.

His interests extend to just about everything around him, and he has boundless curiosity.

His songs tell stories in only a few words, a few lines.

Some are a more complete story, like The Thunder Rolls .

Others leave you to imagine the story behind it, the mystery of what happened, like The Dance , which I confess is still my favorite.

With his storytelling woven into music, Garth Brooks has given joy to literally tens of millions of people all over the world, and given the world of music a great treasure.

I am honored to be his friend.

[applause].

ANNOUNCER: Please welcome, Grammy-winning country great, Trisha Yearwood.

♪ ♪ ♪ YEARWOOD: God knows I've known some lovers, ♪ ♪ in my storied past.

♪ ♪ But those and all the others, they just didn't last.

♪ ♪ And now I know why.

♪ ♪ For the first time I'm in love.

♪ ♪ For the last time, ♪ ♪ my love was like a lyric, ♪ ♪ with no melody.

♪ ♪ And words are only words, ♪ ♪ if there's no poetry.

♪ ♪ Now I've found my rhyme.

♪ ♪ For the first time I'm in love.

♪ ♪ For the last time.

♪ ♪ So many bridges burned, without a lesson learned.

♪ ♪ I thought that I had earned this road alone.

♪ ♪ But through god's saving grace, ♪ ♪ and the beauty of your face, ♪ ♪ my heart has found a place, ♪ ♪ to call my own.

♪ ♪ I never thought forever'd, ever be for me.

♪ ♪ I could only guess that happiness wasn't meant to be, ♪ ♪ but now both are mine.

♪ ♪ For the first time I'm in love, ♪ ♪ For the last time.

♪ ♪ So many bridges burned, without a lesson learned.

♪ ♪ I thought that I had earned this life alone.

♪ ♪ But through god's saving grace, ♪ ♪ and the beauty of your face, ♪ ♪ my heart has found a place to call my own.

♪ ♪ I never thought forever'd, ever be for me.

♪ ♪ I could only guess that happiness wasn't meant to be, ♪ ♪ but now both are mine.

♪ ♪ For the first time I'm in love.

♪ ♪ For the last time.

♪ ♪ For the first time.

♪ ♪ I'm in love for the last time.

♪ [applause].

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

We should have rehearsed me singing that in front of you, that was not easy.

That is a song that I wanted to sing tonight, it's uh, I had the honor of being a co-writer on that song with Garth, and that was a song that we wrote um, for each other, so I really wanted to sing that song tonight.

I love you!

And I've been listening to everybody talk about, the other artists come up here and talk about the influence Garth has been on them as an artist, and I wasn't planning to say this but I think it's important to say as an artist my very first tour opening for anybody was getting to open the show for Garth, and he was, in 1991 such a generous spirit to a young girl with one song kind of on the radio.

And um, just it was really, it was really entertaining 101 on a lot of levels, not only how to sing to an audience but also a lesson in just how to treat people, from the very first person in the front row to the person who's rolling up the cables in the back at night.

Just thank you for that, you showed me how to be... how to be.

So thank you for that.

[applause].

This is uh, this next song is a song that was written by Tony Arata.

I know we're celebrating Garth as a songwriter and a creator tonight, and he's in all the songwriter hall of fame's, several of them, but this next song is a song that he loves and I love, it's pretty powerful it's called The Change .

♪ One hand, reaches out.

♪ ♪ And pulls a lost soul from harm, ♪ ♪ While a thousand more go unspoken for, ♪ ♪ And they say what good have you done.

♪ ♪ By saving just this one, ♪ ♪ It's like whispering a prayer.

♪ ♪ In the fury of a storm.

♪ ♪ And I hear them saying you'll never change things.

♪ ♪ And no matter what you do it's still the same thing.

♪ ♪ But it's not the world that I am changing.

♪ ♪ I do this so this world will know.

♪ ♪ That it will not change me.

♪ ♪ This heart, still believes, ♪ ♪ that love and mercy still exist.

♪ ♪ While the hatreds rage and so many say, ♪ ♪ that love is all but pointless in madness ♪ ♪ such as this.

♪ ♪ It's like trying to stop a fire, ♪ ♪ with the moisture from a kiss.

♪ ♪ And I hear them saying you'll never change things.

♪ ♪ And no matter what you do it's still the same thing.

♪ ♪ But it's not the world that I am changing.

♪ ♪ I do this so this world will know.

♪ ♪ That it will not change me.

♪ ♪ As long as one heart still holds on.

♪ ♪ Hope is never really gone.

♪ ♪ I hear them saying you'll never change things.

♪ ♪ And no matter what you do it's still the same thing.

♪ ♪ But it's not the world that I am changing.

♪ ♪ I do this so this world we know.

♪ ♪ Never changes me.

♪ ♪ What I do is so.

♪ ♪ This world will know.

♪ ♪ It will not change me.

♪♪ [applause].

[applause].

BROOKS: You guys ready to get this party started?

Watch this!

[screams].

NARRATOR: More than any Capitol Records artist since The Beatles, Garth Brooks quickly realized the power of live concerts, and televised performances as a driver of his commercial success and unprecedented connection to fans.

♪ BROOKS: Mama was a looker Lord how she shined ♪ ♪ Papa was a good'n but the jealous kind.

♪♪ NARRATOR: In 1992, NBC aired the first of what would become numerous network TV specials, based on his sold-out shows at Reunion Arena in Dallas.

"This Is Garth Brooks" was a smash hit.

♪ BROOKS: Yeah we're two of a kind workin' on a full house.

♪♪ NARRATOR: And overnight, Garth Brooks the emerging superstar.

became Garth Brooks the television star.

Said one NBC executive I've never heard an audience react the way this audience reacted to Garth.

It was like Elvis was back.

His high-energy style brought a rock sensibility to sold-out stadiums around the country.

With the aid of a wireless microphone, Garth found the freedom to roam the stage, upending the traditional country concert model, and engaging directly with millions of adoring fans.

BROOKS: Here we go!

NARRATOR: In 1997, Garth took Europe by storm.

CROWD: Hey!

NARRATOR: With three memorable nights in Ireland...

CROWD: Hey!

NARRATOR: Breaking the attendance record held by native sons, U2.

"Live From Dublin" became Garth's first European television special, and aired the following year on NBC, drawing nearly 16 million viewers.

♪ BROOKS: We all came here for a party tonight!

♪♪ NARRATOR: In August of that same year, Garth took on his biggest concert gig to date, a free show in New York's Central Park, which drew nearly a million fans, and featured a memorable performance with fellow Gershwin honoree, Billy Joel.

♪ BROOKS: Turn out the light ♪ ♪ D-d-d-d-aow!

♪ ♪ BOTH: You may be wrong for all I know, ♪ ♪ but you may be right.

♪♪ NARRATOR: "Garth Live from Central Park" aired on HBO and cemented his status as the biggest musical draw on television.

Over the years, Garth has performed at numerous benefit concerts and free shows, raising money and awareness for disaster relief, and causes near to his heart.

♪ BROOKS: I can do this night life all day long.

♪♪ Yeah!

NARRATOR: In 2018, he traveled to South Bend, Indiana to record a prime time special for CBS.

"Garth Live at Notre Dame" was another ratings success, and served as the basis for a stadium tour the following year.

BROOKS: Show time.

♪ Stand straight, walk proud.

♪♪ Sing it with em!

♪ CROWD: We shall be free!

♪♪ BROOKS: Yeah!

NARRATOR: At the same time, Garth kicked off a dive bar tour that gave lucky fans a chance to see intimate performances reminiscent of his early days in Oklahoma.

♪ BROOKS: Yes my life Is better left to chance.

♪♪ NARRATOR: From small bars to iconic stadiums to sprawling outdoor parks, Garth Brooks remains one of live music's biggest acts, here in the United States, and around the world.

♪ BROOKS: The... ♪♪ Take me home.

♪ CROWD: Dance.

♪♪ BROOKS: Ohh.

I think maybe, in 20 years, or maybe when it's the last day of my life I can look back and say I made it to the door.

You know, I did make it.

[applause].

ANNOUNCER: Please welcome the Chairman of the Library of Congress, James Madison Counsel, David Rubenstein.

RUBENSTEIN: In 1800, President John Adams signed a bill creating the Library of Congress with $5,000 that was used to appropriate 740 books and to buy three maps.

Money went a lot farther in those days.

The Library of Congress is celebrating its 220th anniversary this year.

[applause].

It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the nation and the largest library in the world with more than 170 million items including the papers of 23 presidents, history makers, creative geniuses and music legends like George and Ira Gershwin.

In 1985 the United States Congress awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to George and Ira Gershwin for their outstanding and invaluable contributions to American music, theater, and culture.

The Gershwin Prize is named after this legendary song-writing team whose hits are still performed, recorded and widely known today.

Gershwin Prize recipients exemplify the standard of excellence and originality of these two creative men who so enriched their world and ours.

We are so proud to honor Garth Brooks with this year's prize.

Thank you very much.

BROOKS: You find an award that doesn't have to be given away every year and what is the most important thing that makes that award something great, are the people's names that are on it.

Who it's either named after, or the names of the people who've received it, and then you go into the Library of Congress, where, you're walking among the people that have changed this world the most.

YEARWOOD: I'm so proud because Garth represents American music, he represents this fabric of songwriting that is relatable across our country and, and the world.

NARRATOR: The Library of Congress documents the foundations of country and western music, including the honky-tonk history of country music.

BROOKS: There's a thing in country music that you do, and I don't know what, it's a percussive pop is what I would call it, but you'll hear it in the greatest voices that, Haggard would sing, you know, ♪ In my mama's hungry eyes.

♪♪ And just had that nice little pop in there.

Strait would, you know, ♪ Give me a bottle.

♪♪ Well there it is.

But here comes the Hank Williams Sr. influence, right?

♪ I gotta feelin' called the blues oh lord, ♪ ♪ since my baby said goodbye.

♪♪ Well you can take, Two of a Kind ♪ Hey she's my lady luck and I'm her wild card man ♪ ♪ together we're buildin' up a real hot hand.

♪♪ Thinking that's exactly the way that Hank Sr., would sing it, only better.

NARRATOR: In 1955, Garth's mother sent two of her own songs to the Library of Congress to copyright.

65 years later, we still have them.

WOMAN: These are, I believe in your mother's hand, maybe even, you can tell me if that is...

These were... [applause].

ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome, US House of Representatives Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, Rodney Davis.

US House of Representatives Republican Whip, Steve Scalise.

US House of Representatives Republican Leader, Kevin McCarthy.

US House of Representatives Majority Leader, Steny Hoyer.

US Senate Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Administration, Roy Blunt.

US Senate Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee Patrick J. Leahy.

US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

And the Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden.

HAYDEN: What an absolutely electrifying show!

Garth Brooks has earned many, many prestigious honors in his career.

And you can check all of the boxes, Grammy's, Country Music, ASCAP, Billboard, People's Choice awards; record-breaking album and ticket sales and the I-Heart Radio, when they decided to create an award for the artist of the decade, their first honoree was Garth Brooks.

[applause].

But, let me tell you why the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song is different from any other award.

First, it is bestowed by the Library of Congress, the Nation's storehouse, collector and preserver of creativity.

The Gershwin Prize shows that our national library values popular music and recognizes that it's an essential part of the world we live in and who we are.

What better way to make that point than to honor a person whose life's work in popular music has made an important and an enduring difference in our world; whose music not only has artistic merit, but also transcends musical categories, brings diverse listeners together, and fosters mutual appreciation between cultures and traditions.

George and Ira Gershwin were the most famous and highly regarded popular songwriters of their time.

And their music lives on today.

But tonight we add Garth Brooks.

[applause].

To all of the artists following the Gershwins.

His originality, artistry, humanity, and let's face it, relentless energy, certainly make him deserving of this high honor.

And, if you have any doubt after tonight's concert, let me assure you, the music of Garth Brooks will live on forever.

MAN: Oh, amen.

HAYDEN: So, let's give a heartfelt ovation, pretend you're in a football stadium, to the 2020 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song honoree, Mr. Garth Brooks.

[cheering and applause].

[cheering and applause].

BROOKS: Thank you very much, you're very sweet.

Thank you.

[cheering and applause].

Please be seated.

You're uh, you're about to see why I don't talk much.

Um, this crowd, I could tell you what, and boy if this offends you, I don't mean it to, but I never thought I would see unity like this in this crowd, right here, but.

Wow.

This has been amazing, a wonderful night.

With that I graciously stand here and say thank you for the recognition.

There are people I need to thank.

I, I was lucky enough, I was lucky enough to find a man when I moved to Nashville that believed in me, that put the team together, that put everybody together that you see, that was in 1987, uh, we're still together today, um, we're known more as husband and wife today, because we've been together uh, forever.

I love this man and uh, I don't know how many years he has left in him, but he has promised me that all of them are mine.

So uh, I don't know which one of us will go first, but I gotta tell you, whichever one, it'll be an honor to be beside the other one when they go and I have to say, Bob Doyle, thank you very, very much.

[applause] Uh, there is a young lady in this room, her name is Melinda Newman, uh, Melinda Newman wrote for Billboard and believed in me a long time ago.

Um, and since then I watched her career flourish to where now she pretty much um, she's gonna hate me saying this, she's the big boss on the west coast now, um, but one of the sweetest gifts she ever did to me, was introduce me to a man named Evan Lamberg, and uh, the thing with Evan is, if you wonder why in the hell Garth Brooks is standing here, and not James Taylor, or my heroes right, that should be here, um, it's also who stands up for you and has the courage to say, Hey, there's a country artist, that uh, enjoys gettin' to play music.

Evan Lamberg I can't thank you enough for this honor because I know without you, no matter how much Bob works, or the rest of us get to play music and have fun, I don't think this honor would have came my way, so all my love, to you.

[applause].

And, and then I guess in closing, it's as simple as this, when you look at an award, it only, the award is only a great award if they don't have to give it away, those are the coolest and then by the names that are on that award.

And now my name joins the likes of some of the greatest names in music history and it is my goal, and my obligation to you who believe in me, that gave me this to live my life that when it's over, people look at this list of names and mine hopefully is not a surprise to people.

Thank you very much.

[cheering and applause].

It was fun to get to sit in that box right there.

Ooo, didn't have to suck your gut in, didn't have to do anything.

It was cool man and Stapleton comes out and sings Shameless and when he's done I'm going, Well that's how I meant to sing it.

Yes, my god.

So cool.

Ok, never ever have I walked into a room halfway through a show, so, uh, forgive me if I do something really, kind of amateurish here, I would just love to maybe sing a song, just to get it underneath my belt, so please forgive me, I just might try something uh, you gotta understand we're talking about songwriters here, people I don't know if you know this but music does not exist without the songwriters, they are the heroes of us all, they are the dreamers.

Greatest gift you can give a writer, be it Margaret George, be it Garth Brooks, be it a painter, the greatest thing you can give them is a blank canvas, a blank document, a blank piece of paper, and then watch them paint.

Anybody that does this needs heroes.

Here are some of the great writers I grew up on.

♪ Starry, starry night ♪ ♪ Paint your palette blue and gray ♪ ♪ And look out on a summer's day.

♪ ♪ With eyes that know the darkness of my soul.

♪ ♪ Shadows on the hills.

♪ ♪ Sketch the trees and the daffodils.

♪ ♪ Catch the breeze and the winter chills.

♪ ♪ In colors 'neath snowy linen land.

♪ ♪ And now I understand, ♪ ♪ what you tried to say to me.

♪ ♪ And how you suffered for your sanity.

♪ ♪ And how you tried to set them free.

♪ ♪ They would not listen, ♪ ♪ they're not listenin' still.

♪ ♪ Perhaps they never will.

♪♪ [cheering and applause].

♪ ["Operator" by Jim Croce] ♪ Now you got your painting.

Now here come the storytellers, uh, I love a story man.

♪ Operator, hey could you help me place this call?

♪ ♪ You see, the number on the matchbook is old and faded.

♪ ♪ She's living in L.A. ♪ ♪ with my best old ex-friend Ray, ♪ ♪ a guy she said she knew well and sometimes hated.

♪ ♪ But isn't that the way they say it goes?

♪ ♪ Yeah, let's forget all that ♪ ♪ and give me the number if you can find it, ♪ ♪ So I can call just to tell 'em I'm fine and to show, ♪ ♪ I've overcome the blow, ♪ ♪ I've learned to take it well, ♪ ♪ I only wish my words could just convince myself, ♪ ♪ That it just wasn't real, ♪ ♪ but that's not the way it feels.

♪ ♪ No, no, no, no, no.

♪ ♪ That's not the way it feels.

♪ ♪ Operator, hey let's forget about this call.

♪ [applause].

So guys like Jim Croce, guys like Sweet Baby James, James Taylor right?

Oh, such beautiful stuff.

And then something happens in your life and you write a song about it, but then other people start to pick up that that's their life as well, just a different story, and all the sudden it hits you, being normal's pretty cool, you know?

Just being one of the people.

I love this song for what it means to me, I love it for what it means for everyone else as well.

♪ ["Unanswered Prayers" by Garth Brooks] ♪ ♪ Just the other night at a hometown football game, ♪ ♪ My wife and I ran into my old high school flame.

♪ ♪ And as I introduced them the past came back to me.

♪ ♪ And I couldn't help but think of the way things used to be, ♪ ♪ Because she was the one that I'd wanted for all time.

♪ ♪ And each night I'd spend prayin' that god ♪ ♪ would make her mine.

♪ ♪ And if he'd only grant me this wish I wished back then, ♪ ♪ I'd never ask for anything again.

♪ ♪ Sometimes I thank god for unanswered prayers.

♪ ♪ Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs, ♪ ♪ That just because he may not answer it doesn't ♪ ♪ mean he don't care.

♪ ♪ Cause some of god's greatest gifts ♪ ♪ are unanswered prayers.

♪♪ [applause].

Very sweet.

Has anybody in here seen the big man in concert?

Anybody?

Ok.

So I know you don't recognize me because usually I have this head set strapped on my head.

This thing's a little hard to tape on your head.

So we're gonna manually do it tonight.

Oh yea, oh yea.

Because I'm the boss of my ship.

Gotta remember, I was raised right in the middle of America, in Yukon, Oklahoma.

Ok, I had a... My dad was a uh, Korean War veteran, uh United States Marine Corps.

[applause].

My mom was all of five foot and she was tougher than he was, trust me.

Last of six kids, so we grew up on Buck Owens, George Jones, Charley Pride, Merle Haggard, people, one of the greatest writers this country will ever know, the great Merle Haggard, unbelievable songwriter people and this guy wrote about real stuff.

♪ ["Sing me Back Home" by Merle Haggard] ♪ ♪ Well the warden led a prisoner down the ♪ ♪ hallway to his doom.

♪ ♪ So I stood up to say good-bye like all the rest.

♪ ♪ And I heard that prisoner tell him ♪ ♪ just before he reached my cell.

♪ ♪ "Let my guitar-playing friend do my request."

♪ ♪ Let him sing me back home, ♪ ♪ with the songs I used to hear.

♪ ♪ Make my old memories come alive.

♪ ♪ And take me away ♪ ♪ and turn back the years.

♪ ♪ Sing me back home before I die.

♪♪ Haggard.

[applause].

How much influence did Haggard have on music itself, all genres?

The maybe greatest, quoted songwriter in our culture, Bob Dylan listened to country music all the time.

Some of his greatest heroes around here.

I was approached to do a song of Bob's in a movie called Hope Floats toward the end of the 90s.

It's a beautiful song, loved it, we were lucky enough to have uh, we were lucky enough to have a number one with it and it was a, it did really well for us and I felt really good about myself, until, my youngest daughter, which would come a decade later, turned about 14, came in and said, Oh my god dad, Adele has a song you've got to hear.

[laughter].

It just shows that no matter how you dress up a great song, a great song is forever, a great song.

♪ ["Make you Feel My Love" by Bob Dylan] ♪ When the rain is blowing in your face, and the whole world is on your case, I would offer you a warm embrace, to make you feel my love.

When the evening shadows and the stars appear, and there is no one to dry your tears, I would hold you for a million years, to make you feel my love.

Storms are raging on a rolling sea, and down the highway of regret.

The winds of change are blowing wild and free, oh and you ain't seen nothing like me yet.

'Cause I'd go hungry, I'd go black and blue.

I'd go crawling down the avenue.

There ain't nothin' that I wouldn't do, to make you feel my love.

[applause].

I like that!

This is sweet.

I'm having a great... oh hey, how are you?

So now, your blank canvas has paint.

Your blank canvas has storytelling, your blank canvas has conversation of the common man.

Now it's time to put a little, umph in it, you know what I mean?

Oh that good stuff, and I don't even know how to describe this but the second you feel it you'll go, Oh yea, I know what you're talking about, right?

It's a... ♪ ["Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding] ♪ ♪ Sittin' in the mornin' sun, ♪ ♪ and I'll be sittin' when the evenin' comes.

♪ ♪ Watchin' the ships roll in, ♪ ♪ and I'll watch 'em roll away again.

♪ ♪ Oh, I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay, ♪ ♪ watchin' the tide roll away.

♪ ♪ Sittin' on the dock of the bay wastin' time.

♪♪ Ow... god, I love that song.

Woo.

People, whatever that is right?

You just can't get enough of... ♪ ["Ain't no Sunshine" by Bill Withers] ♪ ♪ Ain't no sunshine when she's gone.

♪ ♪ Only darkness every day.

♪ ♪ There ain't no sunshine when she's gone, ♪ ♪ and she's always gone too long, ♪ ♪ anytime she goes away.

♪ ♪ Wonder this time where she's gone.

♪ ♪ Wonder if she's gone to stay.

♪ ♪ There ain't no sunshine when she's gone, ♪ ♪ and this house just ain't no home, ♪ ♪ anytime she goes away.

♪♪ Oww, man.

Woo, I love that stuff.

It's fun.

Now, right, now you've got your paint.

You've got your storytelling, the voice of the common man and the boom-checka-wow-wow, right?

Now it's time for some muscle.

This is the last ingredient.

Now it gets really nasty.

♪ ["Wild World" by Cat Stevens] ♪ So right now you're imagining, how screwed up I really must be, right?

Well, then my brothers bring in this album into the house, it was Cat Stevens, Tea for the Tillerman record, right?

I'm just a very young, impressionable kid at this point, but you hear... ♪ La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la.

♪ ♪ La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la.

♪ ♪ La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la.

♪ ♪ And now that I've lost everything to you.

♪ ♪ I see you wanna start somethin' new.

♪ ♪ Well you're breakin' my heart you leavin', ♪ ♪ baby I'm grievin'.

♪ ♪ Well if you gotta leave, take good care, ♪ ♪ hope you meet a lot of nice friends out there, ♪ ♪ but then remember there's a lot of bad and beware.

♪ ♪ Hey now, oh baby, baby it's a wild world.

♪ ♪ It's hard to get by just upon a smile.

♪ ♪ Ooh, baby, baby it's a wild world.

♪ ♪ I'll always remember you like a child, girl.

♪♪ Cat Stevens, people, oh no, now you're starting to be a teenage kid yourself, and you're starting to look for that music that belongs to you.

Not your brothers, not your mom, not your dad, and you can imagine how cool it was to be a teenager when this cat, shows up.

♪ ["Night Moves" by Bob Seger] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I was a little too tall, ♪ ♪ could've used a few pounds.

♪ ♪ Tight pants points hardly renown.

♪ ♪ She was a dark-haired beauty with big dark eyes, ♪ ♪ and points of her own sittin' way up high.

♪ ♪ Way up firm and high.

♪ ♪ Back in the cornfields where the woods got heavy, ♪ ♪ back in the back seat of my '60 Chevy.

♪ ♪ Workin' on mysteries without any clues.

♪ ♪ Workin' on the moves.

♪ ♪ Workin' on the night moves.

♪ ♪ Tryin' to lose those awkward teenage blues.

♪ ♪ Workin' on the night moves.

♪ ♪ In the summertime.

♪ ♪ In the sweet, ♪ ♪ summertime, summertime, yea.

♪ Seger.

[cheering and applause].

So, wrap that all up in one person, right, and now, in 1980 I fall in love with a guy named George Strait.

Oh!

This is my guy and I wanna be George, so I move to Nashville to be George and to start writing, and what's fun about getting to play people is for the last 10 minutes I've just been horsing around.

Now, the band's about to kick in.

People!

You ever seen those commercials like, Before, after, before, after, you're about to see after right here man.

I love these cats, these guys, we've been playing, there's five of us up here, uh, well I'm gonna start, kind of, spit it out, there's five of the regular group that we tour with up here, that we've been together since 1988, and we've kind of did our own thing... Our own thing together.

Two more guys up here that's played on every record since the beginning uh, here as well, very sweet guys, studio guys.

So I'm here among family back here in the back and just having a great time.

If you're thinking about playing country music, you wanna tell a story, you wanna paint a picture, you wanna get the bow-chicka-bow-wow.

And you wanna put muscle in it.

It might come out something like this.

♪ ["That Summer" by Garth Brooks] ♪ ♪ I went to work for her that summer, ♪ ♪ a teenage kid so far from home.

♪ ♪ She was this lovely widowed woman, ♪ ♪ hell bent to make it on her own.

♪ ♪ We were a thousand miles from nowhere, ♪ ♪ wheat fields as far as I could see.

♪ ♪ Both needing something from each other, ♪ ♪ not knowing yet what that might be.

♪ ♪ 'Til she came to me one evenin', ♪ ♪ hot cup of coffee and a smile.

♪ ♪ In a dress that I was certain, ♪ ♪ she hadn't worn in quite a while.

♪ ♪ There was a difference in her laughter, ♪ ♪ there was a softness in her eyes.

♪ ♪ On the air there was a hunger, ♪ ♪ even a boy could recognize.

♪ ♪ She had a need to feel the thunder, ♪ ♪ to chase the lightning from the sky.

♪ ♪ To watch a storm with all its wonder, ♪ ♪ raging in her lover's eyes.

♪ ♪ She had to ride the heat of passion, ♪ ♪ like a comet burning bright.

♪ ♪ Rushing headlong in the wind, ♪ ♪ out where only dreams have been, ♪ ♪ burning both ends of the night.

♪ ♪ That summer wind was all around me.

♪ ♪ Nothing between us but the night.

♪ ♪ When I told her that I'd never, ♪ ♪ she softly whispered, "That's alright."

♪ ♪ And then I watched her hands of leather, ♪ ♪ turn to velvet in a touch.

♪ ♪ There's never been another summer, ♪ ♪ when I have ever learned so much.

♪ ♪ She had a need to feel the thunder, ♪ ♪ to chase the lightnin' from the sky.

♪ ♪ To watch a storm with all its wonder, ♪ ♪ ragin' in her lover's eyes.

♪ ♪ She had to ride the heat of passion, ♪ ♪ like a comet burnin' bright.

♪ ♪ Rushin' headlong in the wind, ♪ ♪ out where only dreams have been, ♪ ♪ burnin' both ends of the night.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I often think about that summer, the sweat, ♪ ♪ the moonlight and the lace.

♪ ♪ And I have rarely held another, ♪ ♪ when I haven't seen her face.

♪ ♪ And every time I pass a wheat field, ♪ ♪ and watch it dancin' with the wind, ♪ ♪ although I know it isn't real, ♪ ♪ I swear inside I feel, her hungry arms again.

♪ ♪ She had a need to feel the thunder, yeah.

♪ ♪ To chase the lightnin' from the sky.

♪ ♪ To watch a storm with all its wonder, ♪ ♪ ragin' in her lover's eyes.

♪ ♪ She had to ride the heat of passion, ♪ ♪ like a comet burnin' bright.

♪ ♪ Rushin' headlong in the wind, ♪ ♪ out where only dreams have been, ♪ ♪ burnin' both ends of the night.

♪ ♪ Yea, rushin' headlong in the wind, ♪ ♪ out where only dreams have been, ♪ ♪ burnin' both ends of the night.

♪♪ [cheering and applause].

I'm starting to get cocky.

How many people are songwriters?

Let me see em.

Amen.

How many people are dreamers?

Amen.

If you're a dreamer, you're a songwriter.

I'm gonna give you a little hint in songwriting, here.

Think of it as, Songwriting 101.

You have your major chords.

♪ ♪ That's Cowboy D right there people.

Play that all day long.

♪ ♪ Nothing's bad in Cowboy D .

You change one little chord.

♪ ♪ Ooo.

Now all the sudden, nothing's good in Cowboy D .

♪ ♪ One of the greatest Road Anthems ever written people, came out of this chord because it's endless, it's the highway, right?

♪ ["Turn the Page" by Bob Seger] ♪ ♪ On a long, lonesome highway, ♪ ♪ east of Omaha.

♪ ♪ You can listen to the engine, ♪ ♪ moanin' out it's one note song.

♪ ♪ You think about the woman, ♪ ♪ or the girl you knew the night before.

♪♪ That's sad right there.

Remember the difference.

♪ ♪ Cowboy D , happy.

Cowboy D minor , for Seger, that note was the road.

For me, this feels more like thunder clouds rollin' in over your head.

♪ ["The Thunder Rolls" by Garth Brooks] ♪ [thunder].

♪ 3:30 in the morning, not a soul in sight, ♪ ♪ the city's lookin' like a ghost town, ♪ ♪ on a moonless summer night.

♪ ♪ Raindrops on the windshield, ♪ ♪ there's a storm movin' in, ♪ ♪ he's headin' back from somewhere, ♪ ♪ that he never should have been.

♪ ♪ And the thunder rolls, ♪ ♪ and the thunder rolls.

♪ ♪ Every light is burnin', in a house across town.

♪ ♪ She's pacin' by the telephone, ♪ ♪ in her faded flannel gown.

♪ ♪ Askin' for a miracle, hopin' she's not right.

♪ ♪ Prayin' it's the weather, ♪ ♪ that's kept him out all night.

♪ ♪ And the thunder rolls.

♪ ♪ and the thunder rolls.

♪ ♪ The thunder rolls, and the lightnin' strikes.

♪ ♪ Another love grows cold, on a sleepless night.

♪ ♪ As the storm blows on, out of control, ♪ ♪ deep in her heart, the thunder rolls.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ She's waitin' by the window, ♪ ♪ when he pulls into the drive.

♪ ♪ She rushes out to hold him, ♪ ♪ thankful he's alive.

♪ ♪ But on the wind and rain, ♪ ♪ a strange new perfume blows.

♪ ♪ And the lightnin' flashes in her eyes, ♪ ♪ and he knows that she knows.

♪ ♪ And the thunder rolls, ♪ ♪ and the thunder rolls.

♪ ♪ The thunder rolls, and the lightnin' strikes.

♪ ♪ Another love grows cold, on a sleepless night.

♪ ♪ As the storm blows on, out of control.

♪ ♪ Deep in her heart, the thunder rolls.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ She comes back down the hallway, ♪ ♪ and through the bedroom door, ♪ ♪ she reaches for the pistol kept in the dresser drawer.

♪ ♪ Says the lady in the mirror, ♪ ♪ "He won't do this again," ♪ ♪ because tonight will be the last time she'll ♪ ♪ wonder where he's been.

♪ ♪ The thunder rolls, and the lightnin' strikes.

♪ ♪ Another love grows cold, on a sleepless night.

♪ ♪ As the storm blows on, out of control.

♪ ♪ Deep in her heart, ♪ ♪ the thunder rolls.

♪ [applause].

Yeah!

Pretty sweet, pretty sweet!

People, this is like no award show I've ever gone to, man this is cool.

So it all starts for me in a place called Willy's Saloon in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Fight your way in, fight your way out, every night.

You got up there and all you did was sing other people's songs, but you had singalongs, and I mean, singalongs for the ages.

♪ ["Piano Man" by Billy Joel] ♪ ♪ It's 9:00 on a Saturday, ♪ ♪ the regular crowd shuffles in.

♪ ♪ There's an old man sitting next to me, ♪ ♪ making love to his tonic and gin.

♪ ♪ He says, Son, can you play me a memory, ♪ ♪ I'm not really sure how it goes, ♪ ♪ but it's sad and it's sweet and I knew it complete, ♪ ♪ when I wore a younger man's clothes.

♪ ♪ He says, sing us a song, you're the piano man.

♪ ♪ Sing us a song tonight, yea.

♪ ♪ For we're all in the mood for a melody, ♪ ♪ and you've got us feelin' alright.

♪ ♪ And we'll just sing... ♪ ♪ ALL: La, la, la, di, da, da.

♪ ♪ La, la, di, da, da, da-dum.

♪♪ [applause].

Billy Joel.

A singalong, right?

Like... ♪ ["American Pie" by Don McLean]♪ ♪ A long, long time ago ♪ ♪ and I can still remember when the music used ♪ ♪ to make me smile.

♪ ♪ And I knew if I had my chance, ♪ ♪ that I could make those people dance, ♪ ♪ and maybe, they'd be happy, ♪ ♪ for a while.

♪ ♪ But February made me shiver, ♪ ♪ with every paper I delivered.

♪ ♪ Bad news on the doorstep, ♪ ♪ and I couldn't take one more step.

♪ ♪ And I can't remember if I cried, ♪ ♪ when I read about his widowed bride.

♪ ♪ But something touched me deep inside, ♪ ♪ the day the music died.

♪♪ Here we go... ♪ We were singing... ♪ ♪ AUDIENCE: Bye-bye Miss American Pie, ♪ ♪ drove my Chevy to the levy but the levy was dry.

♪ ♪ Them good ole' boys were drinking whiskey and rye, ♪ ♪ singing This'll be the day that I die.

♪ ♪ This'll be the day that I die.

♪ ♪ BROOKS: We were singin', ♪ ♪ bye-bye Miss American Pie, ♪ ♪ drove my Chevy to the levy but the levy was dry.

♪ ♪ Them good ole' boys was drinking whiskey and rye, ♪ ♪ singing This'll be the day that I die.

♪♪ [applause].

A singalong, and you're just a kid with dreams and no music of your own and you're thinking, Is it possible that I could someday have a song that everybody knew the words to?

[cheering and applause].

Let's find out.

♪ ["Friends in Low Places" by Garth Brooks] ♪ ♪ BROOKS: Blame it all on my roots, oh yeah, ♪ ♪ I showed up in boots, yeah ♪ ♪ and I ruined your black tie affair.

♪ ♪ The last one to know, ♪ ♪ the last one to show, ♪ ♪ I was the last one you thought you'd see there.

♪ ♪ And I saw the surprise, and the fear in his eyes, ♪ ♪ when I took his glass of champagne.

♪ ♪ And I toasted you, said, ♪ ♪ Honey, we may be through, ♪ ♪ but you'll never hear me complain.

♪ ♪ 'Cause I've got friends in low places, ♪ ♪ where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases ♪ ♪ my blues away.

♪♪ I like that!

♪ And I'll be okay.

♪ ♪ I'm not big on social graces, ♪ ♪ think I'll slip on down... ♪♪ Let me hear you... ♪ AUDIENCE: The oasis!

♪ ♪ BROOKS: Oh, I've got friends in low places.

♪♪ [guitar solo].

♪ ♪ ♪ I guess I was wrong I just don't belong, ♪ ♪ but then, I've been there before.

♪ ♪ And everything's all right, ♪ ♪ I'll just say goodnight and I'll show myself to the door.

♪ ♪ Hey, I didn't mean to cause a big scene, ♪ ♪ just give me an hour and then.

♪ ♪ Well, I'll be as high as that ivory tower ♪ ♪ that you're livin' in.

♪ ♪ 'Cause I've got friends in low places.

♪ ♪ Where the whiskey drowns ♪ ♪ and the beer chases my blues away.

♪ ♪ And I'll be okay.

♪ ♪ I'm not big on social graces, ♪ ♪ think I'll slip on down to the oasis.

♪ ♪ Oh, I've got friends in low places.

♪♪ Now it's all you DC, here we go!

♪ AUDIENCE: I got friends in low places, ♪ ♪ where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases ♪ ♪ my blues away.

♪ ♪ And I'll be okay.

♪ ♪ Well, I'm not big on social graces.

♪ ♪ Think I'll slip on down to the oasis.

♪ ♪ Oh, I got friends in low places.

♪ ♪ BROOKS: Yeah!

♪ ♪ I got friends in low places, where the whiskey drowns and ♪ ♪ the beer chases my blues away.

♪ ♪ And I'll be okay.

♪ ♪ I, I'm not big on social graces think I'll slip on, ♪ ♪ one more time, to the... ♪ ♪ AUDIENCE: Oasis!

♪ ♪ BROOKS: Oh, I got friends in low places.

♪ ♪ Yes son, I got friends in low places.

♪♪ ♪ ♪ [applause].

♪ ♪ [applause].

[music ends] [applause].

[applause].

DC, I have uh, I have enjoyed myself uh, immensely.

Um, maybe, maybe even greater than the prize itself.

Huh.

You have brought a reason... Any dad will tell you, the greatest gift you can give a dad, especially when your babies get older is get em all back in one area for just 30 seconds so you can hold em all, right?

So I'm lucky enough to have to love of my life, and the three daughters, which are all the loves of my life up here.

[applause].

I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you.

Oh.

I'm the last of six kids, five boys.

I'm the luckiest man in the world to not have a stinking boy in the family.

We had three daughters, all very tough, uh their mama is a very strong woman, these three are very strong women and the, the, the example they have living in their house is an amazingly strong human being as well.

We all got married together, all of us got married because Miss Yearwood doesn't have children, so they exchanged vows and got married as well, so we'll celebrate our 15th anniversary this year, coming up and I gotta tell ya... it's cool because just all five of us go and we eat somewhere I'm sitting at the dinner table lookin' at these girls and I'm goin', I'm the weak link in this chain here very strong women, so thank you for this award, thank you for making it an award I will cherish forever because we were together when it happened.

[applause].

All these people behind me that I should thank, I'm gonna wrap up in one guy.

We have a lot of original members here, but this guy has been the bandleader since day one.

People, that's a job you do not want, and this guy has done it flawlessly for 30 years.

Um, he'll be doing the intro to The Dance tonight the way that he has for all these years.

Well, hopefully better but, you know, the way he usually, I didn't mean that bad, if that came out bad.

[laughs].

Ladies and gentlemen, representing all of us, from day one, Mr. David Gant.

[applause].

From way back off the first album, here's The Dance .

♪ ["The Dance" by Garth Brooks] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Looking back, ♪ ♪ on the memory of, ♪ ♪ the dance we shared, ♪ ♪ 'neath the stars above.

♪ ♪ For a moment, all the world was right.

♪ ♪ How could I have known, ♪ ♪ that you'd ever say goodbye.

♪ ♪ And now I'm glad I didn't know ♪ ♪ the way it all would end.

♪ ♪ The way it all would go.

♪ ♪ Our lives, are better left to chance.

♪ ♪ I could have missed the pain.

♪ ♪ But I'd have had to miss, ♪ ♪ the dance.

♪ ♪ Holding you, ♪ ♪ I held everything.

♪ ♪ For a moment, wasn't I the king?

♪ ♪ But if I'd only known, how the king would fall.

♪ ♪ Hey who's to say, ♪ ♪ you know I might have changed it all.

♪ ♪ And now I'm glad I didn't know.

♪ ♪ The way it all would end.

♪ ♪ The way it all would go.

♪ ♪ Our lives are better left to chance.

♪ ♪ I could have missed the pain.

♪ ♪ But I'd have had to miss, ♪ ♪ the dance.

♪ ♪ Yes my life ♪ ♪ is better left to chance.

♪ ♪ I could have missed the pain.

♪ ♪ But I'd have had to miss, ♪ ♪ the dance.

♪♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Maybe some of you will get this.

It's been happening a lot to me this week because of this award.

When you get to this age, I guess people want to say, what do you want to be remembered for?

Well I want to tell you who I am, first and foremost I am a child of God and Jesus Christ for myself.

[applause].

Second of all, and just very, almost as important, I am a citizen of the greatest country that this planet has ever known.

[applause].

I am a son to Raymond and Colleen Brooks.

I am a husband to the love of my life, and I am the proud father of three of the strongest human beings I've ever witnessed in my life.

That's how I wanna be remembered.

But if you're talking about music, entertainer, artist, whatever.

People, please remember Garth Brooks as a songwriter!

[applause].

NARRATOR: To watch the show online, including additional web-exclusive content, and learn more about the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song and its past winners, go to pbs.org/gershwinprize and join the conversation on twitter using #PBSGershwin.

[applause].

♪ ♪