Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, artists have been forced to postpone or cancel performances scheduled throughout the spring. Despite this, artists are still hosting shows to entertain their fans.
They’re just doing it all online.
Since the mass postponements and cancellations were announced, artists such as Keith Urban, Willie Nelson, and Brad Paisley have all hosted livestream concerts for their fans. In Paisley’s case, he took requests throughout the night and even sang virtual duets with Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, and Chris Young.
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Another artist who jumped on the livestream concert train was Garth Brooks. The superstar singer already hosts a weekly Monday livestream called “Inside Studio G,” so he made plans for his March 23 session to be a miniature concert.
Brooks announced he was taking requests for the show. He also revealed that his wife and fellow country singer Trisha Yearwood would join him.
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As promised, the couple gathered for their livestream on Facebook Live and delivered a 30 minute concert of fan requests. They sang duets on “Whiskey to Wine,” “Thicker Than Blood,” “Golden Ring,” and also performed their take on “Shallow” from A Star Is Born.
Yearwood delivered solo performances of “Amazing Grace” and Linda Ronstadt‘s “Long, Long Time.” She actually played guitar during the latter song, which surprised her husband.
“I’ve never seen you play,” he remarked. He then appeared teary-eyed as he listened to his wife sing.
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According to USA Today, 3.4 million people tuned in to watch Brooks and Yearwood’s livestream. Because so many people were trying to watch at once, Facebook Live crashed multiple times throughout the stream.
A common comment that popped up during the concert was “Garth, did you break the internet?“
Brooks left the stream up a little longer than intended so those who got kicked off would be able to watch it. Although the performance has since been taken down, the memories Brooks and Yearwood created during the stream will last forever.
As of this writing, Brooks has yet to announce if he plans to continue hosting his livestream concerts during this time of quarantine. But now he knows that he’ll have a big audience to watch him if he keeps it up!
Brooks is used to drawing in huge crowds. Every one of his Stadium Tour shows sells out, and he shatters ticket sales records.
Most recently, Brooks performed for 70,000 fans at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. You can watch one of his standout performances from that show below.
We may not be able to catch Brooks in concert for some time, but this livestream from him and Yearwood helped fill that void!