RIAA Honors Garth Brooks With Artist of a Lifetime

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Garth Brooks. Photo: Ben Krebs

The RIAA recently honored Garth Brooks with the first-ever Artist of a Lifetime award. Brooks is the only artist in history to earn 10 Diamond album certifications.

“They say that gratefulness is the seed of happiness, and I am grateful every single day to have been given this shot,” Brooks shared. “A lot of people get the shot. But Bob Doyle told me early on that getting the shot wasn’t going to be the hard part. The hard part was going to be hanging on to it. I can’t thank God and the people enough for my life and the career I have been so lucky to have.”

He played a medley of his own hits and songs that have inspired his career along the way from James Taylor’s “Carolina In My Mind” and “Fire and Rain” into “The River,” Bob Seger’s “Turn The Page” leading to “The Thunder Rolls.” The showman wrapped his acoustic set with George Strait’s “Amarillo By Morning” into his own classic hit “Friends in Low Places,” which had the room on their feet and singing along.

The event also recognized Disney Music Group President Ken Bunt, and US Representatives Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) and Madeleine Dean (PA-04) for their work on music policy such as the NO FAKES Act.

Bunt received the Label Executive of the Year. Reflecting on his career he said, “I’m just thrilled to do what I do and help make human connections. I think that’s the thing that I love most about music, [it] really connects people.”

Pictured (L-R): RIAA SVP Artist & Industry Relations Jackie Jones, Chief Policy Officer Morna Willens, Garth Brooks, RIAA President & COO Michele Ballantyne, RIAA Chairman & CEO Mitch Glazier. Photo: Ben Krebs

Ken Bunt. Photo: Daniel Swartz

Lauryn Sink
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