The internet rumor mill has struck again, this time targeting country music icon Garth Brooks. Social media posts have been circulating claiming that Brooks urged the country music industry to boycott Donald Trump’s inauguration. Despite the claims gaining traction, there’s no evidence to support this allegation.
Posts on X (formerly Twitter) around Christmas claimed, “Garth Brooks thinks Country Music should Boycott Trump’s inauguration.” The baseless claims were accompanied by gifs, sparking outrage among Trump supporters and causing Brooks’s name to trend online.
However, a closer look at the facts debunks the rumors. Brooks’s only connection to Trump’s inauguration dates back to 2017, when he was invited to perform but declined due to scheduling conflicts. At the time, his 2016 tour extended into January, requiring him to prioritize additional shows.
In a 2017 Billboard interview, Brooks expressed respect for both outgoing and incoming presidents. “I’ll tell you with this whole presidential thing: We got one going out. Pray for him and his family. And for the president going in, pray for him and his family to guide this nation. Let’s stay together.
Love, unity — that’s what it’s all about,” Brooks said, adding, “May God hold Trump’s hand in the decisions that he makes in this country’s name.” Brooks is known for his nonpartisan approach to politics, performing at inaugurations for both Democrats and Republicans.
In 2009, he performed at Barack Obama’s inauguration, and in 2021, he sang “Amazing Grace” at Joe Biden’s ceremony. Before the Biden performance, Brooks emphasized his appearance wasn’t political: “This is not a political statement. This is a statement of unity. I want to spend the next 10 years of my life not divided. I’m so tired of being divided.”
Throughout his career, Brooks has maintained a reputation for promoting peace and unity. Early on, he released the socially conscious anthem “We Shall Be Free,” advocating for inclusion and equality. More recently, during the Bud Light controversy, he refused to take sides, announcing his Nashville bar would serve all beer and calling boycotters “a**holes.”
Given his history, the claim that Brooks called for a boycott of Trump’s inauguration is laughable. As Whiskey Riff noted, Brooks has performed for nearly every president since Carter, except Reagan, and has consistently kept his political views private. This latest rumor serves as another reminder of how easily misinformation spreads online.