The waterworks will be flowing for this one, I’m sure.
Today, Austin City Limits announced that country icon Garth Brooks will be the one and only artist honored with a spot in their Hall of Fame class during the special 50th anniversary season.
They shared the news on social media in a since-deleted tweet, but the Austin American-Statesman confirmed the news and shared this statement from Brooks, expressing his excitement for the “over the top” honor:
“To be part of anything Austin City Limits is and always has been an honor. I am humbled and grateful to not only be a part of the 50th Anniversary, but to be inducted into the ACL Hall of Fame is over the top.”
Austin City Limits premiered in 1974, and has been a stage and television show for artists of all genres to come and share their music, but country music has always had a prominent spotlight.
And each year for the past 10 years, they’ve induct artists that have made a significant impact on the television stream into the Hall Of Fame.
Back on October 17th, 1974, Willie Nelson helped launch the program, headlining the very first episode. The PBS station KLRN in San Antonio and Austin, Texas, produced the pilot episode of the incredible, long-standing variety show and music program, and the rest is history.
Last year, Garth’s wife Trisha Yearwood was inducted along with the late, great John Prine, so I’m sure it will be a special moment for both of him as Garth joins her there this year. He appeared on ACL twice during the 25th anniversary season, and first performed on the program in 1990 at the start of his very long and successful career.
Garth’s induction for the Hall of Fame ceremony will air on PBS on September 28th, and tickets for the in-person September 5th show (where he’ll also play live with his band) go on sale on August 2nd.
Somebody get the tissues ready now…
Here’s Garth during his first ACL appearance 1990 playing “The Dance”:
And in 1999 performing his mega hit “Friends In Low Places”:
