Garth Brooks giving a little bit more insight into one of his big hits from the 90s.
It’s always interesting to peek into an artist’s mind and see how a song came to be. Some songs are probably obvious (beer drinking songs are often inspired by… drinking beers), but others with more depth can always leave the listener wondering, “How did this one come together?”
If you’ve ever asked that question about Garth Brooks’ “Unanswered Prayers,” he actually included the story that inspired this song in the liner notes of his 1994 compilation album The Hits. The track, which was included in his sophomore album No Fences, was co-written by Garth, Pat Alger and Larry Bastian.
And as Garth explained, his co-writers had a big role in bringing the song to life:
“Pat Alger and I worked on this song quite a long time without a hook, without the line. We passed it by Larry Bastian, and it was as if it was meant to be. Larry, his wife Myrna, and I were taking a walk down 18th Avenue, and he looked at me and said, ‘Oh, that’s simple. This song should be called ‘Unanswered Prayers’ because some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.’”
The hit song from Garth explains God working through unanswered prayers by telling the story about a husband and wife running into the man’s high school sweetheart. The husband realizes that if the Lord would have answered his prayers to keep he and his high school love together, he wouldn’t have ever met and married his wife.
As made evident in the chorus:
“Sometimes, I thank God, for unanswered prayersRemember, when you’re talkin’ to the man upstairsAnd just because, he doesn’t answer, doesn’t mean he don’t careSome of God’s greatest gifts, are unanswered prayers.”
It’s an interesting way to tell the story, and Garth describes it as the “truest song” he’s ever penned:
“This is probably the truest song I have ever been involved with as a writer. This actually happened to my wife and me when we went back home to Oklahoma. Every time I sing this song, it teaches me the same lesson… happiness isn’t getting what you want, it is wanting what you’ve got.”
In a 1995 radio special, Garth went into more detail:
“Man, ‘Unanswered Prayers’ was a big part of my heart that went out on that record. A true life thing that happened to Sandy and myself. In October of ’89, I saw my old high school flame. And I can say this now at the time I couldn’t. For the first two years of my married life, I really thought the girl that was for me was still that girl that was in high school. And now man just the realization that what you have is the best for you, and the best you could ever do in your lifetime. It sure makes you sleep well at night.”
The only problem? Garth Brooks wrote and released that song while he was with his first wife, Sandy Mahl. They divorced in 2001, and Brooks later married Trisha Yearwood in 2005. So maybe the song doesn’t match up perfectly with the romance in Garth’s own life? Then again, maybe Brooks was always meant to be with Yearwood? That’s all unknown, but what is known is that “Unanswered Prayers” was a massive hit for the country music star.
It was a No. 1 hit on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in 1991, and helped Garth’s No Fences album stay at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Charts for over 30 straight weeks. Fans really connected with the song, and the hit helped propel Garth Brooks into country music stardom. Ironically, it sounds like “Unanswered Prayers” may have been an answered prayer?
“Unanswered Prayers” by Garth Brooks
Kennedy Center Honors
Garth Brooks brought back Chris Gaines for a recent performance… sort of.
Who could forget Garth’s punk/emo rock alter ego that he brought to life in the 1990s? Brooks probably wishes that everyone would leave it behind (he’s done a pretty good job of scrubbing the internet of any footage), but then he goes and plays some rock music at the 48th Annual Kennedy Center Honors ceremony and it all comes rushing back.
In case you missed it, the Kennedy Centers Honors event aired last night on CBS, and the King of Country Music – George Strait – was there to be recognized alongside other cultural icons like the rock band KISS, movie star Sylvester Stallone, Broadway actor Michael Crawford, and disco legend Gloria Gaynor. It was a real who’s who.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. is the site for the annual Kennedy Center Honors event that inducts a new group of artists and entertainers each year. The living memorial to President John F. Kennedy (that recently tacked on Donald Trump’s name to the building as well) hosts the event that has honored many notable country acts over the years, including the likes of Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, George Jones and many others.
This year, the country music representation at the awards ceremony was the one and only George Strait. You probably saw the viral moment that he and President Trump shared in the Oval Office ahead of the ceremony. That turned into its own sort of spectacle, but what many people were looking forward to was the actual honoring of the notable figures that took place at the Kennedy Center later on.
When distinguished individuals are honored at the event, it usually includes performances and kind words shared by others in the same field. Vince Gill was there to praise Strait for his contributions to country music, and he later performed “Troubadour” to honor the King of Country. Brooks & Dunn were also there and cued up “Amarillo By Morning” to pay tribute to their friend, and Miranda Lambert even added in a performance of “Run” that was dedicated to George Strait.
Garth Brooks was in attendance too, and he sang… a rock song.
Now, to be clear, Garth wasn’t actually there for George Strait. He was actually at the Kennedy Center in support of KISS. That’s why he tapped into his Chris Gaines background with a performance of “Shout It Out Loud” – a classic rock hit by the legendary rock and roll band.
As you might imagine, the crowd that was there was a tad perplexed by country music star Garth Brooks singing to honor KISS rather than George Strait. Brooks even addressed the moment while he was on stage, saying:
“I see some faces of confusion. No, we are in the right segment of the show, people.”
Garth did his best to bridge the two genres of country and rock together, saying that all musicians are bonded by one thing: playing fearlessly in front of a crowd. That’s when he busted out into “Shout It Out Loud,” and it was as close as we’ll get to Chris Gaines in 2025.
Check it out:
@desertstorm92 #kiss #kissrockband #kennedycenter #fy #fypage ♬ original sound – DesertStorm
It’s good to know that Garth Brooks still has that “Chris Gaines Dog” in him, as the kids say nowadays.
And for those that might be confused by the country star honoring the rock group, they have actually crossed paths before in the past. In 1994, Garth took the stage with KISS and performed a song with the group on The Tonight Show.
“Hard Luck Woman” – KISS & Garth Brooks (1994)
