Garth Brooks’ historic Protective Stadium performance was a smashing success [Recap + Video]

On Saturday night, June 4, country music legend Garth Brooks performed the inaugural concert in Birmingham’s Protective Stadium. Read on to learn more about this historic event!

Getting inside the stadium

Garth Brooks in Birmingham’s Protective Stadium was a hit!

Brooks’ fans made it known that a country legend was performing as street parking and lots were filled from 24th St N to Morris Avenue. As you approached Uptown, the sea of fans grew—as well as the number of cowboy boots and hats. Brooks’ fans traveled hundreds of miles to attend his concert, and although ticket lines were long, they moved quickly due to the number of stadium workers.

Pre-show

Once you entered the Protective Stadium you could feel the energy from Brooks’ fans. The stadium field featured an impressive stage, a jumbotron, hanging stereo speakers and even a disco ball. Opening act Mitch Rossell did a great job warming up the crowd before Brooks’ performance. 

Fun fact: Garth Brooks’ Protective Stadium performance was recorded for a future live album. 

Garth Brooks in Birmingham

Garth Brooks made his debut on the stage arising from the bottom of the drummers’ cage singing “All Day Long” (2018). It didn’t take long for the audience to join in and sing along which they continued to do for the whole night. Brooks’ felt overwhelmed and humbled by the amount of love and support he was receiving from Birmingham. The audience stood for the entire duration of the concert. 

“I’ve been treated better than royalty. I’ve been treated like family.” 

Garth Brooks, country music artist and songwriter

Some of the songs he performed were: 

• “Two Pina Coladas” 
• “Fishin’ in the Dark” (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band original)
• “Unanswered Prayers“
• “The Thunder Rolls“

A surprise guest

Brooks began performing “Shallow,” a song written by Lady Gaga with Andrew Wyatt, Anthony Rossomando and Mark Ronson. The audience was wondering if Trisha Yearwood, Brooks’ wife and country music artist, was going to make an appearance since the couple recorded the song as a duet. She did!

Upon hearing her voice and seeing her arise from under the stage, the audience went wild. She performed the audience favorite and Yearwood classic, “She’s in Love with The Boy” (1991) and joined Brooks for the remainder of the show. 

A class act

After performing over 16+ plus songs for over 2 hours, Brooks ended the concert with “Standing Outside the Fire” (1990). He continued to express his gratitude to Birmingham and his amazement at how the audience participation blew him away. He thanked his crew and band for their support of him over the past 30 years.  

Would it be a Garth Brooks concert, without an encore 

Fans chanted for an encore after Brooks and his band left off the stage and he soon returned. He took the time to look around the stadium at posters with song requests and sang them. A few of the requested songs were: 

• “The Dance” 
• “More Than a Memory”  
• “Ireland”

He even sang “Piano Man” by Billy Joel, near the final closing of the show. Garth Brooks gave Birmingham and the Protective Stadium a performance that will be remembered and talked about for a lifetime. 

So Protective Stadium, who’s next?

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