If you're me, you've spent way too much time recently thinking about Garth Brooks. The Los Angeles Times and other sources are now reporting that Brooks will come out of retirement eight years after he gave up the limelight to concentrate on raising his children. Brooks is giving a press conference in Las Vegas this afternoon in which he is expected to discuss the details of his return.
Brooks hasn't released an album since 2001's Scarecrow, though he has continued to perform occasionally. He recently played President Obama's inaugration. No matter how you feel about Brooks' music, this is undoubtedly good news for the music industry in general and country in particular, as Brooks has sold 128 million albums in the US alone and is one of the top touring attractions of all time. A comeback album and tour promises to be huge. A whole bunch of motherfuckers are about to get seriously paid. We remain, as always, cautiously optimistic that Mr. Brooks' alter ego Chris Gaines will follow suit and announce his return to music imminently.