Garth Brooks Shares Praiseworthy Reason Behind Lip Synced CMA Performance

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It’s been nearly two weeks since the CMA Awards and people are still talking about Garth Brooks‘ lip synced performance of his latest single, “Ask Me How I Know.” But, the chatter hasn’t fazed Garth. In fact, he stands by his decision not to perform live and said that, if given the choice, he would do it again. 

The 6-time CMA Entertainer of the Year appeared on The Ellen Show Monday (November 20) where he spoke out about his controversial decision to lip sync during the awards show. 

“We did 12 shows in 10 days, and right in the middle of those 12 shows was the CMAs. So, we went in and did a track for it just in case the voice was gone. [We] made a game-time decision because we still had 7 shows starting the next night in Spokane,” Garth told Ellen.

“And the truth is I love awards shows. I think they’re sweet, but for me they’re like the tree is to Christmas. They’re the symbol of it, but they’re not what it’s all about. What it’s about is those people who put their butts in the seat, travel, fight that traffic, that’s who you want to save your voice for. So, we made that decision and, I have to tell you, if it happened again tomorrow I’d make the same decision.”

Garth’s lip synced performance garnered much criticism from viewers and some of his fellow artists, including Miranda Lambert and her boyfriend Anderson East who took to Twitter to share their opinion of Brooks following the CMAs. 

“I keep a lot of my opinions to myself and respect anyone making music but as a person who tries to put on the best and most honest show I can night after night . . . this truly offends me,” East tweeted. “I was told country music is three chords and the truth.” 

I keep a lot of my opinions to myself and respect anyone making music but as a person who tries to put on the best and most honest show I can night after night… this truly offends me. I was told country music is three chords and the truth. https://t.co/jucvh4xmpy

— Anderson East (@Andersoneast) November 10, 2017

Lambert echoed her boyfriend’s sentiments with a comment on a photo of East’s tweet saying, “High Five on this babe. If you can’t sing then don’t. It’s better to be honest than to pretend. I think it’s bull s‑‑‑. My favorite performances in the show were live. The truth.”

Other artists rushed to Garth’s defense including Reba McEntire and Randy Travis. Reba addressed the the issue during an interview with Access Hollywood saying, “I heard at the CMAs that he did five shows in 50 hours or something like that. He’s the hardest working man I’ve ever seen in my life. He will not let his fans down. I kinda applaud him for if he did need to lip-sync, he showed up!”

Randy Travis took his defense of Brooks to Twitter. Travis said that his family in country music should be the first to understand and that Brooks always gives his all. 

.@garthbrooks A friend, a man, an artist who gives ALL, always! Our family in music should be the 1st to understand—after you walk in our shoes, get back with us! -RT https://t.co/IMR1nIg3Ze

— Randy Travis (@randytravis) November 13, 2017

Garth Brooks is set to wrap the U.S. leg of his world tour in December with six shows at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. 

Watch Garth Brooks’ full interview on The Ellen Show below.