CINCINNATI — For the first time in nearly 20 years Garth Brooks will perform Saturday night at a sold out show in U.S Bank Arena.
Hours before the Oklahoma native was set to take the stage at 7 p.m. with is wife and fellow country music star Trisha Yearwood, Brooks held a media question-and-answer session to discuss his return to the Queen City.
Brooks said he and his wife arrived in Cincinnati on Thursday to prepare for Saturday's show, the first of five concerts at U.S. Bank Arena that end Sunday, Jan. 29.
.@garthbrooks said he took his crew to see @starwars #rogueone at new Cinemark last night. Theater was closed down for them. @wcpo
— Brian Mains (@B_Mains_Cincy) January 21, 2017
He also said he and Yearwood played some basketball before the press conference.
.@garthbrooks says he's been here since Thursday. Played some basketball. Ready to put on a good show. pic.twitter.com/i4qABbkk2W
— Brian Mains (@B_Mains_Cincy) January 21, 2017
Brooks joked the game put Yearwood behind getting ready for their evening performance and made her not-too-pleased about not missing the press conference she was originally scheduled to attend.
Luckily, Yearwood shared her impressions of Cincinnati, and Skyline Chili, during her regular "T's Coffee Talk" Facebook live stream page earlier in the morning.
So, @garthbrooks said crews will be here for about 2 weeks and should be easy to spot around town. @wcpo
— Brian Mains (@B_Mains_Cincy) January 21, 2017
Brooks said he and Yearwood have also spent long hours since arriving in Cincinnati to prepare and put on the best show Saturday, the first in the new year after a couple of months hiatus.
"Pretty much all of our crew is here for tonight's show to make it the best," he said.
In between shows Brooks and Yearwood plan to also host youth events through Brooks' Teammates for Kids foundation in partnership with Procamps and the Anthony Munoz Foundation.
"Anthony is a good, sweet man," Brooks said. "I'm telling you, we'll be easy to find around town."
The Country Music Hall of Fame inductee last played seven nearly sold out shows in Cincinnati beginning on Nov. 14, 1996.
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He said he has always been a pleasantly surprised by the strength of his Cincinnati fan base
"With where I am in my career, I'm grateful," Brooks said about his five shows, the second of which is 7 p.m. Sunday, followed by performances the following Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
During his interview, Brooks also touched upon a statement he released earlier in the week about why he did not perform at President Donald Trump's inauguration celebration.
"I decided to leave it up to ticket sales for these tour dates," Brooks said.
The tour dates were set before the outcome of the Nov. 8 general election, he added.
.@USBankArena interview, @garthbrooks was asked about @HillaryClinton & @POTUS. Said both sweet people, let tour sales decide inauguration.
— Brian Mains (@B_Mains_Cincy) January 21, 2017
