Garth Brooks Announces Impending Retirement

12/15/1999 5:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Wendy Hermanson

(12/15/99, 5 p.m. ET) - Garth Brooks dropped a bomb regarding his future career plans on the last episode of TNN's Crook & Chase show today "Next year, if I can predict, I think we're gonna lay low--extremely low--for nine or 10 months. I think we're gonna plan a big party at the end of the year, and--just because of my babies and just somewhere you've got to call it--I think we'll probably announce our retirement at the end of next year."

Brooks went on to explain his main reason for the decision to end his musical career: "It's time to take on the responsibility that I took on seven years ago when we had our baby. I feel like I've been a good dad the times I've been home--but, you know, if you do something, if you put your name on something, well then you give everything you got to it. I put my name on that baby seven years ago, and August and Allie, but I've always seemed to find some way to justify it by saying I was out making a living for the family or preparing. I think the time's come to focus on them."

Though there are no details at this time, rumor has it that Brooks is working on a big country music project for release in 2000.

To read a Garth Brooks feature, click here.

-- Margy Holland, Nashville

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