Garth Brooks Says He’s Playing Dive Bars Instead of Stadiums Because “They Check Vax Cards”

When Barack Obama was inaugurated in 2009, he had a star studded lineup of musicians perform. Garth Brooks was there to play 3 songs.

When Donald Trump was being inaugurated in 2017, his team reached out to Brooks. The country star said he couldn’t perform due to his touring schedule. But Brooks was there for Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021, belting out Amazing Grace.

And while Brooks doesn’t often talk about his affiliations, he recently made another choice that seems political. The country superstar said in a recent interview that he is playing dive bars rather than stadiums because, “they check vax cards.”

Brooks said on his Facebook show, Inside Studio G, “Stadiums are officially out for this year. The dive bars are vaccinated! That’s how you get to do it.”

The country star continued, “What you want to do is what’s best for the people. Man, I want to play music. I want to get out there and laugh. I’m telling you the look in people’s eyes from stage — from getting together singing again — brought so much hope and so much joy. It killed me to have to shut it down again. But you want to do what is best for the people that are sweet enough to come and see you. That’s why dive bars instead of stadiums.”