, , , , ,

Garth Brooks Addresses Backlash to Saying He’ll Carry Bud Light at His Bar: ‘Inclusiveness Is Always Going to Be Me’

Garth Brooks kicked off his Inside Studio G livestream on Monday (June 12) by addressing some backlash to comments he made to Billboard last week about carrying all beers — including Bud Light — at his Nashville bar.

The country superstar made the original comments last week in a Billboard Country Live Q&A with Melinda Newman, Billboard‘s executive editor, West Coast and Nashville. “I know this sounds corny, but I want it to be the Chick-Fil-A of honky-tonks,” he said during the conversation about his Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky Tonk, currently under construction in Nashville. “I want it to be a place you feel safe in, I want it to be a place where you feel like there are manners and people like one another. And yes, we’re going to serve every brand of beer. We just are. It’s not our decision to make. Our thing is this: If you come into this house, love one another. If you’re an a–hole, there are plenty of other places on lower Broadway you can go.”

Related

The comments — made after Bud Light came under fire earlier this year from Kid Rock and other vocal critics for partnering with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney — kicked up a new round of backlash, this time against Brooks, from the likes of Florida congressman Matt Gaetz and others on social media.

For his part, Brooks is unbothered by the response, doubling down on his message of love and inclusion during Monday’s Inside Studio G, which streams weekly on the singer’s Facebook page.

“We did an interview with Melinda Newman from Billboard, and from that came quite a little bit of a stir,” he said. “So let’s … address two things on it. One is diversity. Inclusiveness: That’s me. That’s always been me. We got the same kind of thing on ‘We Shall Be Free,’ people wanting to burn our stuff, and I get it,” he said, referencing the 1992 song he wrote after being in Los Angeles for the ACM Awards during the L.A. Riots; “We Shall Be Free” peaked at No. 12 on Hot Country Songs – his first track to miss the top 10 on the chart up to that point, due to some country stations banning the track.

“Everybody’s got their opinions,” he added during the livestream. “But inclusiveness is always going to be me. I think diversity is the answer to the problems that are here and the problems that are coming. So I love diversity. All-inclusive, so all are welcome. I understand that that might not be other people’s opinions, but that’s OK, man. They have their opinions, they have their beliefs; I have mine.

“Second thing, though: Let’s talk about being a bar owner,” he continued. “I’m a bar owner now. Are we going to have the most popular beers in the thing? Yes. That’s not our call if we don’t or not. It’s the patrons’ call — the bosses, right? Bring ’em in there. If they don’t want it, then I got to go to the distributor and say, ‘Man, your stuff’s not selling.’ And then action gets taken. But the truth is, it’s those people in those seats that make those decisions, and that’s what Friends in Low Places is going to be.”

Brooks finished his response by continuing to encourage a loving environment in his future bar. “Here’s the deal, man: If you want to come to Friends in Low Places, come in. Come in with love. Come in with tolerance, patience. Come in with an open mind, and it’s cool. And if you’re one of those people who just can’t do that, I get it. If you ever are one of those people who want to try, come! Let’s have some fun. I don’t know how to explain it any better than that.”

The country star continues his Garth Brooks/Plus ONE Las Vegas residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace next month, with his next date on July 6.

Watch Brooks’ new Inside Studio G livestream and part of his Billboard Country Live Q&A below.

https://www.billboard.com/music/country/garth-brooks-bud-light-backlash-reaction-1235352326/


January 2025
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  

About Us

Welcome to encircle News! We are a cutting-edge technology news company that is dedicated to bringing you the latest and greatest in everything tech. From automobiles to drones, software to hardware, we’ve got you covered.

At encircle News, we believe that technology is more than just a tool, it’s a way of life. And we’re here to help you stay on top of all the latest trends and developments in this ever-evolving field. We know that technology is constantly changing, and that can be overwhelming, but we’re here to make it easy for you to keep up.

We’re a team of tech enthusiasts who are passionate about everything tech and love to share our knowledge with others. We believe that technology should be accessible to everyone, and we’re here to make sure it is. Our mission is to provide you with fun, engaging, and informative content that helps you to understand and embrace the latest technologies.

From the newest cars on the road to the latest drones taking to the skies, we’ve got you covered. We also dive deep into the world of software and hardware, bringing you the latest updates on everything from operating systems to processors.

So whether you’re a tech enthusiast, a business professional, or just someone who wants to stay up-to-date on the latest advancements in technology, encircle News is the place for you. Join us on this exciting journey and be a part of shaping the future.

Podcasts

TWiT 1012: Our Best Of 2024 – The Best Moments From TWiT's 2024 This Week in Tech (Audio)

TWiT wishes all listeners and viewers a Happy New Year and peaceful 2025! Padre's CES 2024 haul Cory Doctorow's infamous ensh*ttification term Tesla teases a robotaxi Last in-studio audience for TWiT Padre on the AI priest Google Search gets worse Christina Warren's Rabbit R1 Snowflake and the AT&T breach Crowdstrike's big outag Last in-studio episode before moving out Salt Hank shows off his new cookbook TWiT's 1000th episode brings back old friends The State of X/Twitter under Elon Parenting with TWiT daddies Tech billionaires affecting Trump's transition team Host: Leo Laporte Download or subscribe to This Week in Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit
  1. TWiT 1012: Our Best Of 2024 – The Best Moments From TWiT's 2024
  2. TWiT 1011: The Year in Review – A Look at the Top Stories of 2024
  3. TWiT 1010: The Densest State in the US – TikTok Ban, Drones Over Jersey, GM Quits Robotaxis
  4. TWiT 1009: Andy Giveth & Bill Taketh Away – Trump's Tech Titans, Crypto Boom, TikTok's US Ban, Intel CEO Exits
  5. TWiT 1008: Internet Legal – Australia's Social Media Ban for Kids, Smart Home Nightmare, Bluesky's Ascent