Big Grand Opening, Garth Brooks Plans Give Honky-Tonk Stage Next Guys

Garth Brooks opens a new honky-tonk in Nashville, emphasizing his gratitude to the city and his support for new artists.

Garth Brooks, the country music superstar, recently opened a brand-new honky-tonk in Nashville's Lower Broadway, called Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk. At a news conference, Brooks emphasized that this new venture is not just a vanity project, but rather a way for him to give back to the city that launched his career and to support new generations of artists.

The new venue, which features a sleek and open space, a retractable stage, a state-of-the-art sound system, multiple bars, and a second-floor balcony, is a far cry from the ramshackle joints where Brooks got his start. Despite its high-end surroundings, Brooks acknowledged that it's "too nice" to be called a honky-tonk, joking that the honky-tonks he grew up in "don't feel stinky" like this one.

The grand opening of Friends in Low Places featured a performance by Brooks, who was joined by his wife, Trisha Yearwood, and fellow country star Ronnie Dunn. The event, which was streamed live, was part of Brooks' "Dive Bar" series, and included such favorites as "The River," "The Dance," "The Thunder Rolls," and "Friends in Low Places."

While the venue is still a work in progress, Brooks plans to open it on weekends and gradually expand its offerings. He also revealed that the establishment will feature a rooftop bar called the Oasis, and that fans will be invited to contribute their own memorabilia to the venue's walls.

In addition to the new honky-tonk, Brooks recently released a box set and announced new dates for his Las Vegas residency, "Garth Brooks/Plus ONE." He spoke about the residency's unique format, which requires audience members to bag their phones, and emphasized the unexpected benefits of this policy, such as encouraging people to interact and make new friendships.

Overall, Brooks' new honky-tonk and upcoming projects reflect his ongoing commitment to the music and the fans who have supported him throughout his career. He's not just looking to get a bigger slice of the pie, but to make the entire pie bigger, in the spirit of Las Vegas hotelier Steve Wynn.