Garth Brooks withdrew from consideration for the Country Music Association (CMA) Artist of the Year Awards this year after winning it seven times.
“It is time for someone else to have that award,” he said at a press conference on Wednesday, according to The Tennessean.
Brooks, 58, last won the award in 2019 by outperforming country musicians Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, Keith Urban and Chris Stapleton. She admitted that she made the decision because of a tweet that she couldn’t stop thinking about.
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“There’s a tweet there that really stuck with me,” Brooks said. “I was like, ‘Hey, man. Why doesn’t this guy retire (and leave) the artist for the next generation?’ 100% agree. “
“The last thing I want to do is look ungrateful,” he added, but “it’s time for someone else to win that award … because everyone is breaking their butts.”
Brooks said, “With all the love in the world, we are officially retiring from ‘Artist of the Year.'”
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The 54th. Annual CMA Awards are still on the way to take place in November in Nashville and voting began last month.
Brooks recently released a new song, “We Belong to Each Other,” which comes from his highly anticipated upcoming album, “Fun.”
The hit maker said the album is finished, but he doesn’t think it’s appropriate to release it during a pandemic.
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“I don’t want to be the type to try to do something in the middle of everyone,” Brooks explained. “The album is ready to come out. It’s just, how do you go out and promote and be happy and joyous while everyone is fighting for their lives not only physically, but financially as well?”
