Country music superstar Garth Brooks will be presented with the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in March 2020! According to the institution’s website, this award “celebrates the work of an artist whose career reflects lifetime achievement in promoting song as a vehicle of musical expression and cultural understanding. The styles in which these works are composed reflect myriad contemporary traditions like rock, jazz, country, pop, blues, folk, and gospel. The recipient-whether composer, singer/songwriter, or interpreter-is recognized for entertaining and informing audiences, for drawing upon the acknowledged foundations of popular song, and for inspiring new generations of performers on their own professional journeys.”
Brooks was chosen by the Librarian of Congress in consultation with a board that represents the full spectrum of popular song, such as scholars, producers, performers, music critics, songwriters, and subject specialists.
The country music star will be honored with an all-star tribute concert in Washington, D.C., that will air on PBS stations in spring 2020.
“An award is only as good as the names on it,” Brooks shared in a statement. “First off, for any musician, the name Gershwin says it all. Add to Ira’s and George’s names the names of the past recipients and you have an award of the highest honor. I am truly humbled.”
Fun fact, Willie Nelson received this distinction in 2015. Take a look at all of the past Gershwin Prize for Popular Song recipients here.
Congrats to Garth on being awarded the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song! Share this news with other fans!
Watch two Gershwin Prize honorees, Billy Joel and Garth Brooks, perform “Shameless” below!
“Shameless” Lyrics
Well I’m shameless when it comes to loving you
I’d do anything you want me to
I’d do anything at all
And I’m standing here for all the world to see
There ain’t that much left of me
That has very far to fall
You know I’m not a man who has ever been
Insecure about the world I’ve been living in
I don’t break easy, I have my pride
But if you need to be satisfied
I’m shameless, baby I don’t have a prayer
Anytime I see you standing there
I go down upon my knees
And I’m changing, I swore I’d never compromise
But you convinced me otherwise
I’ll do anything you please
You see in all my life I’ve never found
What I couldn’t resist, what I couldn’t turn down
I could walk away fromnyone I ever knew
But I can’t walk away from you
I have never let anything have this much control over me
Cause I worked too hard to call my life my own
Yes I made myeself a world and it worked so perfectly
But it’s your world now, I can’t refuse
I never had so much to lose
I’m shameless… shameless
You know it should be easy for a man who’s strong
To say he’s sorry or admit when he’s wrong
I’ve never lost anything I ever missed
But I’ve never been in love like this…
It’s out of my hands
I’m shameless, shameless as a man can be
You can make a total fool of me
I just wanted you to know
I am shameless
Shameless
Shameless…
