Garth Brooks Says He Was 'Scared to Death' to Return to Music After a 14 Year Hiatus

Garth Brooks is getting candid about his career.

The 58-year-old country music superstar, who is the highest selling solo artist in U.S. history, spoke with Gayle King Friday (June 4) about his many achievements in the music industry.

Click inside to read what he said…

Garth explained that his parents weren’t initially thrilled about his decision to pursue music, so he eventually decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a marine.

“So I went to the recruiting office there in Stillwater, for the Marine Corps, because my father was a Marine. And I thought I’d surprise my dad by telling him I went. And his first words: ‘Garth, you don’t wanna do that,’” Garth recalled. “I think every parent wants something different for their child. Because every parent has seen the dark side of everything.”

He then headed to Nashville to start his music career, but it wasn’t until his second trip that he landed a record deal. His first record went certified gold, though Garth said he “probably didn’t handle” fame well.

“A nation watches you grow up, right? So you’re gonna make decisions that you go, ‘Man, I wish I could take that one back,’ but the truth is now… If changing anything then meant any part of now would change, no, thank you,” he said.

He then discussed his choice to leave the music industry to raise his children with ex-wife Sandy Mahl, who he split from in 1999.

“The country music audience has given you everything. Now you just simply ask them, ‘I’m gonna go home and raise my babies.’ The big surprise was never, ever thinking, you’re gonna get to be let back in,” Garth said.

“Because when you don’t know why they show up, you don’t know if they’ll show up again,” he said, adding that he was “scared to death” about returning to the industry after 14 years.

“Country is the best place to be. Because, one, you have the most loyal audience there could possibly be, and they will wait for you” he told Gayle.

Check out the full video below!

Garth and his wife Trisha Yearwood recently revealed the secret to their 15 year marriage.