October 15, 2009 marked a turning point in country music history as Garth Brooks emerged from retirement to announce a residency at Encore Las Vegas, ending a near-decade-long hiatus from the touring spotlight.
Brooks, one of country music’s most celebrated figures, had stepped away from the spotlight in 2000, citing a desire to focus on his family following his divorce from Sandy Mahl. The two shared three daughters, and Brooks made a public promise to stay off the road until his youngest finished high school.
Yet when real estate magnate Steve Wynn, known for developing some of Las Vegas’s most iconic properties, approached Brooks with a unique offer, the superstar couldn’t say no. Wynn pitched a low-key show — just Garth and a guitar — in an intimate setting, and sweetened the deal by offering weekly private jet travel between Oklahoma and Nevada, allowing Brooks to maintain his commitment to his family life.
Brooks recounted the moment during the official announcement:
“Wynn said he thought people should hear this show — just me and a guitar. I told him he couldn’t afford me,” Brooks said with a grin. “I was wrong.”
The details of the deal have never been fully disclosed, but what followed was a four-year run of 186 acoustic performances that fans and critics alike praised for their rawness, vulnerability, and emotional power. It was a rare chance to see a megastar in such a stripped-down, personal format — a far cry from the pyrotechnics and arena energy of Brooks’ earlier tours.
Though Brooks had continued to dabble in music during his retirement — releasing albums and supporting charities — his Encore residency marked his true return to live performance.
Fifteen years later, that decision stands as a defining moment in his career — not just a comeback, but a reimagining of how a superstar can perform on their own terms.
