Twenty-seven years ago, Garth Brooks dominated the 26th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards with a record of six trophies, including Entertainer of the Year and Best Single, Video, Song, Album and Male Vocalist. Brooks shares this one-night 1991 ACM Awards record with Faith Hill and Chris Stapleton, brought home six trophies in 1999 and 2016, respectively.

Photo credits: (missoulian.com)

The Glittering Night That Was for Brooks

Brooks broke the record of five trophies won by Mickey Gilley in 1977 and Freddie Hart in 1972. At the 1991 ACM Awards, Brooks led the field with seven nominations but could only win six trophies. He won trophies for Top Male Vocalist of the Year, both Song of the Year and Country Music Video of the Year for The Dance, Album of the Year for No Fences, Single Record of the Year for Friends in Low Places, which also earned him a Song of the Year affirmation. Of course, he also brought home the bacon for the night’s highest honor, Entertainer of the Year. Clint Black, Kathy Mattea and George Strait were hosts of the two-hour show at the Universal Amphitheatre, in Los Angeles, California.

President Bush, who considers an Oak Ridge Boys cassette tape as one of his favorite musical indulgences, appeared on video to announce Reba McEntire’s “Salute to America” segment. Reba also sang “God Bless America”. Led by Brooks, the audience stood with honor and pride to its feet and sang along. When he received his Top Male Vocalist of the Year Award, he admitted he acknowledged his embarrassment for defeating his hero, George Strait. He said,

“I’m very happy but I’m a little embarrassed. I just want Mr. Strait to know he’s always my male vocalist.”

Accepting the Entertainer of The Year Award, his famous line was,

“I am having a ball. God bless you all.”

Other Successes

In 1989, Brooks was also nominated for three ACM Awards including Song of the year, Single Record of the Year for “If Tomorrow Never Comes”, and Top New Male Vocalist, which he lost to Clint Black. To date, Brooks has a total of forty-nine times nominations, winning twenty-three in the Academy of Country Music Awards. Brooks’ self-titled debut album was released in April of 1989. It set off an extraordinary string of successes for Brooks. In his first two albums, six number one singles were included. These records have sold a combined 27 million copies. No Fences, for one spent an astounding 23 weeks at the top of the country charts. In addition, it landed at third on the pop chart. 1991 was a big awards year for Brooks, also for having won four CMA Awards, including Entertainer of the Year, that October.