Thousands Join the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development To Celebrate Garth Brooks’ Record-Setting Seven Diamond Album Awards. Fans from around the country experience state-wide celebration in Nashville A capacity crowd filled Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheatre Monday joining Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and a host of friends to celebrate Garth Brooks becoming the first recording artist in history to earn Seven Diamond Album Certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The evening kicked off with Gov. Haslam welcoming fans and presenting Brooks with a commemorative belt manufactured by Lynnville-based Col. Littleton and sterling silver & gold buckle designed by Gist Silversmiths with seven diamonds to highlight each of the awarded albums. Celebrity guests Reba McEntire, Jason Aldean, Kelly Clarkson, Chris Young, Steve Wariner, and wife Trisha Yearwood took the stage to congratulate Brooks as well as sing their favorite song from one of his Diamond Certified albums, Garth Brooks, No Fences, Ropin’ The Wind, The Hits, Double-Live, Sevens, and The Ultimate Hits. Brooks followed with a seven song set, one song from each of his Diamond-certified records, all of which were recorded in Tennessee. In a surprise gesture, Tennessee whiskey brand Jack Daniel’s presented a full barrel of their Old Number 7 Whiskey to Brooks. The celebration culminated with RIAA Gold & Platinum Program and Communications Director, Liz Kennedy Holman, presenting Brooks with his record-setting seventh Diamond Award, for The Ultimate Hits, followed by a firework display over the heart of Nashville. “I can’t thank the state of Tennessee enough for taking me in as if I was one of their own and allowing me to chase a dream and make music. I hope this state is as wonderful of a home for all of you as it is to me. I could not be more proud to bring the seven Diamond Certification home to country music,” Brooks stated. In addition to the special celebration at Ascend, the city turned downtown Nashville’s 7th Avenue into ‘Garth Brooks Way’ for the day to celebrate the themed achievement of seven RIAA Diamond Album Certifications. Thousands filled Nashville’s Riverfront Park to enjoy the celebration on giant video screens powered by Amazon Music, a Budweiser beer garden, and local food trucks. Participating bars on Nashville’s famous Broadway saluted Garth with free Budweiser and ticket giveaways to lucky fans on the day of the event. “In Tennessee, we make things – from guitars to cars to whiskey to M&Ms. One of the things we make more of and better than anyone else is music, and as tonight shows, one of the people that does that better than anyone else is Garth Brooks. Garth can make his music anywhere he wants, and the fact that he has chosen to do that in Tennessee over all these years says a lot about our state. We congratulate him on this achievement and are grateful he represents our state and inspires people from all over the world to visit Tennessee and experience, as we say, the soundtrack of America,” said Governor Bill Haslam. Fans gained access to the free Continue reading Garth Brooks’ Record-Setting Seven Diamond Album Awards Celebration→