INDIANAPOLIS -- Garth Brooks returned to Indianapolis to perform for the first time in 21 years with a high energy show in front of a packed Bankers Life Fieldhouse, celebrating records and also taking time to reflect on the tragedy in Las Vegas last weekend.
The singer and his wife, country music star Trisha Yearwood spoke earlier in the day about their first performance since the tragedy in Las Vegas at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival.
"It's been a hard week," said Brooks. "My sincerest hope is that these people come to laugh and smile and sing because I need it. I'm excited to get a chance to play music again and get music back in the front where it's supposed to be."
The singer and his crew all wore shirts that said "For Vegas" during their Thursday night performance.
It's good to have you back in Indy, @garthbrooks! #GarthInIndy pic.twitter.com/Qg41Hfnu1w
— Bankers Life Fldhs (@TheFieldhouse) October 6, 2017
Thursday night's performance was also record-setting for Garth Brooks, the country music star broke the record for most ticket sales during a tour with 6 million tickets sold during the three-year Garth Brooks World Tour.
#forvegas @GarthBrooks during Thursday's record-setting show, the first of five through Sunday, at @TheFieldhouse! #6Million pic.twitter.com/hWiR1W8wHY
— Kevin Messenger (@kmess65) October 6, 2017
Brooks acknowledged the accomplishment ahead of Thursday night's performance, choking up as he talked about their desire to celebrate while also being respectful and aware of the atmosphere following the Las Vegas shooting.
"Balancing a celebration that this band and crew have worked for really hard, put in a lot of miles, been away from their family a long time - balancing that with trying to be tasteful classy and respectful to what's going on right now in our industry will be the line we walk," Brooks said. "I just pray to God when we get out of here on Sunday that you look back and hopefully walked it in a way that all of you thought was a class way."
Brooks and Yearwood will perform four more concerts at Bankers Life Fieldhouse through Sunday.
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