Garth Brooks returns with box set, TV special
Garth Brooks isn’t ready to talk specifics about his impending comeback, but there should be more than enough music this week to sate the country superstar’s fans for a while.
Brooks is set to release a new eight-disc box set today, then will broadcast his Las Vegas show live on CBS on Friday night. Both are an examination of the Oklahoma singer’s musical roots with covers of songs that have influenced him.
Brooks was in Los Angeles on Tuesday to talk about both projects, and admitted he was worried about giving fans a little too much Garth.
The 51-year-old said he and wife Trisha Yearwood and his children will push Thanksgiving to Saturday, “which means I might have an ice cube (on Thursday),” he said, chuckling. “Dude, when you’re 260 (pounds) you’re always watching your weight and, for some reason, you think you’re going to make a difference the day before by not eating.”
The two-hour “Garth Brooks, Live from Las Vegas” will emulate the mostly solo show Brooks played during a three-year run at the Wynn Las Vegas. The new box set will reflect that show. Titled “Blame It All On My Roots,” the box contains four new studio albums featuring Brooks’ cover versions of recordings that shaped him as an artist – revealing an array of influences including George Jones, Gladys Knight and the Pips and Bob Seger.
Brooks said he isn’t ready to talk the future beyond Friday yet.
“Me and Miss Yearwood are free to do whatever it is we want to do,” Brooks said. “But if I have my wishes, it’s going to be filled with music, and it’s going to be filled with music at a level I’ve never seen before.”
Moore, Kutcher divorce finalized
Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher are officially divorced. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon finalized the couple’s split on Tuesday, roughly a year after Kutcher sought to end the couple’s marriage.
Moore and Kutcher were married in September 2005 and the actress announced they had separated in November 2011. The former couple have no children together.
Kutcher stars in “Two and a Half Men” and is currently dating his “That ’70s Show” co-star Mila Kunis. Moore starred in 2011’s “Margin Call” and appears in the upcoming film “Very Good Girls.” She was previously married to Bruce Willis, and the pair have three daughters.
The birthday bunch
Recording executive Berry Gordy Jr. is 84. Singer Randy Newman is 70. “Late Show” orchestra leader Paul Shaffer is 64. Actor Ed Harris is 63. Actress S. Epatha Merkerson is 61. Actor Judd Nelson is 54. Comedian Jon Stewart is 51. Hip-hop musician apl.de.ap (Black Eyed Peas) is 39. Rock singer-keyboardist Tyler Glenn (Neon Trees) is 30. R&B singer Trey Songz is 29.