Garth Brooks is all smiles as he announces his new one-man show at the Wynn in Las Vegas, Nev. during a press conference on October 15, 2009. Photo courtesy of garthbrooks.com.

This morning at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Garth Brooks announced the end of his self-imposed retirement. In October 2000, he said he was retiring until the youngest of his three daughters had graduated from high school.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean fans will be getting a new album this year. At the Opry House, Garth said, “If we ever do tour again, if we ever put out new music again, it’s going to be another five years,” he said, reminding the audience that his youngest daughter, Allie, is only 13.

Garth revealed more of his future plans this afternoon at a press conference at the Wynn in Las Vegas. Owner Steve Wynn announced that Garth would do a series of special engagements at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas, beginning December 11, 2009. Tickets go on sale October 24 at 8 a.m. sharp PT (9 a.m. MT, 10 a.m. CT and 11 a.m. ET) and are $125, plus a $5 service charge and a $13 tax to equal a total of $143. There is assigned seating but it’s all first-come, first-serve.

“Steve Wynn has done what I thought was impossible,” Garth said in a press release.  ”He has given me a chance to sing again for the people, while at the same time never missing a day with my children. I am naturally nervous, but it feels good to be out from under the low ceiling of ‘retirement’ I put on myself.”

So how did Garth’s family react to the news?

Trisha Yearwood at the Garth Brooks press conference on October 15, 2009, as he announces his new one-man show at the Wynn in Las Vegas, Nev. Photo courtesy of garthbrooks.com.

“When I said, ‘I’m going back to work, the kids immediately said, ‘Thank God!’” Garth said at the Vegas press conference, which included members of the media and his wife, Trisha Yearwood, in the audience.

Garth told the media the show will be unlike his arena concerts.  ”I’m gonna take you through how I got my sound,” he explained.

Garth’s show will be only him with his guitar (except for the occasional special guests he’ll have, which will include Trisha). Much of what he’ll sing includes songs that influenced him — everyone from Merle Haggard to Elton John to George Strait. “It’s a one-man show, so there’s gonna be a lot of disappointment after that first weekend,” he joked.

A big reason Garth is playing this particular theater is the incredible acoustics. “This building … you know, I told [Wynn] this the day I played it. ‘I’m always in buildings that are built for sports. I love sports and I feel lucky to have arenas and stadiums. But I’ve never played in a place built for sound like this. When I hear myself, I go, ‘Who the hell is that?!’” he said.

During the press conference, Garth demonstrated the perfect marriage of the acoustics of the state-of-the-art theater and his voice by singing a portion of the Merle Haggard classic, “Mama Tried.”

“Your voice never gets worn out, never gets blown out, at this pace,” he said of the voice-and-guitar format. He added that the length of each show would depend on the crowd’s reaction.

Confirmed Concert Dates:
December                    11, 12, 13
January                        1, 2, 3 and 22, 23, 24
February                      12, 13, 14 and 26, 27, 28

Concert times:
Friday               8 p.m.
Saturday          8 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.
Sunday             8 p.m.

Tickets may be booked by calling 702.770.7469 or online at www.wynnlasvegas.com/boxoffice. Tickets are not available for purchase in-person at the Wynn Las Vegas box office on October 24. For more information, please visit wynnlasvegas.com and/or garthbrooks.com.

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