Garth Brooks recently attended a big event in Washington, D.C. The country star’s attire drew widespread criticism on social media. Keep reading for more details about the shocking incident.
Garth Brooks Performs At 2025 Kennedy Center Honors
Garth Brooks was a beloved country star in the 1990s. His image and reputation took a major hit in 2024 when a former hairdresser filed a lawsuit, alleging se*ual harassment. Despite the ongoing legal battle, the “Friends in Low Places” singer was on hand in Washington, D.C., in December for the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors.
But he wasn’t there as an honoree. The country singer already received Kennedy Center Honors recognition in 2020, which was held in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. He attended the 2025 event to welcome rock band Kiss into the class. The other entertainers inducted this year were country music legend George Strait, Broadway star Michael Crawford, “I Will Survive” singer Gloria Gaynor, and actor Sylvester Stallone.
Country Star’s Attire Causes Firestorm On Social Media
Garth Brooks took the stage to honor Kiss by performing the band’s hit song “Shout It Out Loud.” The energetic performance was drowned out on social media by criticism of Garth Brooks’ attire. The country star rocked a formal suit and tie with his traditional cowboy hat. But what set social media ablaze was the rainbow-colored tie he wore under the suit.
Some social media users erupted with anger that the singer seemed to be making a statement in support of the LGBTQ+ community. Viewers watching the December 23rd telecast of the Kennedy Center Honors took to social media to blast Garth Brooks for his attire.
Garth Brooks offended thousands with his ‘Rainbow’ sash at the Kennedy Awards. I don’t know what’s worse his butchering of a KISS song or his rainbow sash. pic.twitter.com/IDONA5jWn4
— Ms. Smith (@MsSmith17743658) January 1, 2026
- “Garth Brooks is a sell out! It’s an honor show and he has to wear his rainbow thingy. So Garth, nobody heard your message because we were focused on your thingy. Way to pay tribute. LOSER”
- “Garth Brooks now entering his Rainbow Sash Stage…
“Garth Brooks showing his woke liberal self tonight had that stupid rainbow sash around his neck at the Kennedy Center honors awards show. - “I watched the Kennedy awards last night honoring Sylvester Stallone, Michael Crawford and Gloria Gaynor. It was so entertaining and uplifting free of political BS. Garth Brooks felt it necessary to wear a rainbow necklace and actually looked silly wearing it”
The Outage Was Uncalled For
However, viewers mistakenly confused the rainbow-colored sash Garth Brooks received at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2020 for a rainbow tie. President Trump changed the design and the honorees no longer receive rainbow-colored sashes. According to theexpress.com, the new navy-colored blue ribbons with a gold disc was created by Tiffany & Co.
@desertstorm92
Garth Brooks has never shared his thoughts on President Trump. In fact, the singer has never really publicly addressed his political leanings, though he sang about freedom on his 1992 hit, “We Shall Be Free.”
The President recently came under fire from both sides of the aisle for his comments following film director Rob Reiner’s shocking murder. The “Standing Outside the Fire” singer and his wife, Trisha Yearwood, are among the country singers who keep their political beliefs to themselves.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger