Editing Garth Brooks (section)

===1989–1990: Breakthrough success===
Garth Brooks' [[Garth Brooks (album)|eponymous first album]] was released in 1989 and was a chart success. It peaked at No. 2 on the [[Billboard charts|''Billboard'' Top Country Albums]] chart, and reached No. 13 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart. Most of the album was traditionalist country, influenced in part by George Strait.<ref name="pond"/> The first single, "[[Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)]]", was a country top 10 success. It was followed by Brooks' first number-one single on the [[Hot Country Songs]] chart, "[[If Tomorrow Never Comes]]". "[[Not Counting You]]" reached No. 2, and "[[The Dance (Garth Brooks song)|The Dance]]" reached No. 1; its music video, directed by [[John Lloyd Miller]], gave Brooks his first push towards a broader audience. Brooks has later claimed that out of all the songs he has recorded, "The Dance" remains his favorite.<ref name="pond"/> In 1989, Brooks embarked on his first major concert tour, as opening act for [[Kenny Rogers]].

Brooks' second album, ''[[No Fences]]'', was released in 1990 and spent 23 weeks at No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' Top Country Albums chart.<ref name="erlewine">{{cite web | last = Erlewine | first = Stephen Thomas| title = Garth Brooks | website = Allmusic | url ={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=garth brooks|bio=true}} | access-date = April 23, 2007}}</ref> The album also reached No. 3 on the ''Billboard'' 200, and eventually became Brooks' highest-selling album, with domestic shipments of 17&nbsp;million.<ref name="riaa">{{cite web | title = Gold and Platinum | publisher = [[RIAA]] | url =https://www.riaa.com/gp/database | access-date = April 23, 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040114052546/http://www.riaa.com/gp/database/ |archive-date=January 14, 2004 }}</ref> It contained what would become Brooks' [[List of signature songs|signature song]], the [[Blue-collar worker|blue collar]] anthem "[[Friends in Low Places]]", as well as other popular singles, "[[The Thunder Rolls]]" and "[[Unanswered Prayers]]".

Each of these songs, as well as "[[Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House]]", reached No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart.<ref name="pond"/><ref name="erlewine"/>
While Brooks' musical style placed him squarely within the boundaries of country music, he was strongly influenced by the 1970s singer-songwriter movement, especially the works of [[James Taylor]], whom he idolized and named his first child after, as well as [[Dan Fogelberg]].<ref name="hurst">{{citation | last = Hurst | first = Jack | title = Garth Brooks Credits His Wife for Punching Up His Sagging Career | newspaper = Chicago Tribune | date = April 26, 1989 | url = http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=00248 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150402142245/http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=00248 | url-status=dead | archive-date = April 2, 2015 | access-date = April 23, 2007 }}. Archived from [http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=00248 the original] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621045746/http://www.planetgarth.com/news/article.php?cid=00248 |date=June 21, 2012 }} on March 21, 2017.</ref><ref name="whitemojo">{{cite web | last = White | first = Timothy | title = James Taylor: Immense Singer, Considerable Cranium | publisher = MOJO |date=September 1997 | url =http://www.james-taylor.com/text/mojo9-97.shtml | access-date = April 23, 2007}}</ref> Similarly, Brooks was influenced by the 1970s-era rock of [[Billy Joel]] and [[Bruce Springsteen]] and the operatic rock of [[Queen (band)|Queen]] with [[Freddie Mercury]].

In his live shows, Brooks used a wireless headset microphone to free himself to run about the stage, adding energy and [[arena rock]] theatrics to spice up the normally staid country music approach to concerts. The band [[Kiss (band)|KISS]] was also one of Brooks' early musical influences, and his shows often reflect this. Despite all the cited influences, Brooks stated the energetic style of his stage persona is directly inspired by [[Chris LeDoux]].<ref name="pareles">{{citation | last = Pareles | first = Jon |title = Review/County; Garth Brooks, Genial Superstar, Plays for the Folks Up North | newspaper = The New York Times | date = September 7, 1992 | url =https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE6DA133DF934A3575AC0A964958260 | access-date = April 23, 2007}}</ref>

In late 1990, Brooks was [[List of Grand Ole Opry members|inducted]] into the [[Grand Ole Opry]].<ref>{{cite web| title = Garth Brooks| url = http://www.opry.com/artists/b/Brooks_Garth.html| website = Opry.com| access-date = June 29, 2012| archive-date = May 24, 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120524213538/http://www.opry.com/artists/b/Brooks_Garth.html| url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Opry Member List PDF |url=http://www.opry.com/img/Opry%20Members%20List.pdf |date=April 23, 2012 |access-date=June 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607030858/http://www.opry.com/img/Opry%20Members%20List.pdf |archive-date=June 7, 2012 }}</ref>