Award shows are almost guaranteed to spark heated debates among passionate fans. No matter the genre, viewers are quick to weigh in on whether a win was deserved or if their favorite artist was unfairly robbed.
Most of the time, artists graciously accept their awards, even if the win feels like a surprise (minus the 2009 Taylor Swift-Kanye West VMA debacle, of course). But in 1996, Garth Brooks, one of country music’s biggest stars at the time, broke that norm in a major way.
Back in late January of 1996, the country powerhouse of the decade, Garth Brooks, broke this pattern at the 23rd annual American Music Awards, which recognized music wins across genres throughout the previous year. Given his undeniable prominence at the time, Brooks won Favorite Artist of the Year.
Standing on stage at the Shrine Auditorium, with the glossy prism trophy in hand and a live ABC audience watching, Brooks started his acceptance speech with a quiet, reserved thank you, before dropping the bombshell that he refused to accept the award.
“So you’ll know right off the bat, um, I cannot agree with this. Music is made up of a lot of people, and if we’re one artist short, then we all become a lesser music, so without any disrespect to the American Music Awards and without any disrespect to any fans who voted, for all the people who should be honored with this award. I’m gonna leave it right here. Thank you very much.”
Following this absolute mic drop, Garth tipped his hat to the crowd and promptly left the podium and trophy behind. Cheers erupted throughout the crowd, showing an initial appreciative response to the bold gesture.
This award is not only one of the most significant prizes of the night but also a pretty diverse category given that the other nominees included groups like Boyz II Men, Hootie and the Blowfish, Green Day, and TLC (who ultimately ended up accepting the award following Brook’s refusal). While these nominations are based upon airplay, sales, and more recently streaming factors, the actual winners are decided by fan votes.
It was later revealed that Brooks, given his lack of participation in the previous year with no tours or new music, felt that the award was undeserved. Despite his absence, his fan base had clearly remained loyal, which was a testament to his lasting impact. Many praised the decision as humble and honorable, with fans and critics alike calling it a rare and commendable act of self-awareness in the industry.
In fact, the “Friends in Low Places” singer later spoke out and noted that his personal pick would have been Hootie & the Blowfish, led by Darius Rucker at the time. He told the media, “Maybe a year or two ago when we had a really good year. But I’ve been around talking to retailers…and every one of them credits Hootie for keeping them alive in 1995, and I couldn’t agree more. So I thought that’s who shoulda won.”
Despite turning down the biggest award of the night, Brooks didn’t go home empty-handed. He tied with the Eagles as the night’s top winner, taking home three awards, including Favorite Male Country Artist and Favorite Country Album for his 1994 greatest hits compilation, The Hits (which is another insane testament to just how massive he was in the ’90s).
Looking back, the moment remains one of the most respected in Brooks’ career. Even with the various controversies, streaming platform disputes, and public criticisms he’s faced over the years, that night in 1996 continues to stand out as a bold act of humility and integrity.
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