Garth's Still Got It -- And Proves It to the Fans

Garth Brooks lived up to his fans' most ardent expectations from the moment he took the stage Thursday (Dec. 16) evening at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena for the first of two shows.

He didn't swing from a rope or smash his guitar, but, otherwise, Garth 2010 was pretty much like Garth 1990 -- bursting with energy, effusive in his praise of the audience and in complete control of the situation.

It is a measure of his appeal that the crowd stood and cheered throughout the entire show. (The last time this writer witnessed the same level of enthusiasm was when Michael Jackson played the University of Tennessee stadium in Knoxville in 1984.)

"Oh, I have missed you guys so much," Brooks gushed three songs into his set as rapturous cheers grew into a sustained roar. Although there were security guards on duty, they kept a low profile while fans pushed up against the edge of the shoulder-high stage. To accommodate ticket demands, seats were sold on all sides of the arena, even in back of the stage. (CLICK FOR MORE)