EXCLUSIVE: Garth Brooks' Comeback Crisis — As He Gets Set to Hit the Road Without Wife Amid Rape and Sexual Assault Scandal
Garth Brooks faces comeback crisis amid rape and sexual assault scandal as tour looms without wife.
April 1 2026, Published 8:00 a.m. ET
Garth Brooks is hit-tin' the road again. "New Year, New Music, New Tour???" the Friends in Low Places singer recently teased on Instagram, RadarOnline.com can reveal. But sources warned things have already gotten off to a rocky start.
"He's nervous as hell about leaving Trisha [Yearwood], his wife, behind, and he's still worried about the legal problems he's facing," said a source.
Lawsuits Loom Over Brooks’ Comeback
Amid teasing a possible new tour on Instagram, Garth Brooks is facing ongoing federal lawsuits in Mississippi and California that he has denied.
Federal lawsuits in Mississippi and California over allegations Brooks, 64, raped and sexually assaulted a former employee are still playing out in court.
Brooks has denied the claims and sued his accuser for extortion and defamation.
"The ordeal has shaken him up," said the source. "Will he get his mojo back once he's up onstage? People assume that because he's been doing this for so long, he doesn't get nervous before going onstage, but that's simply not true."
Sad To Leave His Anchor
Trisha Yearwood is said to be a stabilizing presence for Brooks as he prepares to tour while struggling with nerves and time apart from his wife.
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As for leaving Yearwood, 61, behind, "he just hates to be away from her."
The source added: "She's his anchor. Ideally, he'd love her to be on the road with him as much as possible. Friends say that may be the only way he can get through this – because he's really struggling."
