Garth Brooks wept during his live holiday special on Sunday while performing a rare full version of Belleau Wood based on the 1914 Christmas truce of World War I.
The 58-year-old country music legend paused mid-song to recollect himself and wiped away tears at the end during the Garth & Trisha Live! A Holiday Concert Event on CBS.
Garth and Trisha, 56, performed holiday songs requested from fans online and Allen from Pennsylvania was among the many who requested Belleau Wood co-written by Joe Henry and Garth for the singer’s 1997 album Sevens.
Christmas truce: Garth Brooks wept during his live holiday special on Sunday while performing a rare full version of Belleau Wood based on the 1914 Christmas truce of World War I
Belleau Wood tells the story of the 1914 Christmas truce ceasefires along the Western Front during World War I among British, French and German soldiers.
‘Good luck, buddy,’ said Trisha who admitted she never cries, but the song makes her weep.
Garth said he’s always done an abbreviated version of the song when it’s been requested during live shows and rhetorically asked if he could play the whole song.
‘I love this whole story,’ Garth said as he began strumming his guitar.
Getting emotional: The 58-year-old country music legend paused mid-song to recollect himself and wiped away tears at the end during the Garth & Trisha Live! A Holiday Concert Event on CBS
The two-time Grammy Award winner closed his eyes as he sang about World War I soldiers putting down their weapons and coming together on Christmas to sing Silent Night.
Garth stopped playing as he was overcome with emotion and said, ‘I’m gonna get this’ before he resumed playing and singing.
His voice broke and his eyes got moist at the end of the song as he sang about the soldiers eventually resuming their fighting, ‘But for just one fleeting moment, The answer seemed so clear, Heaven’s not beyond the clouds, It’s just beyond the fear. No, heaven’s not beyond the clouds, It’s for us to find it here.’
War ceasefires: Belleau Wood tells the story of the 1914 Christmas truce ceasefires along the Western Front during World War I among British, French and German soldiers and this photo shows soldiers playing in the No-Man’s Land
‘Almost made it, so sorry,’ Garth said at the end wiping away tears as Trisha also dried her eyes.
Garth joked about his brother Mike who cries during commercials and how he emailed him back, ‘You’ve got to get that crying thing under control’.
Trisha said the song was ‘so beautiful’ and said it was like a movie with its strong visuals.
Holiday peace: German and British troops are shown celebrating Christmas together in 1914 during a temporary break in hostilities during World War I
Garth and Trish performed live from their home Studio G and were helped by assistants Sam who was also celebrating her birthday and Hashtag in an elf suit.
They opened with a duet of What I’m Thankful For and Garth afterward said the greatest gift this year was ‘gratitude’.
Trisha said she was grateful for her husband’s eternal optimism during these challenging times and he then performed Little Drummer Boy.
Live requests: The live show featured Garth and Trisha Yearwood taking on requests for Christmas songs made online
Home studio: Garth and Trisha performed live from their home Studio G
Garth and Trisha then teamed up for a sweet rendition of Silent Night.
Trisha fulfilled a request from Scott in Colorado and sang her version of Santa Baby with Garth accompanying her on guitar.
Garth after performing Belleau Wood got a request from Utah for his version of Mary Had A Little Lamb from his 2001 Christmas album.
Her version: Trisha fulfilled a request from Scott in Colorado and sang her version of Santa Baby with Garth accompanying her on guitar
Viewers also were treated to lighter moments including Trisha and Garth singing Ugly Christmas Sweater from their 2016 Christmas duets album and Garth rocking out to Frosty The Snowman.
Three-time Grammy winner Trisha showed off her range while singing O’ Holy Night, Hard Candy Christmas by Dolly Parton and again during a duet with Garth of the Lady Gaga song Shallow.
The couple also moved into the kitchen where Trisha pulled out some fresh-baked cookies.
Helping out: Samantha who was celebrating her birthday helped out Garth and Trisha
Elf outfit: Hashtag also assisted Garth and Trisha with the online requests
Garth performed Feliz Navidad along with Trisha before biting into a cookie.
He closed out the show with a cover of Same Old Lang Syne by the late Dan Fogelberg before they teamed up for another round of Feliz Navidad.
Garth released his 14th studio album Fun in November after its release was delayed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Special concert: Garth closed out the show with a cover of Same Old Lang Syne by the late Dan Fogelberg before they teamed up for another round of Feliz Navidad