Throwback Thursday- Garth Brooks Wins Single of the Year

I’ll never forget the Sunday I was sitting in church with my family when the pastor started reciting lyrics from Garth Brook’s song, “Friends in Low Places.” And let me tell you- pastor Alford wasn’t reciting the lyrics because he liked the song. He was using it as an example for the congregation about how we should strive to have friends in high places, rather than low.

When I realized Pastor Alford wasn’t in love with the song, and was actually using it as a “how not to live your life” lesson, I looked at my grandma with shock on my face. She gave me a glance that said, “not here and not now.” You see, my grandma and uncle used to dance around the house singing to “Friends in Low Places” and laughed while they did. My 11-year-old self couldn’t believe what heathen they were- I mean Pastor Alford all but said so!

It’s funny to look back on that moment and how shocked I was because my grandpa was a former pastor, which made my grandma the wife of a former pastor, which meant she was under scrutiny all the time and if she thought Garth’s song was fun, then I couldn’t argue with her (how could I when I love the song, too?).

Believe it or not, it was this week in 1991 that Garth Brooks won Single of the Year for "Friends in Low Places" at the ACM Awards.