Brooks Focused On Live Show, Box Set – Mum On 2014

Brooks released a new eight-disc box set Thursday, and will broadcast his Las Vegas show live on CBS on Friday night. Both are an examination of the Oklahoma singer’s musical roots with covers of songs that have influenced him.

Brooks was in Los Angeles on Tuesday to talk about both projects, and admitted he was worried about giving fans a little too much Garth.

The 51-year-old said he and wife Trisha Yearwood and his children will push Thanksgiving to Saturday “which means I might have an ice cube (on Thursday),” he said, chuckling. “Dude, when you’re 260 (pounds) you’re always watching your weight and, for some reason, you think you’re going to make a difference the day before by not eating.”

The two-hour “Garth Brooks, Live from Las Vegas” will emulate the mostly solo show Brooks played during a three-year run at the Wynn Las Vegas.

The new box set will reflect that show. Titled Blame It All On My Roots, the box contains four new studio albums featuring Brooks’ cover versions of recordings that shaped him as an artist – revealing an array of influences including George Jones, Gladys Knight and the Pips and Bob Seger.

The box also includes a rerelease of the 2007 two-disc compilation The Ultimate Hits with a bonus track called “Leave a Light On” and a DVD with a two-hour presentation of the one-man concert. The eighth disc includes Brooks’ music videos.

It’s priced at just $24.96, and can only be bought at Wal-Mart, its sister retailer Sam’s Club and walmart.com. Brooks says his feelings about iTunes haven’t changed, so he won’t make the set available as a download or stream.

“So, until they change or I change,” Brooks said, “or some other company comes and gives them some competition, then I don’t think you’re ever going to see us on iTunes.”

Brooks said he isn’t ready to talk the future beyond Friday yet.

The youngest of the three daughters of the superstar and his ex-wife, songwriter Sandy Mahl, is set to graduate high school next spring and then get ready for college. Brooks mostly retired in 2001 near the height of his popularity to be with his daughters.

“It says that Sandy, Trisha and myself did what we promised each other we would do,” Brooks said, by putting the children first.

Soon it will be their turn, but Brooks spoke in generalities about what he and Yearwood will be doing with their free time.

“Me and Miss Yearwood are free to do whatever it is we want to do,” Brooks said. “And I’ve got to tell you: Anything I do with that woman, I’m fine with. Any place that I am with that woman is home to me. But if I have my wishes, it’s going to be filled with music, and it’s going to be filled with music at a level I’ve never seen before.”