Garth Brooks launching world tour in 2014

Singer Garth Brooks is set to embark on his first world tour in 12 years in 2014. The Red Solo Cup hitmaker made the surprise announcement on U.S. breakfast show Good Morning America on Monday (09Dec13), telling host Robin Roberts he will hit the road with his original band next year (14).
He says, “We’re going on a world tour in 2014, it begins… It sure feels good to be able to throw your hat back in the ring.”
Brooks retired from touring and recording music in 2001 to focus on raising his three daughters with wife Trisha Yearwood.
However, he released several recordings through the years and performed at charity concerts and a Las Vegas residency from 2009 to 2013, but did not tour overseas.
Now, the country superstar feels the time is right because all his children are older.
He continues, “Our baby is a senior in high school and we’ve talked about it and all my babies are fine with it and Ms. Yearwood is fine with it and so now I get to do what I love to do, which is play music, and I get to be with the person I want to be with, which is Ms. Yearwood. My children are off on their own, so the guilt of not being there (is gone)…
“If you have babies, there’s nothing better. No offence to music, no offence to nothing else (sic) on this planet. There’s nothing better than being a dad. My time off for them was for me, not for them.”
In addition to his world tour, Brooks will return to the Encore Theatre in Las Vegas to perform four shows in January (14).