Garth Brooks meets fans, sells albums at surprise visit to Springfield's Bass Pro flagship
As the throng of Garth Brooks fans began to thin Monday morning inside Bass Pro Shops, the country music star stuck around.
When Brooks wasn't taking photos with dozens of his admirers, he was shaking hands and sharing anecdotes following the promotion of his new limited edition Bass Pro-themed boxed album set "Time Traveler."
Some shed joyous tears after meeting the famed Oklahoman.
Hundreds crowded in the north end of Bass Pro's flagship store in Springfield as Brooks fielded questions from the audience and social media. It wasn't a concert, but it felt like one.
He was joined by Bass Pro founder and conservationist Johnny Morris, who also spoke in a press conference setting. The longtime friends fielded questions in a Facebook Live stream in the afternoon from Bass Pro headquarters.
Brooks helped christen Morris' Thunder Ridge Nature Arena at Big Cedar Lodge in 2022 by performing and selling out multiple shows at the 50,000-seat amphitheater. His manager, Randy Bedard, is also the manager of Morris' pro rodeo team, the Missouri Thunder.
Monday was a surprise gathering at Bass Pro for Brooks, who has family in southern Missouri. When word began to travel around the Ozarks on Sunday night that Brooks would be making an appearance, many people changed their plans to get a close glimpse of him free of charge.
Angel Wahba of Springfield made a concerted effort to meet one of her idols.
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Wahba said she parked her car at Bass Pro around 9 p.m. on Sunday, equipped with blankets and food, assuring her a front-of-the-crowd spot to see Brooks.
It worked. She met Brooks, took a photo with him, and proceeded to buy two of his new box CD sets in time for the holiday season.
"I wasn't about to miss the opportunity to meet the person whose music changed my life," Wahba said. "(Sleeping in my car) was 100% worth it. I crossed off a bucket list item today."
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Garth Brooks meets and greets fans at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield
