Garth Brooks was presented with the 2020 Billboard Icon Award at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards.
On Wednesday (Oct. 14) evening, the country superstar was given the prestigious award from pop sensation, CHER.
“Good evening everyone, especially you Trisha Yearwood,” Cher began. “It’s an honor for me to be here tonight to present the Billboard Icon Award to a true music legend and my friend Garth Brooks. The Icon Award was created a decade ago to honor those outstanding artists who have achieved excellence in the recording studio and on the concert stage. Their passion for music has made them legends in their own time and that perfectly describes Garth Brooks.”
Following the kind words from CHER, Brooks accepted his award.
“To Miss Cher, getting the award you got makes me feel cool, and cool is never a word I would use to describe me,” Brooks said. “If I had to thank one person, one entity, it would be God Almighty, for through Him all things are possible.”
Brooks also thanked his “three daughters” and “the love of my life” Trisha Yearwood saying “I will love you for all my time on this planet,” he gushed. “Country Radio, you gave me this! To all those people who fill those stands, thank you! Thank you for my life!”
“To all those people that fill those stands, thank you. Thank you for my life,” Brooks said as he exited the stage.
Brooks is a 19-time Billboard Music Award winner and is one of only nine artists to ever receive the high honor. Following Cher, Neil Diamond, Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey.
The 2020 Billboard Music Awards also featured performances from Luke Combs, Kane Brown, Garth Brooks, Post Malone, BTS, Demi Lovato, John Legend, Doja Cat, Sia and more. The Billboard Music Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions. Amy Thurlow, Mark Bracco, Barry Adelman, Linda Gierahn, Kelly Clarkson and Robert Deaton are executive producers.
Hosted by Kelly Clarkson, the star-studded event aired on Wednesday, October 14 (live 8:00-11:00 PM ET/delayed PT) on NBC.
The 2020 Billboard Music Awards were originally scheduled to take place in Las Vegas on Wednesday, April 29, but were forced to be postponed due to the ongoing pandemic.
