When Garth Brooks stepped on stage Friday night in Winnipeg, few in the crowd probably knew he had just lost a close friend and long-time band member.
Mike Chapman, who played bass on every single Brooks album, lost his battle with cancer earlier this week.
Brooks and his wife Trisha Yearwood were at his funeral Friday before flying to Winnipeg for the first of four concerts.
During a 30 minute press conference Saturday afternoon the country music icon admitted his first concert in Manitoba in 20 years, started in a bit of a cloud.
“I came out and was going to tell them the situation and ask them to lift. But holy cow, I came out of the hole, these people were ready,” an emotional Brooks said.
Brooks later told fans about the loss of Chapman about halfway through the show.
Yearwood said Winnipeg fans were so loud they’re considering using it for their live album.
“I was blown away,” Yearwood said.
But the couple are promising an even bigger, and if possible, louder Saturday night when they will play two concerts in one evening.
“It’s Saturday night tonight, trust me it’s going to be stupid,” Brooks said.