If you thought Garth Brooks was doing well at this week’s opening, thank the Lady Gaga hair and makeup team.
The country music legend, who performed an exciting cappella version of “Amazing Grace” at Wednesday’s ceremony, contacted Gaga on Twitter later that night to thank his longtime makeup artist, Sarah Tanno, and the hairdresser Frederic Aspiras, for apparently helping him primp for the event.
“You were fabulous today and every day. A national treasure,” Brooks tweeted to Gaga, who sang an exciting version of “The Spar-Spangled Banner” at the event.
“Please tell Frederick and Miss Sarah thanks for me! They saved a cowboy today. Oh, and tell Miss Sarah to hug her mom for me! Love, g,” he added.
Brooks gave an elegantly casual note at the formal oath ceremony. He left the Capitol building wearing a black cowboy hat, a black blazer, a black shirt, dark jeans and cowboy boots. Before singing, he respectfully took off his hat.
Although Brooks’ touching performance on the gospel standard was widely praised, he was later investigated for hugging President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris without wearing a face mask.
Brooks also embraced former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton and former first ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton.
While some fans turned to social media to say they enjoyed seeing the affectionate side of the Country Music Hall of Famer, others were concerned about him disobeying social distance guidelines. (A Brooks representative said TODAY on Wednesday that the “Friends in Low Places” singer tested negative for COVID-19 three consecutive days, including Wednesday morning.)
Brooks’ last-minute addition to the inaugural schedule was announced on Monday. He told reporters at an online press conference at the time: “This is not a political statement. This is a statement of unity.”
“This is more or less how I can serve this country,” he added.
Although Brooks identifies himself as a Republican, he has performed at all inauguration ceremonies since Jimmy Carter, except for the Donald Trump and Ronald Reagan ceremonies.
