Garth Brooks Sues Hometown Hospital for a Song

Since his first album released in 1989 went to number 2 on the country music charts, the name Garth Brooks has appeared in lights as well as headlines. The latest scuttlebutt is that Brooks is involved in a legal battle with Integris Canadian Valley Regional Hospital in his hometown of Yukon. Canadian County, Oklahoma is also the home of actor Dale Robertson.

Cnn.com reports that the entertainer donated $500,000 to the hospital several years ago with the understanding that the funds would go towards construction of a new building in honor of his late mother, Colleen. Brooks says that the Yukon hospital didn't come through and he wants his money back.

Brooks' smile beneath his trademark cowboy hat quickly spanned the crossover from country music to pop, where he continued to dazzle fans across both genres before announcing his retirement in 2000 in order to spend more time with his family. Garth, who has three teenage daughters with ex-wife Sandy, tied the knot with fellow country music star Trisha Yearwood in 2005.

Apparently not accustomed to sitting on the sidelines, Garth Brooks announced in October of this year that he was coming out of retirement and would be performing weekend shows in Las Vegas, the first of which was held December 11. Garth has committed to 15 weekends a year in Vegas, but will modify his schedule as he feels necessary to fulfill family obligations.

As for the latest headlines regarding litigation for breach of contract, Integris hospital spokesmen declined to comment specifically on the pending lawsuit, but do say that they believe the matter to be a simple misunderstanding and told CNN that they are "optimistic that it will come to a swift and amicable end."

The town of Yukon's water tank is emblazoned with "Hometown of Garth Brooks" and they've also dedicated State Hwy 92 as "Garth Brooks Blvd" in honor of the hometown boy. Brooks isn't happy that the commemoration for his mother, who succumbed to cancer in 1999, hasn't come to fruition at the regional hospital. While declining further comment, a spokesman said, "He is heartbroken".

Is Garth Brooks burning bridges in Yukon, Oklahoma? The thunder rolls.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/15/garth.brooks.sues.hospital/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/10/15/garth.brooks.retirement/index.html