Twenty-four years ago, Garth Brooks pivoted at the height of his fame to do something … uh, let’s call it “unexpected.” Instead of forging ahead in his unbridled country music success, he decided to create new music under the name of a fictitious rockstar, the brooding, soul patch-sporting Australian named Chris Gaines.
If you’ve heard of Brooks’ Chris Gaines project, you likely recall it as a flop. If you’re less familiar with the album (and the movie that never happened), that’s because it’s generally deemed a flop and has been largely relegated to the joke pile, a strange blip within Brooks’ otherwise wildly successful career.
Two decades later, though, we’re taking a look back at the whole Chris Gaines thing — and, you know what, there’s actually quite a bit to love about it … er, him … er, Brooks’ experiment? Here are five reasons we (still) love Chris Gaines:
WATCH: What Ever Happened to That Chris Gaines Movie Anyway?