Garth Brooks brought back Chris Gaines for a recent performance… sort of. Who could forget Garth’s punk/emo rock alter ego that he brought to life in the 1990s? Brooks probably wishes that everyone would leave it behind (he’s done a pretty good job of scrubbing the internet of any footage), but then he goes and plays some rock music at the 48th Annual Kennedy Center Honors ceremony and it all comes rushing back. In case you missed it, the Kennedy Centers Honors event aired last night on CBS, and the King of Country Music – George Strait – was there to be recognized alongside other cultural icons like the rock band KISS, movie star Sylvester Stallone, Broadway actor Michael Crawford, and disco legend Gloria Gaynor. It was a real who’s who. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. is the site for the annual Kennedy Center Honors event that inducts a new group of artists and entertainers each year. The living memorial to President John F. Kennedy (that recently tacked on Donald Trump’s name to the building as well) hosts the event that has honored many notable country acts over the years, including the likes of Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, George Jones and many others. This year, the country music representation at the awards ceremony was the one and only George Strait. You probably saw the viral moment that he and President Trump shared in the Oval Office ahead of the ceremony. That turned into its own sort of spectacle, but what many people were looking forward to was the actual honoring of the notable figures that took place at the Kennedy Center later on. When distinguished individuals are honored at the event, it usually includes performances and kind words shared by others in the same field. Vince Gill was there to praise Strait for his contributions to country music, and he later performed “Troubadour” to honor the King of Country. Brooks & Dunn were also there and cued up “Amarillo By Morning” to pay tribute to their friend, and Miranda Lambert even added in a performance of “Run” that was dedicated to George Strait. Garth Brooks was in attendance too, and he sang… a rock song. Now, to be clear, Garth wasn’t actually there for George Strait. He was actually at the Kennedy Center in support of KISS. That’s why he tapped into his Chris Gaines background with a performance of “Shout It Out Loud” – a classic rock hit by the legendary rock and roll band. As you might imagine, the crowd that was there was a tad perplexed by country music star Garth Brooks singing to honor KISS rather than George Strait. Brooks even addressed the moment while he was on stage, saying: “I see some faces of confusion. No, we are in the right segment of the show, people.” Garth did his best to bridge the two genres of country and rock together, saying that all musicians are bonded by one thing: playing fearlessly in front of a crowd. That’s when he busted out into “Shout It Out Loud,” and it was as close as we’ll get to Chris Gaines in 2025. Check it out: @desertstorm92 #kiss #kissrockband #kennedycenter #fy #fypage ♬ original sound – DesertStorm It’s good to know that Garth Brooks still has that “Chris Gaines Dog” in him, as the kids say nowadays. And for those that might be confused by the country star honoring the rock group, they have actually crossed paths before in the past. In 1994, Garth took the stage with KISS and performed a song with the group on The Tonight Show. “Hard Luck Woman” – KISS & Garth Brooks (1994) The post Garth Brooks Tapped Back Into His Chris Gaines Persona To Pay Tribute To KISS At The Kennedy Center Honors Ceremony first appeared on Whiskey Riff.