USA TODAY International Edition
MAKING WAVES GARTH BROOKS
The singer won’t compete for “Entertainer of the Year” at the Country Music Association Awards. Brooks, a seven- times recipient of the top country music honor, said Wednesday that “it’s time for somebody else to hold that award.” He last won CMA “Entertainer of the Year” in 2019, when some in country music fandom argued passionately for Carrie Underwood or Eric Church to earn the annual trophy. Brooks said in a virtual news conference Wednesday that a tweet “really stuck” in his mind: “It said, ‘ Hey, man. This guy, why doesn’t he just step down ( and leave) the entertainer for the next generation?’ 100% agree.”