HE’S JUST DAD TO ME
Singer Allie on growing up with Garth Brooks
HAPPY FAMILY
GARTH Brooks’ youngest daughter has opened up about their relationship insisting her country music superstar father is “just dad” to her.
Allie Colleen, 26, said she is carving out her own path in the country music scene as The Dance hitmaker prepares for his five outdoor concerts at Croke Park next month.
Nashville-based singer-songwriter Allie told RSVP magazine: “There’s two parts to it [my dad] and I care about them both equally.
“One is the artist that everybody knows and loves and that I know and love and am a fan of.
“That is not who I was raised by. I was raised by my dad. That is all he is. He’s a dad, he’s an amazing dad, and that’s what he is.
“He’s not a name, he’s not an advertisement, he’s not a coat-tail to ride on, he’s not any of those things, and I don’t care about any of those things.
“Secondly, I have been told my entire life that everything I have is because of who my parents are – and as much as that might be true for everyone on the planet, what they have is what their parents gave them – it’s always a different light for me. “I have worked my tail off and I am very talented. “I got to grow up and see my dad accomplish what he accomplished in his own right because he worked his tail off and because he’s talented, and I’m not going to receive any of my accolades any other way.”
The countdown to Croker is well and truly on as 60 year-old Garth finally gets to play the five gigs which fell foul of planning rules eight years ago.
The American star says getting to play Ireland is “like a dream” and his fifth gig on September 17 will mark his last ever stadium concert. ■ Read the full interview with Allie Colleen in the RSVP Garth Brooks special edition out on Tuesday.