Country Music Hall of Famer Garth Brooks is all set to headline a record-breaking concert at Nissan Stadium, Nashville on Saturday night, welcoming a crowd of more than 70,000 people, according to US media reports.   

For Brooks, this is a homecoming as he performs just a few blocks away from his house, at one of the largest music events in Nashville since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted earlier this year. 

“I love this. I love sleeping in your own bed, [then] you get to come down, play the stadium,” Brooks told reporters on Friday, according to the Tennessean. 

“Why this is different form anywhere else is simply because those people in those seats, I know a lot of ’em are going to be people live next door to,” the 59-year-old added. 

“When people go, ‘Do the numbers matter?’ No they don’t,” Brooks said, noting the difference between playing to a stadium and arena audience. “It’s the connection that you make. But, I gotta be honest with ya. Seventy-thousand people singing ‘The River’ is cooler than 13,000 people singing ‘The River.'”

Talking about the coronavirus protocols, Brooks said the tour is going to follow state, local and venue COVID-19 guidelines. However, Nashville leaders have said there are no plans to mandate any COVID related rules, the responsibility lies with the citizens to do what health leaders recommend will slow the spread of the virus – getting vaccinated and wearing a mask around others.

Although the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention rolled out new guidelines recommending masks for even fully-vaccinated individuals in outdoors and most indoor settings, at Nissan Stadium, an outdoor facility, masks aren’t required for the event. 

But venue management encourages unvaccinated ticketholders to wear a face covering. Tour workers remain under a mask mandate until next January, Brooks said. 

However, Brooks encouraged people to not sit in the stands in fear and do what they feel is best for them. 

“If you see somebody in a mask don’t look odd at them. If you’re seeing somebody not wearing a mask don’t look odd at them,” Brooks said, according to WSMV-TV reports. “We’re all coming out of this at our own speed.”

“All you can do is all you can do,” Brooks said. “I”m vaccinated. I would suggest you be but until we make it the law, that’s your choice.”

Meanwhile, owing to the rapid spread of the highly contagious Delta variant COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the country. Cases rose 81% in Tennessee last week, per a Tennessean report; 39% of residents received full vaccination as of July 26.