Garth Brooks Returns to Music, Preps for Vegas

You can't Honky without the Tonk.

Garth Brooks, one of the most successful musicians in history, has announced that he will be coming out of retirement. The man with "Friends in Low Places" plans to return to performing and songwriting and is expected to play a series of shows in Las Vegas.

"I know this is a young industry," Brooks said to Nasville press today, "so I'm not sure I'll be welcomed back but, if the fans want me, I still want to pursue my music."

With over 113 million albums sold worldwide, Brooks is the best-selling American solo-artist of all time, and is second on the planet to The Beatles. He's also won 11 Country Music Awards and was probably the biggest country music star on the planet during the '90s.

Then, in 2000, Brooks decided to officially retire from the music industry, saying he wanted to spend time raising his three daughters with his wife, fellow country music star Trisha Yearwood.

Now Brooks, 47, is ready to return to his famous brand of rock-tinged country music. There is no word yet of an upcoming album, but Garth is Garth, and he'll crank something out soon enough.