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Why did Garth Brooks hug George W Bush at Joe Biden's inauguration? Fans say ‘hope he doesn't have Covid-19’

After the country singer's performance, many fans were stunned to see him giving a bear hug to George W Bush

“Democracy wins,” Joe Biden said in his 21-minute inaugural speech after his swearing-in as the 46th President of the United States. Soon after his speech, Garth Brooks sang 'Amazing Grace' and asked the crowd to join him in singing the last verse. Amanda Gorman, a 22-year-old artist who is the youngest inaugural poet, then recited a poem for the event.

After the country singer's performance, many fans were stunned to see him giving a bear hug to George W Bush. The 'If Tomorrow Never Comes' singer hugged each of the former presidents in attendance — including Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, as well as their spouses, former First Ladies Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton — after shaking hands with President Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris.

However, the moment that turned heads was when Brooks realized Bush was also right there and proceeded to give the 43rd president a big bear hug and a last hug for former first lady Laura Bush before going back up the stairs.

Bro-hugging, but why?

Brooks and Bush go down a long way and the legendary singer has also been awarded the inaugural George HW Bush award for philanthropy. Their camaraderie at Biden's inauguration was dubbed a "great visual" by several Internet users.

"Garth Brooks running around with a cowboy hat and hugging George Bush is good optics," one tweet said and another read, "GEORGE BUSH AND GARTH BROOKS BRO HUGGING IS ONE OF THE MOST POETIC F*CKING THINGS I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE."

A third posted, "Garth Brooks hugging Hillary Clinton and George Bush and then literally running away. great visual." And a fourth said, "Watching Garth brooks run back out on the balcony to give George bush a hug was one of the best things I’ve seen in a long time."

Will Garth Brooks be canceled?

"The country singer Garth Brooks he forgot one thing. No gloves or mask after he had performed 'Amazing Grace'. He shook hands with Pence, Harris and Biden. And hugged The Clintons and George Bush. These are people +70. If the contract Covid, they know from whom," one tweet read and another said, "Hope Garth Brooks doesn’t have COVID-19. G.Brooks hugged Barack & Michelle Obama,; then Barack & Michelle hug Jill & Joe Biden and Kamala Harris & then Joe Biden hugs George Bush....I’m breaking out in a sweat just watching it."

A third said, "Garth Brooks just shook hands with Kamala Harris and was hugging the Hilary Clinton and Bill Clinton and George Bush. What happened to social distancing? Are they all going to be canceled now?" 

Did Garth Brooks have COVID-19?

During the pandemic, several celebrities were caught by the deadly COVID-19 virus. Thankfully, Brooks was not one of them. In July 2020, he urged fans to practice social distancing and soon after, went into quarantine with his wife, Trisha Yearwood, after learning that their “camp” had been exposed to the coronavirus.

“Out of an abundance of caution,” said an announcement at the time, “Garth Brooks is moving his and Trisha Yearwood’s July 7th Facebook concert to a later date and postponing Inside Studio G for 2 weeks. While Garth and Trisha are fine, the Garth/Trisha camp has possibly been exposed to the Covid-19 virus. To be smart about this, they are all quarantining for 2 weeks and thank everyone for their concern.”

However, that same month, Brooks said his daughter, Allie Colleen, 24, had tested positive. According to a People report, her case was said to be mild and she recovered soon after. “As a parent, nobody knows what COVID is going to do in the future so you just watch over them,” Brooks said. “You pray a lot and hopefully she will come out of this thing with just that.”

Garth Brooks and Sandy Mahl were married between 1986 and 2001. Ever Since they split, both have been committed to co-parenting their three daughters.