Country music star Garth Brooks is fighting back against a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault and misconduct. The singer, 62, has filed two complaints in a Mississippi federal court, strongly denying the allegations brought forward by a former hairstylist and makeup artist who worked for him for 15 years. Brooks claims that the woman is attempting to extort him for millions of dollars.
The lawsuit, filed last week in California state court by the woman, alleges that Brooks exposed himself to her, made inappropriate sexual comments, and sent her explicit text messages in 2019. In response, Brooks is pushing back, stating that the accusations are false and aimed at blackmailing him.
In court documents filed on October 8, Brooks requested a jury trial to clear his name and defend himself from what he describes as “extortion” and “defamation.” He claims that the woman, who he named in one of the filings, only made these allegations after he refused her request for a salaried position and medical benefits following her move from Tennessee to Mississippi.
Brooks alleges that after relocating, the woman faced financial difficulties and asked him for help, which he says he provided. However, when he declined her request for a full-time salaried job, she responded with a “demand letter” on July 17, 2024, accusing him of sexual misconduct, including “grooming” and “unwanted sexual touching.” According to Brooks, this letter was the first time he had heard of the accusations, and he believes they are completely unfounded.
The country star also claims that the woman threatened to publicly release the letter unless he paid her millions of dollars. Brooks argues that the woman calculated the amount she demanded based on his net worth, a tactic he says was an attempt to leverage his celebrity status for financial gain.
In his court filing, Brooks said the accusations were not only false but also intended to harm his reputation. Along with requesting a trial, Brooks is seeking a “declaratory judgment” from the court, which would formally state that the allegations against him are untrue. Additionally, he is asking for compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorney’s fees.
Brooks made a public statement through PEOPLE, expressing his frustration with the situation. He claimed that for the past two months, he has been “hassled” by threats and demands for money. He referred to the accusations as lies and said that paying the woman would feel like admitting to behavior he says he is not capable of. “Hush money, no matter how much or how little, is still hush money,” Brooks said, adding that he refuses to give in to what he describes as blackmail.
The singer, known for hits like “Friends in Low Places” and “The Dance,” reiterated that he is not guilty of the “ugly acts” he has been accused of. Brooks said he initially filed his lawsuit anonymously to protect both his family and the woman’s, but that her attorneys disclosed his identity to the media.
Brooks concluded his statement by saying that while the accusations have been a burden, he trusts the legal system and does not fear the truth. “It breaks my heart [that] these wonderful things are in question now. I trust the system, I do not fear the truth, and I am not the man they have painted me to be,” he said.
