Chris Leuzinger performs stirring rendition of Garth Brooks’ “We Shall Be Free”

“We Shall Be Free,” co-written by Garth Brooks and Stephanie Davis, was released in August 1992 as the lead single from the RIAA Diamond-selling album The Chase. It also appears on several of Brooks’ compilations, such as The Hits, The Ultimate Hits, The Anthology Part IV - Going Home, and 777 Jackpot. The song peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart—his first to miss the Top 10—largely due to limited radio airplay over its socially conscious message. It also reached #22 on the Billboard Christian Songs chart and earned Brooks a 1993 GLAAD Media Award.

Inspired by the 1992 L.A. Riots, Brooks described the song as a message of love and tolerance, calling it his most controversial work and vowing to stand by every line. In a notable moment, Brooks refused to perform the National Anthem at the 1993 Super Bowl unless NBC aired the video for “We Shall Be Free” as agreed; the network relented.