Nathan Carter has said he is still gutted to have missed out on the opportunity to support Garth Brooks in Croke Park, but he is hopeful to get another chance should the country star return to Ireland.
We caught up with Nathan during rehearsals for The Nathan Carter Show, the singer's first television special, and he told us that he has noticed a big change in the audience for country music in Ireland and the UK.
"I've seen a big change in the popularity of country. When I started out I was playing dance halls to a hundred people and they would've been a more mature audience," he said. "Nowadays I'd be playing to maybe one or two thousand people, with the majority being under 25 which is unreal."
"Country music has definitely had a massive resurgence over the last few years and Garth Brooks proved that by selling out four or five nights in Croke Park. Unfortunately it didn't go ahead but it goes to prove how far country music has come," he added.
Garth Brooks in Croke Park
Nathan said that he was gutted when Brooks' Dublin dates fell through, but he hopes to get the opportunity to open for him again.
"I was offered the two support spots, but I believe he'll come back," Nathan told TEN. "I do think he'll be back and hopefully he'll give me the shot again to support him."
The Nathan Carter Show sees Nathan take to the stage in the Round Room of Dublin's Mansion House in front of an audience of fans to perform with musicians he has admired for years, including Paddy Casey, Mary Black and The Dubliners' John Sheahan.
Catch The Nathan Carter Show on RTÉ One tonight at 9.30pm.
