A vibrant parade of talent has been marching into our fair city this year, as if you haven’t noticed.
Garth Brooks, just named entertainer of the year by the Country Music Association, accompanies wife Trisha Yearwood to Hawaii for four timely shows.
The country music powerhouses swiftly sold out their double-header slate Dec. 10 at Blaisdell Arena, so two more dates were added, at 8 p.m. Dec. 8 and 9.
Brooks’ CMA win reflects his appeal and galvanizes his legacy.
The gigs — part of a three-year tour — also demonstrate the couple’s generosity.
They’ve committed to raise funds for Pacific Historic Parks, which will disperse 100 percent of the net proceeds from the performances to four organizations that work to preserve the history of Pearl Harbor: World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument (USS Arizona Memorial), Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor, USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park and Battleship Missouri Memorial. All seats are an affordable $69.
“Garth is a real patriot; his father served in the Korean War, and he really identifies with the military,” said show presenter Ron Gibson.
Since Yearwood is an Emmy-winning Food Network resident star, we get a singing chef in the deal. …
Starry nights
Ringo Starr, onetime member of the Beatles, will make his Hawaii debut Tuesday at Blaisdell Arena, playing with his All-Starr band, which includes Todd Rundgren.
Mariah Carey will be the next “name” attraction, with multiple play dates, Nov. 23, 25 and 26, at Blaisdell Arena. And Sting returned to the arena spotlight Friday. …
Wanna-sees
Is this too much, too often? I think not. I offer a list of still-wanna-sees:
>> Super-troupers: Bette Midler hates playing in her hometown, but she won’t be immediately available since she’ll be a name-above-the-title magnet for the reboot of “Hello, Dolly!” on Broadway in March. But a homecoming would be divine. And country queen Dolly Parton, a onetime resident here, doesn’t need a hit album to corral a crowd. And shouldn’t we roll out the welcome mat for Cher? …
With his new No. 1 hit, “24 Karat Magic,” off and humming, Bruno Mars also is due for a hana hou. …
>> Divas: Adele, Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Barbra Streisand are true divas; might add Taylor Swift, too, since she’s No. 1 on Forbes’ 2016 roster of highest-earning musicians. Stadium-size throngs, perhaps? …
>> Dudes: Raise your hands, add your vote for shows by Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney and Justin Timberlake, who has current relevance as he voices and fills the soundtrack of the animated “Trolls” flick, which opened Friday. …
>> Up-and-comer: Shawn Mendes is a budding star with a sweet sound and a songwriting wiz who delivers — without the Justin Bieber sideshow and behavior. …
>> Broadway biggies: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony-winning phenom “Hamilton” — American history set to hip-hop — is in a league of its own, but we might have to wait five to seven years following first-tier national tours. Disney’s “Aladdin” would fly high (think aerial magic carpet), and “Beautiful,” the Carole King bio-musical, has a lot of friends (and hit tunes). …
And that’s “Show Biz.” …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com.
