Wed Dec 24 02:30:00 UTC 2025: Garth Brooks’ Signature Hit ‘If Tomorrow Never Comes’ Almost Didn’t Happen: Songwriter Reveals Rejection by Dozens
Nashville, TN – Garth Brooks’ signature song, “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” almost didn’t make it to the top of the charts. In a recent interview, Kent Blazy, the songwriter who ultimately co-wrote the hit with Brooks, revealed that the country music legend had pitched the idea to over 20 songwriters before finally finding success.
According to liner notes from Brooks’ album “The Hits,” the singer considers “If Tomorrow Never Comes” his signature piece. Brooks stated he ran the idea by what seemed like a thousand writers, but none understood his vision. Blazy, however, nailed the first verse within 15 seconds.
Blazy described his initial meeting with Brooks in an interview with Songwriting Magazine. Brooks explained he had run the idea by 25 writers, none of whom liked it. Blazy, intrigued, asked to hear the concept. He connected with the idea, as it mirrored advice from his mother.
Blazy revealed the initial problem: Brooks was “killing somebody off” in the first lines. He suggested a new direction, and by the end of the day, they knew they had a hit.
“If Tomorrow Never Comes” reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart on Dec. 9, 1989, marking Brooks’ first No. 1 hit. His second single, “The Dance,” also reached the top spot, solidifying Brooks’ place in country music history.
First Piper 