Brooks comes out of retirement

Superstar Garth Brooks has confirmed he's making a country comeback, seven years after he announced his retirement.

The 45-year-old declared his intention to cease touring and recording in 2000, but has now changed his mind with a new single and a greatest hits collection, which includes a further three new tracks, coming out later this year.

And Brooks, who is married to singer Trisha Yearwood, is looking forward to seeing how he fares against a new generation of country stars.

He says: "Sure I'm scared to death - I'm rusty and I've seen these young guys. But I'm a competitor and when it's game day you start competing.

"Keith Urban is a beautiful guy, and he's just one of about 50 guys out there I'll have to face this fall so if you don't bring you’re a game you're going to get run over.

"And I'm Mr. Yearwood now so I want to make her proud."

But Brooks has no plans to tour and hints he may head back to retirement after the new material's release.

He says: "We'll go back to what I was doing before and sit on our butts for a while after the promo work for the new album is complete."