Garth Brooks demands jury trial in MS court for defamation suit against Madison woman

Country singer Garth Brooks has requested a jury trial against a Madison, Mississippi, hairdresser he says attempted to extort money, defame his character and invade his privacy with false accusations of sexual misconduct and conspiracy to commit murder.

In a civil complaint filed Tuesday, Oct. 8, Brooks requested relief from the Mississippi woman’s “ongoing attempted extortion, defamation, false light invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress through outrageous conduct including the publication and threatened wider publication of false allegations of sexual misconduct that would irreparably harm Plaintiff’s reputation, family, career and livelihood.”

Brooks’ lawsuit is in response to a demand letter made public last week by the woman, a hair stylist who used to work for the country star. He originally filed the lawsuit anonymously , listing himself as John Doe and the plaintiff as Jane Roe. Once “Roe” named him in a suit, he amended his complaint, publishing his and her name in documents filed Tuesday.

She worked as an independent contractor for Brooks for 15 years before she relocated from Tennessee to Mississippi in May 2020, according to the complaint filed in the northern division of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi.

Soon after moving to Mississippi, the defendant “apparently encountered financial difficulties and asked [Brooks] for financial assistance. [He] complied out of loyalty, friendship, and a desire to improve Defendant’s condition,” said Brooks’ complaint.

Brooks said the defendant’s “demands for financial assistance” continued, ultimately requesting salaried employment and medical benefits. When Brooks would not grant the request, the defendant responded with “false and outrageous allegations of sexual misconduct she claims occurred years ago.”

In a July 17 letter sent to Brooks and his professional associates, the Mississippi resident’s lawyer listed allegations that included sexual grooming, creation of a sexually hostile work environment, unwanted sexual touching, sexual assault, according to Brooks’ complaint. She also “alleged a belief that [Brooks] planned to hire someone to murder her,” stated Brooks’ complaint.

“The July 17 demand letter was the first time Plaintiff learned of these allegations, none of which has any basis in fact,” according to the complaint.

The July 17 letter listed several celebrity misconduct lawsuits where juries awarded millions of dollars to the victims and demanded Brooks pay the accuser for her silence.

The Mississippi resident has filed a lawsuit against Brooks in a state court in California, according to CNN. The lawsuit lists allegations against Brooks dating back to 2019.