Garth Brooks Honored By Songwriters

By Elizabeth Darst

03/13/2002 at 01:00 PM EST

Country star Garth Brooks, 40, was feted by music composers and admiring politicians at a tribute in Washington, D.C., on Capitol Hill on Tuesday night, reports PEOPLE. Brooks, who's sold more than 104 million albums, more than any other solo performer, was presented with the Golden Note Award by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Some of the composers who doffed their caps to the black-hatted wunderkind included Art Garfunkel, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Alan Bergman, Hal David, Jimmy Webb and Pat Alger. Pianist Michael Feinstein and singer Tom Paxton also attended the event as did political bigwigs such as Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Sen. Orrin Hatch, (R-Utah), Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), and Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Rep. Mary Bono (R-Calif.) and Elton Gallegly (R-Calif). Despite all the attention, Brooks remains determined to stay away from touring, promising to remain at home with his three kids in Oklahoma until they're grown. "If I could be remembered by anything, it would be (to be) a great father. I would love to be half the father my dad has been to me," he said. "If it was in music, I would love to be remembered -- and I won't be because I don't deserve to be -- but I would love to be remembered as a songwriter." Judging by Tuesday's honor and the Songwriters Hall of Fame Distinguished Hit Maker Award that he'll receive in June, it looks like his wish has already come true.