Garth Brooks Sexual Assault Lawsuit Update, Accuser Appeals to Fifth Circuit After Judge Rules She Must Reveal Identity—California Case on Hold as Mississippi Case Intensifies
Country music icon Garth Brooks faces explosive sexual assault allegations from his former hairstylist “Jane Roe,” who claims Brooks raped her in a Los Angeles hotel room in May 2019 during a Grammy tribute trip and subjected her to repeated sexual harassment. In November 2025, Roe filed an appeal with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals after a Mississippi judge denied her motion to remain anonymous, ruling in September that she must use her real name in court proceedings. A California federal judge denied Brooks’ motion to dismiss the sexual assault lawsuit in December 2024 but stayed the case pending the outcome of the Mississippi litigation, where Brooks filed a preemptive lawsuit claiming extortion before Roe went public with her allegations.
What Are the Specific Sexual Assault Allegations Against Garth Brooks?
Roe alleges Brooks violently raped her in May 2019 when she traveled with him to Los Angeles for a Grammy tribute performance. According to the lawsuit, Brooks restrained her and pulled her onto the bed, then “held her small body upside down by her feet and penetrated her.”
The lawsuit claims the assault was premeditated—Brooks booked only a single hotel suite without separate rooms and insisted no other employees join him on the trip. Roe states that only she and Brooks traveled on his private jet to Los Angeles, which was unusual as others typically accompanied them.
In another alleged incident in early 2019, Roe claims Brooks walked out of the shower naked at his home, grabbed her hands and forced them onto his erect penis while using sexually explicit and vulgar language.
The complaint states Roe narrowly escaped another sexual assault on one occasion when Brooks was lying face down on a bed wearing loose shorts and holding his crotch, but he was running late and other people were waiting to pick him up.
Who Is Jane Roe and What Is Her Connection to Brooks?
Jane Roe worked as a hairstylist and makeup artist for Brooks’ wife Trisha Yearwood starting in 1999, but began working for Brooks himself in 2017. She worked for Brooks until 2021, when she moved to Mississippi.
According to her lawsuit, Roe began experiencing financial difficulties in 2019, and Brooks helped by offering her more work—a vulnerability she claims he exploited.
Throughout her employment from 2017 to 2021, Roe alleges Brooks frequently changed clothes in front of her, groped her breasts while she was doing his hair and makeup, and sent her sexually explicit text messages.
Evidence and Documentation Supporting the Allegations
Roe’s lawsuit includes one screenshot of an alleged text message exchange between her and Brooks, along with multiple quotes she attributes to him.
The complaint references emails and text messages exchanged between them and indicates that others on Brooks’ team witnessed inappropriate behavior. Roe claims Brooks took her phone in 2020 and deleted most of the sexually explicit text messages he had sent her.
In 2020, Roe sent an email (also sent to Yearwood) stating she couldn’t “work in an environment where explicit sexual comments are made.” After the alleged rape, Brooks claimed to receive a cryptic text saying he “ruined his life,” which he suspected came from Roe’s husband.
Roe’s complaint states the trauma from the rape was so severe she contemplated suicide.
What Is Garth Brooks’ Legal Response and Defense Strategy?
Brooks preemptively filed a lawsuit in Mississippi federal court on September 13, 2024—before Roe filed her California complaint on October 3, 2024—seeking to prevent her from going public with the allegations.
Brooks claims he’s “the victim of a shakedown” and describes the situation as an “ongoing attempted extortion” following his rejection of Roe’s request for salaried employment and medical benefits.
In court filings, Brooks states he received a letter from Roe in July 2024 claiming sexual assault and alleging Brooks was plotting to kill her. He claims he received another letter in August demanding millions of dollars to prevent her from going public.
In his October 2024 statement, Brooks said: “For the last two months, I have been hassled to no end with threats, lies, and tragic tales of what my future would be if I did not write a check for many millions of dollars. It has been like having a loaded gun waved in my face. Hush money, no matter how much or how little, is still hush money. In my mind, that means I am admitting to behavior I am incapable of—ugly acts no human should ever do to another.”
Brooks seeks a jury trial, declaratory judgment that Roe’s allegations are untrue, compensatory and punitive damages, and attorney’s fees.
The Explosive Name Revelation Controversy
Brooks filed an amended complaint in Mississippi on October 8, 2024, publicly revealing Roe’s real name, claiming she forfeited her right to anonymity when she included identifying information in her California complaint.
Roe’s attorneys—Douglas H. Wigdor, Jeanne M. Christensen, and Hayley Baker of Wigdor LLP—issued a scathing statement: “Garth Brooks just revealed his true self. Out of spite and to punish, he publicly named a rape victim. With no legal justification, Brooks outed her because he thinks the laws don’t apply to him. On behalf of our client, we will be moving for maximum sanctions against him immediately.”
Most documents in the Mississippi case have been sealed from public view after Roe asked the court to sanction Brooks for publicly identifying her.
Recent Legal Developments: November 2025 Appeal and Case Status
In September 2025, Mississippi Judge Henry Wingate denied Roe’s motion to proceed under a pseudonym and denied her motion to seal the amended complaint Brooks filed.
In November 2025, Roe filed a Notice of Appeal with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, stating she is “appealing those portions of the order pertaining to her motions to maintain the confidentiality of her name and proceed using a pseudonym.” The notice indicates she is not challenging the part of the court’s order related to sanctions against Brooks, which were presumably denied.
Jeanne Christensen, a partner at Wigdor’s firm, stated: “The Mississippi action filed by Garth Brooks in a desperate effort to preemptively silence our client is currently under seal, and therefore, we cannot comment on the appeal. We continue to applaud our client’s courage in coming forward with her allegations of sexual assault against Brooks and are confident that he will be held accountable for his actions.”
California Federal Case Developments
On December 16, 2024, U.S. District Court Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald in the Central District of California denied Brooks’ motion to dismiss the sexual assault lawsuit “without prejudice,” meaning Brooks can refile the motion later.
Brooks had argued the California case was “duplicative” of the defamation and extortion lawsuit he previously filed in Mississippi federal court. The Los Angeles judge put the California case on hold, saying the issue of where the dispute belongs should be decided by the judge in the “first filed” venue in Mississippi.
Brooks moved the case from California state court to federal court in November 2024, seeking to dismiss it based on “diversity of citizenship jurisdiction” since he and the plaintiff reside in different states.
Roe’s attorneys claim Brooks’ Mississippi lawsuit was “nothing but a forum-shopping maneuver meant to preempt” her California complaint and “deny her access” to California’s anti-SLAPP statute—a law protecting against frivolous claims designed to suppress free speech.
What Legal Claims Is Roe Pursuing?
Roe’s lawsuit advances claims for sexual assault, battery, sexual battery, and violations of California laws providing protections from intimidation and coercion.
The complaint was filed under California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, which extends the statute of limitations for sexual assault claims.
Roe seeks monetary and punitive damages, attorney’s fees, and a jury trial.
Pattern of Alleged Sexual Harassment
Throughout her time working for Brooks from 2017 to 2021, Roe claims he sent her sexually explicit text messages, frequently changed clothes in front of her exposing his genitals and buttocks, and groped her breasts regularly while she worked on his hair and makeup.
Roe alleges Brooks repeatedly discussed sexual fantasies in front of her and pressured her to open her shirt so he could grope her breasts and then masturbate.
The complaint states Brooks made repeated remarks about “having a threesome” with Roe and his wife, Trisha Yearwood.
After the alleged rape, Roe claims Brooks sent an apology saying: “That’s what I thought. Oh crap! So, I was trying to seek you out to come talk… or whatever I needed to do, but just, uh, I don’t want to hurt anybody, man. And just… I just felt bad.”
What Happens Next in the Legal Process?
As of November 2025, nothing has been filed in the Mississippi case since January 2025, when both parties filed briefs arguing their positions on Roe’s amended motion to dismiss.
The last administrative action came on May 1, 2025, when the Mississippi court denied as moot a motion to dismiss filed on November 4, 2024, though an amended motion to dismiss filed November 18, 2024, is still pending.
In October 2024, Brooks publicly addressed the lawsuit during his “Inside Studio G” fan chat on TalkShopLive, telling fans: “This thing is on, it’s gonna happen, and people are telling me it could be up to two years.”
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will now decide whether Roe can proceed anonymously in the Mississippi case, while the California sexual assault litigation remains stayed pending the Mississippi court’s rulings.
Similar Precedents in Entertainment Industry
Douglas Wigdor, Roe’s lead attorney, has represented other accusers who brought lawsuits against high-profile figures in entertainment and music, including Cassie Ventura in a lawsuit that sparked a federal investigation into Sean “Diddy” Combs, and Julia Ormond in a lawsuit against Harvey Weinstein, CAA, and Disney.
In their statement when the lawsuit was filed, Wigdor and his co-counsels said: “We applaud our client’s courage in moving forward with her complaint against Garth Brooks. The complaint filed today demonstrates that sexual predators exist not only in corporate America, Hollywood and in the rap and rock and roll industries but also in the world of country music.”
The controversy has reportedly taken a toll on Brooks’ health and well-being. Sources indicate he has been struggling emotionally with the scandal and turned to comfort foods as a coping mechanism.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Garth Brooks Sexual Assault Lawsuit
Q: What are the specific sexual assault allegations against Garth Brooks?
A: Former hairstylist Jane Roe alleges Brooks violently raped her in a Los Angeles hotel room in May 2019 during a Grammy tribute trip, restraining her and holding her upside down by her feet. She also claims Brooks forced her to touch his genitals at his home in early 2019, repeatedly exposed himself, sent sexually explicit messages, groped her breasts while she worked, and made repeated comments about having a threesome with her and his wife Trisha Yearwood.
Q: Who is Jane Roe and what is her connection to Garth Brooks?
A: Jane Roe worked as a hairstylist and makeup artist for Brooks’ wife Trisha Yearwood starting in 1999 and began working directly for Brooks in 2017. She continued working for him until 2021 when she moved to Mississippi. Roe claims she was experiencing financial difficulties in 2019 when Brooks offered her more work, which she alleges he used to exploit her.
Q: What evidence has emerged supporting the allegations?
A: Roe’s lawsuit includes one screenshot of an alleged text message exchange with Brooks, multiple quotes attributed to him, references to emails and text messages exchanged between them, and indicates others on Brooks’ team witnessed inappropriate behavior. She claims Brooks took her phone in 2020 and deleted most sexually explicit texts he had sent her. In 2020, she sent an email to Brooks and his wife stating she couldn’t work in an environment where explicit sexual comments were made.
Q: What is Garth Brooks’ response to these allegations?
A: Brooks preemptively filed a lawsuit in Mississippi on September 13, 2024, claiming he’s “the victim of a shakedown” and describing the situation as “ongoing attempted extortion.” He denies all allegations and claims Roe demanded millions of dollars after he rejected her request for salaried employment and medical benefits. Brooks stated: “Hush money, no matter how much or how little, is still hush money. In my mind, that means I am admitting to behavior I am incapable of—ugly acts no human should ever do to another.”
Q: What are the most recent legal developments in November 2025?
A: In November 2025, Jane Roe filed an appeal with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals after Mississippi Judge Henry Wingate denied her motion to remain anonymous in September 2025, ruling she must use her real name in court proceedings. The Mississippi case remains largely sealed from public view, while the California federal sexual assault lawsuit was denied dismissal in December 2024 but stayed pending the Mississippi litigation outcome.
Q: Why did Garth Brooks reveal Jane Roe’s identity?
A: In October 2024, Brooks filed an amended complaint in Mississippi publicly revealing Roe’s real name, claiming she forfeited anonymity when she included identifying information in her California complaint. Roe’s attorneys condemned the move, stating Brooks “publicly named a rape victim” with “no legal justification” and vowed to seek maximum sanctions against him. The court later sealed most documents in the Mississippi case.
Q: What potential outcomes could result from these lawsuits?
A: Roe seeks monetary and punitive damages, attorney’s fees, and a jury trial on her sexual assault claims. Brooks seeks a declaratory judgment that the allegations are untrue, compensatory and punitive damages for extortion and defamation, and a jury trial. The Fifth Circuit will decide whether Roe can proceed anonymously, which could impact both cases’ trajectory. Brooks warned fans in October 2024 that the legal battle could last up to two years.
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The allegations described are claims made in legal filings and have not been proven in court. All parties are presumed innocent until proven otherwise. For more information about the case, readers can review court filings and follow reputable news coverage of the ongoing litigation.
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About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
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