Garth Brooks didn't get much rest during the recent SXSW Music Conference & Festival in Austin. The country superstar dropped a new single, gave an important speech and even surprised fans with a one-of-a-kind intimate acoustic performance.

Brooks kicked off his 2017 SXSW experience with a press conference on Friday morning (March 17) at which he revealed his new single, "Ask Me How I Know," and also announced that he'd be playing a free show for Austin residents on Saturday night (March 18).

Later in the afternoon, Brooks took part in a keynote speech with Amazon Music Unlimited Vice President Steve Boom that centered around Brooks' recently announced exclusive streaming deal with Amazon Music Unlimited, which offers fans the chance to stream all of his music in the same place for the first time.

Brooks treated fans to an intimate performance at the Broken Spoke in Austin Friday night, and then shifted gears for another performance on Saturday at the Outdoor Stage at Lady Bird Lake, wrapping up an action-packed two days that saw him making headlines everywhere.

"Ask Me How I Know" is the second single from Brooks' most recent album, Gunslinger, which he released in November of 2016. He says he hopes the new single can give songwriter Mitch Rossell the kind of career boost "More Than a Memory" did for Lee Brice.

"We call him ‘Diva,’" Brooks says with a smile. "Because he never asks for anything, never. Glass of water? Nothing. His dressing room’s just bare … sweetest guy on the planet."

Brooks is set to continue his three-year world tour in 2017 before wrapping the North American leg. He is also confirmed to perform twice at RodeoHouston in 2018.

Garth Brooks Talks "Ask Me How I Know"

Country Tours Hitting the Road in 2017

More From Kicks 105