Having retired from touring in 2000, Garth Brooks suggested this past weekend that he fully expects to hit the road again — after he’s done raising his daughters. But his fellow country artists have a difficult time believing Garth.

Not that they think he’s insincere. But they’re convinced that performing is so attractive that he’ll likely be in some form of public circulation sooner than he expects. Among the non-believers is Montgomery Gentry.

"If he has a passion, which we know he does, like Eddie [Montgomery] and I do, you can’t stay retired," the duo’s Troy Gentry told the Associated Press.

"It’s the worst drug in the world, because there’s no cure for it," Eddie added. "Once it’s in your blood, you gotta have it."

Garth crammed 10 of his hits — including portions of "The Dance," "Friends In Low Places," "The Thunder Rolls" and "We Shall Be Free" — into a medley at Sunday’s Academy of Country Music Awards, where he was re-presented the Crystal Milestone Award, which he’d originally received in November. His performance also included a brief appearance by Trisha Yearwood on their duet "In Another’s Eyes."

"Garth is gonna play music until the good Lord takes him home," said Rodney Atkins, who offered his own medley of hits. "I think once music is a part of you, [you] never really stop."

Garth’s award recognized him as the best-selling solo artist in U.S. history. The Recording Industry Association of America has certified him for the shipment of more than 128 million discs.