Garth Brooks's nine concerts have raised $3.5 million US for the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. (Mark Humphrey/Associated Press)

Country superstar Garth Brooks's charity concert for Nashville flood relief was so popular that his site was overwhelmed with 140,000 ticket orders in one day.

Brooks, who ended his retirement last October, was forced to add more shows, from one to nine in total.

"It's great to be a part of the healing," Brooks said in a release late Saturday.

In fact, the brisk sales Saturday meant that Brooks set a record for a single day's tickets sold in Tennessee, outpacing a concert once held by Michael Jackson in Knoxville that drew more than 72,000 fans.

Brooks will be performing shows from Dec. 16 to 22. Gracing the stage will be his wife, Trisha Yearwood, his band and unnamed guests.

By selling tickets at $25 apiece, Brooks has raised $3.5 million for The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

The 48-year-old artist stepped down from public life in 2000, releasing his last album Scarecrow in 2001, to spend more time with his family. He is considered the top-selling solo albums artist in U.S. history and, despite the absence, he remains one of country music's most popular stars.

The flood in May caused more than $2 billion damage in Nashville and killed 22 people in Tennessee.

The music community was particularly affected when the Grand Ole Opry house and its storage facilities were flooded, shutting it down for five months. Thousands of instruments were also destroyed in the rehearsal space where artists like Brad Paisley and Keith Urban housed their gear.

Other stars have hosted benefit concerts, including Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, and Vince Gill.

With files from The Associated Press