Martina McBride Is Latest Artist to Drop Out of Trump’s Freedom 250 Concert

Following the uproar over the “Great American State Fair” lineup, Martina McBride has joined a growing list of musicians who are backing out of the event after learning it’s more partisan than they originally thought.

In a statement posted to social media, McBride took a moment to clear the air. “I will not be performing at the Great American State Fair on June 25th,” the singer-songwriter announced. She said that while she was “presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event,” the supposed show “turned out to be misleading.”

McBride said that after asking “lots of questions,” she was “assured this was a nonpartisan event that was meant to celebrate ALL 50 states.” She continued, “In my mind I thought this was a great way to celebrate the states and also bring people together in the way that only music can. I saw it as just a bigger version of so many state fairs I have performed at over the years, celebrating community and what makes each state special.”

However, after news got out that the concert series — which is set to take place between June 25 and July 10 — is part of an initiative planned by the Trump administration, fans took to social media to criticize the artists on the roster for performing. Morris Day, leader of the Time, announced that a performance by his funk ensemble was “a no for me,” and others soon followed suit, including William King of the Commodores and Young MC. The rapper told VIBE that he “had no clue it was considered a ‘Trump-backed’ event, so that was new to me.”

In McBride’s message, the artist wrote, “I’ve spent my entire career singing songs about real people with real issues. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to be a voice for those who have felt like they didn’t have one. It greatly upsets me that any fan who has been moved by my music may now feel like I’m abandoning the meaning behind those songs. I assure you, that is not the case.”