{"id":2061352,"date":"2025-10-01T05:00:31","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T05:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2061352"},"modified":"2025-10-01T05:00:31","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T05:00:31","slug":"michigan-bred-war-and-treaty-criticized-for-skipping-benefit-event-to-play-zach-bryan-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/michigan-bred-war-and-treaty-criticized-for-skipping-benefit-event-to-play-zach-bryan-show\/","title":{"rendered":"Michigan-bred War and Treaty criticized for skipping benefit event to play Zach Bryan show"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">When the music duo War and Treaty walked onstage Saturday (Sept. 27) to join country star Zach Bryan for a song, it was an unexpected highlight for 112,000 fans <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/music\/articles\/fans-gear-zach-bryan-michigan-224604562.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:gathered inside Michigan Stadium;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">gathered inside Michigan Stadium<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">But the cameo was an even bigger surprise for folks 300 miles away at Equestrian Connection, a special-needs therapy organization that had booked the War and Treaty for an Illinois benefit event that same night.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>The War and Treaty (Michael Trotter Jr., left, and Tanya Trotter) perform onstage during Grammy Museum&#8217;s Hall Of Fame Gala and Concert in Los Angeles on May 21, 2024.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">People involved with the fundraising party say the War and Treaty backed out just hours before their event, leaving the night\u2019s 500 guests without the headliner they were promised \u2014 and for which they\u2019d bought tickets to support the nonprofit organization.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Many attendees soon learned why: The War and Treaty had been asked that day to join Bryan at his historic Ann Arbor concert, where they linked up onstage that night perform the hit song \u201cHey Driver.\u201d Bryan\u2019s concert, the first ever at Michigan Stadium, went on to set a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/music\/articles\/zach-bryan-sets-u-concert-193022033.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:U.S. attendance record;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">U.S. attendance record<\/a> for a concert by a single artist.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Equestrian Connection, based in the Chicago area, uses horses to offer therapy for children and adults with physical and emotional challenges. The group\u2019s Saturday gala, Marty\u2019s Barn Party, was the 19<sup>th<\/sup> edition of that annual benefit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><span class=\"exclude-from-newsgate\"><strong>More: <\/strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/music\/articles\/zach-bryan-sets-u-concert-193022033.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Zach Bryan sets U.S. concert attendance record with 112,408 at Michigan Stadium;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">Zach Bryan sets U.S. concert attendance record with 112,408 at Michigan Stadium<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><span class=\"exclude-from-newsgate\"><strong>More: <\/strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/music\/articles\/fans-gear-zach-bryan-michigan-224604562.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Zach Bryan rises to the moment at historic, record-setting Michigan Stadium concert;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">Zach Bryan rises to the moment at historic, record-setting Michigan Stadium concert<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cTrying not to judge but hard to understand why the band would cancel their paid commitment or at least give us sufficient prior notice,\u201d the organization <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/EquestrianConnectionTherapy\/posts\/well-i-guess-we-now-know-why-the-contracted-band-for-martys-barn-party-cancelled\/1392501886216739\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:posted Sunday;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">posted Sunday<\/a> on Facebook. \u201cStill trying to process the lack of empathy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">That post and other social media chatter generated negative comments criticizing the band&#8217;s decision.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Equestrian Connection, which says it was alerted just hours before the event, managed to quickly enlist two local bands to sub in as the night\u2019s entertainment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Grammy-nominated War and Treaty, formed in Albion a decade ago by husband-wife team Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, has made waves across the music world with its raw, Americana-steeped blend of soul, folk and gospel. \u201cHey Driver,\u201d the 2023 collaboration with Bryan, was a breakout hit and thrust the group onto the radar of mainstream country fans.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A person close to the band who asked for anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter said Monday the War and Treaty refunded its $50,000 booking fee to Equestrian Connection and made a $5,000 donation. The band\u2019s team has asked the organization to itemize all other expenses for compensation, such as hotel and ground transportation. The group had paid for its flight to Chicago.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The War and Treaty was not paid for its Michigan Stadium performance with Bryan, said the person, who added that the band was in Chicago when it got the Saturday call from the country star asking to join that night&#8217;s Ann Arbor show.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Free Press was unable to reach the Trotters for comment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The War and Treaty recorded an apology video for Equestrian Connection to disseminate, though it has not been posted, the person said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Contact Detroit Free Press music writer Brian McCollum: 313-223-4450 or bmccollum@freepress.com.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freep.com\/story\/entertainment\/music\/brian-mccollum\/2025\/09\/30\/war-and-treaty-zach-bryan-michigan-stadium-controversy\/86445936007\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:War and Treaty criticized for skipping benefit, playing Zach Bryan show;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">War and Treaty criticized for skipping benefit, playing Zach Bryan show<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When the music duo War and Treaty walked onstage Saturday (Sept. 27) to join country star Zach Bryan for a song, it was an unexpected highlight for 112,000 fans gathered inside Michigan Stadium. But the cameo was an even bigger surprise for folks 300 miles away at Equestrian Connection, a special-needs therapy organization that had [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2061353,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[384484,378891,384485,143876],"class_list":["post-2061352","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-equestrian-connection","tag-michigan-stadium","tag-war-and-treaty","tag-zach-bryan"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Michigan-bred-War-and-Treaty-criticized-for-skipping-benefit-event-to.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2061352","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2061352"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2061352\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2061354,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2061352\/revisions\/2061354"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2061353"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2061352"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2061352"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2061352"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}