Martina McBride Cancels Great American State Fair Performance
Country music artist Martina McBride has decided not to perform at the Great American State Fair, which is intended to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. Organizers described claims of the event being “nonpartisan” as “misleading,” despite her previous performance at a White House event during the Obama administration.
The 59-year-old singer shared her thoughts on social media, expressing her disappointment a day after the announcement of performers for the “Freedom 250” event scheduled to run for 16 days on the National Mall.
“I will not be appearing at the Great American State Fair on June 25th,” she stated. “I was under the impression this was a bipartisan celebration of all 50 states. In my heart, I thought this was a great opportunity to unite people through music,” the “Independence Day” singer shared. She saw it as just another edition of state fairs she’d participated in before—celebrating communities and their uniqueness.
“Sounds like fun, right? It’s healthy, too,” she added. “But things started shifting yesterday, and the reality of what was being said became clearer.”
“I’ve dedicated my career to giving a voice to real people with real issues. I’m truly upset that fans who relate to my music might feel I’m abandoning the essence of those songs. That’s not my intention. I appreciate all the support from my fans and hope to return to the D.C. area soon,” she concluded.
Many quickly pointed out that McBride sang beautifully at the White House in 2009 for an event honoring Stevie Wonder, even performing his song “You and I.”
Freedom 250 spokeswoman Julia Friedland countered McBride’s claims, asserting that the event is meant to be apolitical. “It’s a celebration of our country. I don’t think there’s anything partisan about honoring 250 years of America,” she commented, emphasizing that it’s open to all Americans.
While Friedland couldn’t share specifics about negotiations with artists, she affirmed that the event had been promoted in a bipartisan spirit.
Additionally, rock singer Bret Michaels announced that he is also withdrawing from a performance scheduled for July 3 due to safety concerns.
“Initially, this was framed as a chance to celebrate our nation through music, while honoring veterans and first responders,” Michaels explained in his statement. “However, it has turned into a divisive situation, raising serious safety concerns for myself and my audience, including threats that are completely unfounded. Therefore, I’ve made the tough choice to withdraw from this event,” he stated.
Michaels stressed that his decision isn’t about politics, reiterating that everyone has the right to their own views. “As a father and bandmate, I must take such threats seriously. I believe in the resilience of our country over the past 250 years,” he added.
