Country artist Brantley Gilbert recently expressed his frustration with “unpleasant” performers who cancel their appearances at patriotic events after facing backlash. “We get paid to play music,” he emphasized.
“It’s frustrating to see people sign up and then back out,” Gilbert remarked during a recent show. “We invest a lot of energy into the ‘Turning Point’ event,” he further explained on the podcast.
Interestingly, the “Country Must Be Country Wide” artist was alluding to the criticism faced for a performance at Turning Point USA’s “All American Halftime Show,” which featured Kid Rock during this year’s Super Bowl.
“The kids enjoyed watching two quarters of football and then seeing their dad perform, which was fantastic,” Gilbert noted.
The “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do” singer also mentioned that the event was seen as a business move. “We took part because we’re entertainers and businesspeople,” Gilbert highlighted. “I don’t perform for free; we get paid for our work.”
“We were in the process of signing with a new label then,” he said, adding, “Participating in a major show like that seemed like a good opportunity.”
“I never considered, ‘Oh, this will be controversial.’ That just didn’t make sense,” Gilbert explained.
When discussing rapper Bad Bunny, who headlined the NFL halftime show with a Spanish-only performance that coincided with the Turning Point event, Gilbert said, “I don’t know him at all.” “I’ve never listened to his music. I don’t speak Spanish well, so I don’t think I’d understand it.”
While he didn’t name specific artists who have opted out of patriotic performances, Gilbert made it clear he believes musicians should stick to their engagements, even amidst public criticism.
Despite the backlash from critics on the left following his halftime show performance, Gilbert affirmed he is “proud” of the decision he made.
“As a songwriter, I grew up in Jackson County, Georgia, and my aspiration was to fill local theaters and make a living from writing songs,” said the “One Hell of an Amen” artist at that time.
“I’m in recovery, and I’ve made my share of poor choices. While I’m not proud of those, I am proud of the direction I chose to take,” Gilbert added.
“Through my music, I share my journey and aim to inspire others during their toughest moments,” said the “Small Town Throwdown” artist. “I am a Christian and I love this country, despite its imperfections.”
