Country trio Lady A was known as Lady Antebellum for 13 years before changing their name in 2020.
Why Did Lady A Change Their Name?
Lady A – the band made up by Hillary Scott, Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley – removed “antebellum” from their name due to its connotations with the pre-Civil War era in America. They made the decision in June 2020 as the Black Lives Matter movement picked up following George Floyd’s death.
“We’ve watched and listened more than ever these last few weeks, and our hearts have been stirred with conviction, our eyes opened wide to the injustices, inequality and biases Black women and men have always faced and continue to face everyday. Now, blindspots we didn’t even know existed have been revealed.”
The group said they made the decision “after much personal reflection and discussion” and confirmed that they had “many honest conversations with some of [their] Black friends and colleagues” before dropping “antebellum” from their name.
In December 2020, they expanded on their decision during an appearance on The Tamron Hall Show. “We want our music and our live shows and, you know, anything we’re part of … for everyone to feel welcome and invited,” Hillary shared. “And we realized, you know, over the summer – I think not touring and watching this movement happen that is so needed in this country and around the world – we started to see what our part was, what part of our first steps and making a difference could be. And so changing our name was the first step.”
What Does ‘Lady Antebellum’ Mean?
“Antebellum” literally means “before the war,” and has come to be associated with the time before the Civil War in America when slavery was prevalent.
In their June 2020 statement, Lady A explained why they initially chose Lady Antebellum as their name when they formed their group in 2007.
“We named our band after the southern ‘antebellum’ style home where we took our first photos,” they wrote. “As musicians, it reminded us of all the music born in the south that influenced us … southern rock, blues, R&B, gospel and of course country. But we are regretful and embarrassed to say that we did not take into account the associations that weigh down this word referring to the period of history before the Civil War, which includes slavery.”
They added, “We are deeply sorry for the hurt this has caused and for anyone who has felt unsafe, unseen or unvalued. Causing pain was never our hearts’ intention, but it doesn’t change the fact that indeed, it did just that.”
The trio concluded their message by acknowledging that it took them far too long to make this necessary change. “The answer is that we can make no excuse for our lateness to this realization,” they said. “What we can do is acknowledge it, turn from it and take action.”
In a 2021 interview with People, the group said that George Floyd’s murder brought the conversation about the meaning of “antebellum” to their attention. “Understanding what it implied, what it made people feel – we had never asked,” Hillary said. “And so when we did, we realized unanimously that this word is offensive.”
Did Lady A Win Their Lawsuit Against Singer With Same Name?
The day after Lady A announced their name change, singer Anita White – who had been going by the stage name Lady A for more than 20 years – expressed her frustration.
“They’re using the name because of a Black Lives Matter incident that, for them, is just a moment in time,” Anita told Rolling Stone. “If it mattered, it would have mattered to them before. It shouldn’t have taken George Floyd to die for them to realize that their name had a slave reference to it.” She also said the group did not reach out to her first, which she called “pure privilege.”
One week later, the musicians met up and had a “transparent, honest, and authentic” talk, according to statements on their respective Instagram pages. “We are excited to share we are moving forward with positive solutions and common ground.”
However, the next day, Anita accused the country group of trying to “erase” her. The band filed a lawsuit against Anita on July 9. “She and her team have demanded a $10 million payment, so reluctantly we have come to the conclusion that we need to ask a court to affirm our right to continue to use the name Lady A, a trademark we have held for many years,” they said in a statement. “We hope Anita and the advisers she is now listening to will change their minds about their approach.”
Anita accused Lady A of “using their wealth and influence to intimidate and bully me into submission without offering any real recompense for appropriating my name.” She claimed they were “insincere” in their apologies and really only “aimed at quieting” her.
Lady A and Anita reached a settlement in 2022 when they both asked a federal judge to dismiss their lawsuits, Billboard reported. The terms of the settlement were not publicized.
