\n\t\t\t
\n Related: <\/span>Breaking Down Rock the Country Festival Drama After 4 Artists Drop Out<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\tMonths before the Rock the Country festival crosses the United States, three of its named performers have all dropped out. The annual festival, consisting of an eight-city tour featuring sets from popular music artists, initially featured Ludacris, Morgan Wade and Carter Faith among the star-studded lineup. The trio of artists have since quietly canceled their [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
While the concerts are promoted as \u201cnonpartisan,\u201d the Freedom 250<\/em> website does feature photos of President Donald Trump<\/strong><\/a> and first lady Melania Trump<\/strong><\/a>. The website\u2019s list of financial partners and sponsors raised eyebrows as well, as it includes numerous Trump administration agencies \u2014 including the Department of Homeland Security and the White House itself \u2014 as well as corporations such as Palantir, UFC and ExxonMobil, all of which have ties to the administration.<\/p>\nAs public outcry over the Great American State Fair grew in the late spring of 2026, numerous artists pulled out of performing<\/a> at the Freedom 250<\/em> concerts.<\/p>\n\n![\"Every](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Every-Artist-Who-Has-Dropped-Out-of-Donald-Trumps-Great-American-State-Fair-Martina-McBride-Bret-Michaels-e1780071906895.jpg?w=1000&quality=86&strip=all\")
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\n Martina McBride; Donald Trump; Bret Michaels<\/span> Getty Images (3); Jason Davis; Anna Moneymaker; Cindy Ord\/SiriusXM<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nKeep scrolling for an explanation of why each artist backed out of the Trump-backed music festival:<\/p>\n
Martina McBride Said She Was Misled Over the Festival<\/h2>\n
The country music icon announced via Instagram<\/a> on May 28 that she was backing out of a scheduled slot at the Great American State Fair.<\/p>\n\u201cI would like to talk to you and clear the air. I will not be performing at the Great American State Fair on June 25,\u201d she confirmed<\/a>. \u201cI was presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading.\u201d<\/p>\nMcBride insisted that she\u2019d only agreed to appear at the festival after asking \u201clots of questions and was assured this was a nonpartisan event that was meant to celebrate ALL 50 states.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 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,\u201d she explained. \u201cI 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. Sounds fun, right? Wholesome even.\u201d<\/p>\n
As Freedom 250 took shape, McBride noticed that \u201cthings started changing\u201d and she grew uncomfortable with the optics.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve spent my entire career singing songs about real people with real issues,\u201d she noted. \u201cI\u2019ve been blessed with the opportunity to be a voice for those who have felt like they didn\u2019t have one. It greatly upsets me that any fan who has been moved by my music may now feel like I\u2019m abandoning the meaning behind those songs. I assure you that is not the case. I appreciate every single fan who has reached out. I hope to get back to the DC area very soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bret Michaels Allegedly Faced Threats Over \u2018Freedom 250\u2019<\/h2>\n
On May 28, 2026, the Poison frontman joined a chorus of artists backing out of Freedom 250<\/em>.<\/p>\n\u201cAs many of you know, I\u2019ve spent my entire career bringing people together through music, positivity and good vibes,\u201d he said in a statement<\/a> on his website. \u201cMy shows have never been about politics. They\u2019re about giving people a place to come together, have a great time and forget about life\u2019s stresses for a few hours.\u201d<\/p>\nThe \u201cEvery Rose Has Its Thorn\u201d singer was upset that \u201ca celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cConcerns have also been raised regarding the safety of my fans, band, crew, family and myself, including threats that are completely unfounded and unforgivable,\u201d Michaels said. \u201cBecause of that, I have made the difficult decision to step away from this performance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michaels insisted that his Freedom 250<\/em> cancellation \u201cisn\u2019t about politics,\u201d rather it\u2019s about \u201cstaying true to what I\u2019ve always believed in.\u201d<\/p>\n\u201cEveryone is entitled to their own opinions,\u201d he wrote. \u201cThat\u2019s one of the freedoms our veterans fought for and something I\u2019ve always respected. But as a father, friend and bandmate, I have to take threats and safety concerns seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n
Milli Vanilli\u2019s Involvement in \u2018Freedom 250\u2019 Raised Questions<\/h2>\n
One of the more confusing aspects of the Freedom 250 backlash has centered around Milli Vanilli.<\/p>\n
When the 1990 Best New Artist Grammy winners found fame with \u201cGirl You Know It\u2019s True,\u201d the public was led to believe that the duo\u2019s vocalists were models Fab Morvan<\/strong> and Rob Pilatus<\/strong>. However, it later came out that studio musicians \u2014 including Jodie Rocco<\/strong> and Linda Rocco<\/strong> \u2014 actually performed vocals that Morvan and Pilatus lip-synced to on stage. (Pilatus died of a drug overdose at age 32 in 1998.)<\/p>\nFreedom 250 organizers announced \u201cMilli Vanilli\u201d as part of the musical lineup without specifying who exactly would be performing. The Rocco sisters told The Associated Press<\/em> in an email that they were \u201cshocked\u201d to see Milli Vanilli on the Freedom 250<\/em> lineup and had no plans to take part.<\/p>\n\n![\"GettyImages-2259490206](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2259490206-Every-Artist-Who-Has-Dropped-Out-of-Donald-Trumps-Great-American-State-Fair-Fab-Morvan-e1780072288368.jpg?w=1000&quality=40&strip=all\")
<\/div>
\n Fab Morvan attends the 68th GRAMMY Awards.<\/span> Amy Sussman\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nHowever, Morvan subsequently confirmed to Consequence of Sound<\/em><\/a> that he was the one who was actually booked for the concert, not the Rocco sisters, and would \u201cfinally sing Milli Vanilli songs live in person\u201d at the Washington D.C. festival.<\/p>\n\u201cI am here to entertain and unite people, not divide them,\u201d Morvan \u2014 a French native \u2014 went on. \u201cLet\u2019s celebrate life & music and take a trip down memory lane. I feel honored to be a part of the Great American State Fair as it will celebrate the 250 Year Anniversary of America with so many other accomplished artists.\u201d<\/p>\n
Young MC Refused to Take Part in a \u2018Trump-Backed\u2019 Event<\/h2>\n
Young MC announced via Instagram<\/a> on May 27 that he would not take part in any \u201cTrump-backed\u201d event.<\/p>\n\u201cI have informed my agents that I will not be performing at the Freedom 250 event. The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event,\u201d the \u201cBust a Move\u201d rapper wrote. \u201cAnd despite the claims by the organizers that the event is non-partisan, SPIN<\/em> magazine describes it as Trump-backed. I hope to perform in D.C. in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged.\u201d<\/p>\nC+C Music Factory\u2019s Frontman Hit Out at the Backlash<\/h2>\n
Frontman Freedom Williams<\/strong> insisted via Instagram on May 27 that he doesn\u2019t \u201cf*** with Trump\u201d and was not originally made aware that a June 2026 concert booking in Washington D.C. had any political implications.<\/p>\nHowever, Williams fired back at fans threatening to \u201ccancel\u201d C+C Music Factory over their involvement with Freedom 250<\/em>.<\/p>\n\u201cThe day I let you mother-f***ers tell me what to do is the day I die,\u201d he insisted<\/a>. \u201cLet me make it crystal clear: I do not live for none of you \u2026. I will vote for Genghis Khan<\/strong>, Hitler<\/strong> and Ivan the Terrible<\/strong> before I let you n*****s tell me what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n![\"Kelsea](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Kelsea-Ballerini-Reflects-on-the-Fallout-of-Country-Musics-%E2%80%98Tomato-Gate-1.jpg?crop=0px%2C68px%2C1535px%2C867px&resize=400%2C225&quality=86&strip=all\")
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n Related: <\/span>Biggest Country Music Controversies Through the Years<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\tSometimes America\u2019s sweethearts go sour. From Morgan Wallen to The Chicks, the biggest names in country music have been at the center of some major controversies. Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer found themselves in hot water in the early 2000s after sharing their personal politics on a public stage. While performing across the [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
However, C+C Music Factory later released a statement distancing the group from Freedom 250, insisting that the band members do not \u201cparticipate nor side with any specific political party.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWE stand neutral when it comes to sides. We side with Global Love & Peace,\u201d the group statement read.<\/p>\n
Morris Day and the Time Denied \u2018Rumors\u2019 They Were Playing \u2018Freedom 250\u2019<\/h2>\n
The R&B group \u2014 best known for their collaborations with Prince<\/strong> \u2014 clarified via Instagram<\/a> on May 28 that \u201ccontrary to rumor\u201d they would not take part in Freedom 250<\/em>.<\/p>\n\u201cIt\u2019s A No For Me,\u201d Day added.<\/p>\n
The Commodores Denied That They Were Aligned With Any \u2018Single Political Party\u2019<\/h2>\n
As public outcry over the Great American State Fair grew in the late spring of 2026, numerous artists pulled out of performing<\/a> at the Freedom 250<\/em> concerts.<\/p>\n Keep scrolling for an explanation of why each artist backed out of the Trump-backed music festival:<\/p>\n The country music icon announced via Instagram<\/a> on May 28 that she was backing out of a scheduled slot at the Great American State Fair.<\/p>\n \u201cI would like to talk to you and clear the air. I will not be performing at the Great American State Fair on June 25,\u201d she confirmed<\/a>. \u201cI was presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading.\u201d<\/p>\n McBride insisted that she\u2019d only agreed to appear at the festival after asking \u201clots of questions and was assured this was a nonpartisan event that was meant to celebrate ALL 50 states.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn 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,\u201d she explained. \u201cI 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. Sounds fun, right? Wholesome even.\u201d<\/p>\n As Freedom 250 took shape, McBride noticed that \u201cthings started changing\u201d and she grew uncomfortable with the optics.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve spent my entire career singing songs about real people with real issues,\u201d she noted. \u201cI\u2019ve been blessed with the opportunity to be a voice for those who have felt like they didn\u2019t have one. It greatly upsets me that any fan who has been moved by my music may now feel like I\u2019m abandoning the meaning behind those songs. I assure you that is not the case. I appreciate every single fan who has reached out. I hope to get back to the DC area very soon.\u201d<\/p>\n On May 28, 2026, the Poison frontman joined a chorus of artists backing out of Freedom 250<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cAs many of you know, I\u2019ve spent my entire career bringing people together through music, positivity and good vibes,\u201d he said in a statement<\/a> on his website. \u201cMy shows have never been about politics. They\u2019re about giving people a place to come together, have a great time and forget about life\u2019s stresses for a few hours.\u201d<\/p>\n The \u201cEvery Rose Has Its Thorn\u201d singer was upset that \u201ca celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cConcerns have also been raised regarding the safety of my fans, band, crew, family and myself, including threats that are completely unfounded and unforgivable,\u201d Michaels said. \u201cBecause of that, I have made the difficult decision to step away from this performance.\u201d<\/p>\n Michaels insisted that his Freedom 250<\/em> cancellation \u201cisn\u2019t about politics,\u201d rather it\u2019s about \u201cstaying true to what I\u2019ve always believed in.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone is entitled to their own opinions,\u201d he wrote. \u201cThat\u2019s one of the freedoms our veterans fought for and something I\u2019ve always respected. But as a father, friend and bandmate, I have to take threats and safety concerns seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the more confusing aspects of the Freedom 250 backlash has centered around Milli Vanilli.<\/p>\n When the 1990 Best New Artist Grammy winners found fame with \u201cGirl You Know It\u2019s True,\u201d the public was led to believe that the duo\u2019s vocalists were models Fab Morvan<\/strong> and Rob Pilatus<\/strong>. However, it later came out that studio musicians \u2014 including Jodie Rocco<\/strong> and Linda Rocco<\/strong> \u2014 actually performed vocals that Morvan and Pilatus lip-synced to on stage. (Pilatus died of a drug overdose at age 32 in 1998.)<\/p>\n Freedom 250 organizers announced \u201cMilli Vanilli\u201d as part of the musical lineup without specifying who exactly would be performing. The Rocco sisters told The Associated Press<\/em> in an email that they were \u201cshocked\u201d to see Milli Vanilli on the Freedom 250<\/em> lineup and had no plans to take part.<\/p>\n However, Morvan subsequently confirmed to Consequence of Sound<\/em><\/a> that he was the one who was actually booked for the concert, not the Rocco sisters, and would \u201cfinally sing Milli Vanilli songs live in person\u201d at the Washington D.C. festival.<\/p>\n \u201cI am here to entertain and unite people, not divide them,\u201d Morvan \u2014 a French native \u2014 went on. \u201cLet\u2019s celebrate life & music and take a trip down memory lane. I feel honored to be a part of the Great American State Fair as it will celebrate the 250 Year Anniversary of America with so many other accomplished artists.\u201d<\/p>\n Young MC announced via Instagram<\/a> on May 27 that he would not take part in any \u201cTrump-backed\u201d event.<\/p>\n \u201cI have informed my agents that I will not be performing at the Freedom 250 event. The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event,\u201d the \u201cBust a Move\u201d rapper wrote. \u201cAnd despite the claims by the organizers that the event is non-partisan, SPIN<\/em> magazine describes it as Trump-backed. I hope to perform in D.C. in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged.\u201d<\/p>\n Frontman Freedom Williams<\/strong> insisted via Instagram on May 27 that he doesn\u2019t \u201cf*** with Trump\u201d and was not originally made aware that a June 2026 concert booking in Washington D.C. had any political implications.<\/p>\n However, Williams fired back at fans threatening to \u201ccancel\u201d C+C Music Factory over their involvement with Freedom 250<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe day I let you mother-f***ers tell me what to do is the day I die,\u201d he insisted<\/a>. \u201cLet me make it crystal clear: I do not live for none of you \u2026. I will vote for Genghis Khan<\/strong>, Hitler<\/strong> and Ivan the Terrible<\/strong> before I let you n*****s tell me what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t<\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\t\tSometimes America\u2019s sweethearts go sour. From Morgan Wallen to The Chicks, the biggest names in country music have been at the center of some major controversies. Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer found themselves in hot water in the early 2000s after sharing their personal politics on a public stage. While performing across the [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n However, C+C Music Factory later released a statement distancing the group from Freedom 250, insisting that the band members do not \u201cparticipate nor side with any specific political party.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWE stand neutral when it comes to sides. We side with Global Love & Peace,\u201d the group statement read.<\/p>\n The R&B group \u2014 best known for their collaborations with Prince<\/strong> \u2014 clarified via Instagram<\/a> on May 28 that \u201ccontrary to rumor\u201d they would not take part in Freedom 250<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s A No For Me,\u201d Day added.<\/p>\n<\/div>
\n Martina McBride; Donald Trump; Bret Michaels<\/span> Getty Images (3); Jason Davis; Anna Moneymaker; Cindy Ord\/SiriusXM<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMartina McBride Said She Was Misled Over the Festival<\/h2>\n
Bret Michaels Allegedly Faced Threats Over \u2018Freedom 250\u2019<\/h2>\n
Milli Vanilli\u2019s Involvement in \u2018Freedom 250\u2019 Raised Questions<\/h2>\n
<\/div>
\n Fab Morvan attends the 68th GRAMMY Awards.<\/span> Amy Sussman\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nYoung MC Refused to Take Part in a \u2018Trump-Backed\u2019 Event<\/h2>\n
C+C Music Factory\u2019s Frontman Hit Out at the Backlash<\/h2>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\t
\n Related: <\/span>Biggest Country Music Controversies Through the Years<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\nMorris Day and the Time Denied \u2018Rumors\u2019 They Were Playing \u2018Freedom 250\u2019<\/h2>\n
The Commodores Denied That They Were Aligned With Any \u2018Single Political Party\u2019<\/h2>\n
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