{"id":702364,"date":"2026-05-29T21:10:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T21:10:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/702364\/"},"modified":"2026-05-29T21:10:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T21:10:13","slug":"artists-drop-out-of-americas-250th-birthday-event-after-lineup-announcement-national","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/702364\/","title":{"rendered":"Artists drop out of America\u2019s 250th birthday event after lineup announcement – National"},"content":{"rendered":"

Several artists slated to perform at U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s<\/a> Great American State Fair have dropped out of the event following the lineup announcement.<\/p>\n

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The Great American State Fair shows were announced earlier this week and are set to take place on Washington\u2019s National Mall.<\/p>\n

Bret Michaels<\/a>, Martina McBride<\/a>, Young MC, Morris Day and the Commodores are among the scheduled acts who have said they will not be appearing.<\/p>\n

The Great American State Fair, a 16-day event organized by Trump\u2019s non-profit Freedom 250, is expected to run June 25 through July 10.<\/p>\n

Freedom 250, which Trump launched late last year, describes itself as a \u201cnational, non-partisan organization leading the celebration of our Nation\u2019s 250th birthday.\u201d Trump appointed Keith Krach, who served as an under-secretary of state during his first term, as the organization\u2019s CEO.<\/p>\n

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Michaels, Poison\u2019s frontman, announced early Friday that he was pulling out of the event following concerns regarding his safety.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen this opportunity was originally presented to my team, it was described as a celebration of our country through music and a chance to honor our veterans, active military, first responders, teachers and hardworking Americans from all walks of life,\u201d Michaels said in a statement posted to Instagram<\/a>. \u201cAs the son of a veteran, and coming from a family that has proudly served, that is something I have always been honored to support.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of. Concerns have also been raised regarding the safety of my fans, band, crew, family and myself, including threats that are completely unfounded and unforgivable. Because of that, I have made the difficult decision to step away from this performance.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Michaels said his cancellation \u201cisn\u2019t about politics.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about staying true to what I\u2019ve always believed in. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. That\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 Michaels added.<\/p>\n

Country singer McBride wrote Thursday on social media<\/a> that she will not be performing at the Great American State Fair on June 25.<\/p>\n

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McBride said she had agreed to perform after she \u201cwas assured this was a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\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. I 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,\u201d McBride continued. \u201cSounds fun, right? Wholesome even. Yesterday things started changing and what we were told is, in fact, not what is happening.\u201d<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Concrete Angel\u00a0singer said she has spent her entire career \u201csinging songs about real people with real issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

\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,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n

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Rapper Young MC also backed out of the event, telling Vibe on Thursday<\/a> that he had no clue the Great American State Fair was a \u201cTrump-backed event.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo that was new to me. My whole thing was \u2018tell me what the event is, what it\u2019s about, who you are, and then give me the choice of whether I want to do the event or not.\u2019 I was never given that choice,\u201d he told the outlet. \u201cI was told one thing and then it was a bait-and-switch. All the comments I\u2019ve seen from the artists that have dropped out thought it was supposed to be a regular show in D.C.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The\u00a0Bust A Move\u00a0rapper questioned whether the National Mall shows would be non-partisan.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe artists were never told about any political involvement with the event,\u201d he wrote on Instagram<\/a>, adding that he hoped to \u201cperform in D.C. in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged.\u201d<\/p>\n

Morris Day shared a graphic to Facebook<\/a> that read, \u201cContrary to rumor, Morris Day & The Time will not be performing at \u2018Great American State Fair.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a no for me,\u201d he added in the caption.<\/p>\n

The Commodores announced that they would not be performing at the Great American State Fair.<\/p>\n

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In a post on X<\/a>, the band said that \u201cour music has always been our voice and we choose not to publicly affiliate with any single political party.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe support the betterment of all Americans,\u201d the band added.<\/p>\n

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Other scheduled performers who are still set to make an appearance include Milli Vanilli<\/a>, the pop duo from the 1980s who were discredited after it was revealed that their frontmen, Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan, were only lip-syncing.<\/p>\n

Milli Vanilli won a Grammy in 1990 for Best New Artist, but the award was rescinded after the scandal broke. Pilatus died in 1998, while Morvan has attempted a solo career and published a memoir, You Know It\u2019s True: The Real Story of Milli Vanilli.<\/p>\n

Morvan told Rolling Stone<\/a> that he would still be performing at the Great American State Fair.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI am here to entertain and unite people, not divide them,\u201d Morvan said. \u201cLet\u2019s celebrate life and music and take a trip down memory lane. I feel honored to be a part of as it will celebrate the 250 Year Anniversary of America with so many other accomplished artists.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rapper Vanilla Ice<\/a> will also be performing at the Great American State Fair.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Ice Ice Baby\u00a0rapper\u2019s manager, TQ Management, told Rolling Stone he is looking forward to the concert.<\/p>\n

\u201cVanilla Ice is contracted and will perform at the Great American Fair at the National Mall on Friday, June 26,\u201d the rep told the outlet. \u201cHe is proud to help celebrate America\u2019s 250th Anniversary! Everyone is welcome to attend and celebrate USA\u2019s Birthday and our Freedom!\u201d<\/p>\n

Vanilla Ice shared a TikTok<\/a> on Thursday, confirming his excitement for the event.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m super honoured to do this concert with everybody. We\u2019re going to bring back the \u201990s. Put your dancing shoes on,\u201d he said in the video. \u201cIt\u2019s all about enjoying the great times of 250 years from George Washington until now, all the presidents and everybody in between. This is a magical event that\u2019s going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

@vanillaiceme<\/a> <\/p>\n

This is awesome. America is turning 250 years old. I\u2019m honored to do this concert and get everybody dancing, That\u2019s what it\u2019s all about. We are all one. This is to bring everyone together and celebrate the birthday of our country. And all of the soldiers, veterans, army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Police, EMS, Firefighters, space Force, Coast Guard. thank you for your service. Thank you for our Freedom. Happy birthday America. AmerAmerica250pyhappybirthdayi#America<\/a><\/p>\n

\u266c Ice Ice Baby \u2013 Vanilla Ice<\/a> <\/p>\n

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Others announced as performers at the Great American State Fair include Flo Rida and C+C Music Factory.<\/p>\n

\u2014with files from The Associated Press<\/p>\n

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