Martina McBride, Bret Michaels and several other artists backed out of appearing at the Great American State Fair’s Freedom 250 concerts.
The 16-day Great American State Fair has been promoted as a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, with exhibitions, parades and a controversial UFC event at the White House building up to Independence Day festivities on July 4.
An element of the festivities that has generated considerable backlash is the Freedom 250 concerts, which are being held to “celebrate the triumph of the American Spirit.”
“250 years ago, America chose freedom,” the official website said. “This year, we celebrate it in every city, every town, every stretch of American road.”
While the concerts are promoted as “nonpartisan,” the Freedom 250 website does feature photos of President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump. The website’s list of financial partners and sponsors raised eyebrows as well, as it includes numerous Trump administration agencies — including the Department of Homeland Security and the White House itself — as well as corporations such as Palantir, UFC and ExxonMobil, all of which have ties to the administration.
As public outcry over the Great American State Fair grew in the late spring of 2026, numerous artists pulled out of performing at the Freedom 250 concerts.
Martina McBride; Donald Trump; Bret Michaels Getty Images (3); Jason Davis; Anna Moneymaker; Cindy Ord/SiriusXM
Keep scrolling for an explanation of why each artist backed out of the Trump-backed music festival:
Martina McBride Said She Was Misled Over the Festival
The country music icon announced via Instagram on May 28 that she was backing out of a scheduled slot at the Great American State Fair.
“I would like to talk to you and clear the air. I will not be performing at the Great American State Fair on June 25,” she confirmed. “I was presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading.”
McBride insisted that she’d only agreed to appear at the festival after asking “lots of questions and was assured this was a nonpartisan event that was meant to celebrate ALL 50 states.”
“In 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,” she explained. “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. Sounds fun, right? Wholesome even.”
As Freedom 250 took shape, McBride noticed that “things started changing” and she grew uncomfortable with the optics.
“I’ve spent my entire career singing songs about real people with real issues,” she noted. “I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to be a voice for those who have felt like they didn’t have one. It greatly upsets me that any fan who has been moved by my music may now feel like I’m 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.”
Bret Michaels Allegedly Faced Threats Over ‘Freedom 250’
On May 28, 2026, the Poison frontman joined a chorus of artists backing out of Freedom 250.
“As many of you know, I’ve spent my entire career bringing people together through music, positivity and good vibes,” he said in a statement on his website. “My shows have never been about politics. They’re about giving people a place to come together, have a great time and forget about life’s stresses for a few hours.”
The “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” singer was upset that “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,” Michaels said. “Because of that, I have made the difficult decision to step away from this performance.”
Michaels insisted that his Freedom 250 cancellation “isn’t about politics,” rather it’s about “staying true to what I’ve always believed in.”
“Everyone is entitled to their own opinions,” he wrote. “That’s one of the freedoms our veterans fought for and something I’ve always respected. But as a father, friend and bandmate, I have to take threats and safety concerns seriously.”
Milli Vanilli’s Involvement in ‘Freedom 250’ Raised Questions
One of the more confusing aspects of the Freedom 250 backlash has centered around Milli Vanilli.
When the 1990 Best New Artist Grammy winners found fame with “Girl You Know It’s True,” the public was led to believe that the duo’s vocalists were models Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus. However, it later came out that studio musicians — including Jodie Rocco and Linda Rocco — actually performed vocals that Morvan and Pilatus lip-synced to on stage. (Pilatus died of a drug overdose at age 32 in 1998.)
Freedom 250 organizers announced “Milli Vanilli” as part of the musical lineup without specifying who exactly would be performing. The Rocco sisters told The Associated Press in an email that they were “shocked” to see Milli Vanilli on the Freedom 250 lineup and had no plans to take part.
Fab Morvan attends the 68th GRAMMY Awards. Amy Sussman/Getty Images
However, Morvan subsequently confirmed to Consequence of Sound that he was the one who was actually booked for the concert, not the Rocco sisters, and would “finally sing Milli Vanilli songs live in person” at the Washington D.C. festival.
“I am here to entertain and unite people, not divide them,” Morvan — a French native — went on. “Let’s 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.”
Young MC Refused to Take Part in a ‘Trump-Backed’ Event
Young MC announced via Instagram on May 27 that he would not take part in any “Trump-backed” event.
“I 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,” the “Bust a Move” rapper wrote. “And despite the claims by the organizers that the event is non-partisan, SPIN 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.”
C+C Music Factory’s Frontman Hit Out at the Backlash
Frontman Freedom Williams insisted via Instagram on May 27 that he doesn’t “f*** with Trump” and was not originally made aware that a June 2026 concert booking in Washington D.C. had any political implications.
However, Williams fired back at fans threatening to “cancel” C+C Music Factory over their involvement with Freedom 250.
“The day I let you mother-f***ers tell me what to do is the day I die,” he insisted. “Let me make it crystal clear: I do not live for none of you …. I will vote for Genghis Khan, Hitler and Ivan the Terrible before I let you n*****s tell me what to do.”
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However, C+C Music Factory later released a statement distancing the group from Freedom 250, insisting that the band members do not “participate nor side with any specific political party.”
“WE stand neutral when it comes to sides. We side with Global Love & Peace,” the group statement read.
Morris Day and the Time Denied ‘Rumors’ They Were Playing ‘Freedom 250’
The R&B group — best known for their collaborations with Prince — clarified via Instagram on May 28 that “contrary to rumor” they would not take part in Freedom 250.
“It’s A No For Me,” Day added.
The Commodores Denied That They Were Aligned With Any ‘Single Political Party’
The classic R&B band confirmed on May 28, 2026, that they “will not be performing at the Great American State Fair.”
“Our music has always been our voice and we choose not to publicly affiliate with any single political party,” they continued. “We support the betterment of all Americans.”
