Artists withdraw from Trump-linked Freedom 250 Great American State Fair music lineup

The announcement comes after most of the previously announced musical acts dropped out or distanced themselves from the Great American State Fair event.

Becoming the sixth act to officially drop out of the partisan event celebrating America's 250th birthday. Milli Vanilli’s Fab Morvan Drops Out of Trump’s Great American State Fair Alex Young

Several artists, including country singer Martina McBride, have withdrawn from the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C.

Martina McBride, Brett Michaels, Young MC and more have also announced they won't be performing, with some artists saying they were made to believe the show would be non-partisan The post Milli Vanilli, The Commodores and more drop out of Donald Trump’s Freedom 250 Great American State Fair appeared first on NME.

Anti-Trump Entertainers Bolt From Freedom 250 Celebration Several entertainers abruptly backed out of President Donald Trump-linked Freedom 250 concerts this week after learning more details about the patriotic celebration planned for the National Mall. As American Greatness reports, the cancellations add to the long-running tensions between Americans and the politically progressive entertainment industry. Young MC, Morris Day, the Commodores, Bret Michaels, and country singer Martina McBride were among the performers who announced they would no longer appear at “The Great American State Fair,” a series of concerts and events scheduled for June 25 through July 10 in Washington, D.C. The event is being organized by Freedom 250, a group launched by Trump late last year that describes itself as a “national, non-partisan organization leading the celebration of our Nation’s 250th birthday.” Trump selected former State Department official Keith Krach to serve as the organization’s CEO. The cancellations came just one day after organizers unveiled the first wave of performers. McBride said on social media that she initially agreed to participate because she believed the event would remain politically neutral. “Yesterday things started changing and what we were told is, in fact, not what is happening,” she wrote Thursday. Young MC similarly suggested he was uncomfortable with the event’s political ties. “The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event,” he wrote on Instagram, adding that he hoped to “perform in D.C. in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged.” Morris Day also confirmed his departure in a brief Instagram statement. “Contrary to rumor, Morris Day & The Time will not be performing at the ‘GREAT AMERICAN STATE FAIR,’” he posted. C& C Music Factory issued a confusing statement, distancing themselves from the event: "As the Creator of C&C MUSIC FACTORY, I can state that we stand for love of all people and races globally and neutrality in all beliefs, in freedom and justice for all humanity" The greatest lip-syncers ever - Milli Vanilli - are also out: "The original/real vocalists of Milli Vanilli, Jodie Rocco, Linda Rocco. Brad Howell, John Davis, and Charles Shaw will NOT be performing their hits live at The Great American State Fair. Others using the name 'Milli Vanilli' that appear on the advertisement should be considered a tribute band with no association vocally or musically to our sound or songs." At least one “I Love the 90s” act will be there: Vanilla Ice. “He is proud to help celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary!” a representative for the “Ice Ice Baby” rapper wrote in an email to the AP. “Everyone is welcome to attend and celebrate USA’s Birthday and our Freedom!” Tyler Durden Fri, 05/29/2026 - 18:00

In honor of the country’s 250th anniversary, the Trump administration has set out to throw America’s biggest birthday bash yet—but it might be short on music. Earlier this week, Freedom 250—the nonpartisan group tasked with organizing events in honor of 250 years of independence—announced a concert series lineup for its flagship event, the Great American State Fair. But less than 48 hours after the announcement, most of the announced artists have backed out. The 16-day festival is to be hosted on the National Mall, featuring exhibits from 56 states and territories, similar to a World’s Fair, running from June 25 through July 10. The fair has gained attention for its extravagance, including 110-foot Ferris wheel, and its ties to the president, but is now making headlines for a scarce artist lineup. The initial announcement teased nine artists who would play across various days, including Martina McBride, Young MC, C+C Music Factory, Vanilla Ice, Milli Vanilli, The Commodores, Morris Day & The Time, Bret Michaels, and Flo Rida. As of publication, six have stepped down from performing. Artists claim they signed up for a non-political event The artists who backed out include Milli Vanilli, Martina McBride, Young MC, the Commodores, Morris Day & The Time, and Bret Michaels, with many of them pointing out that they allegedly were not made aware the event was political. “I was presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading,” McBride said via social media. Michaels shared a similar note, saying “unfortunately, 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.”  The Milli Vanilli situation added its own layer of confusion online. One of the two faces of Milli Vanilli, Fab Morvan, confirmed that he will be performing at the event. However, the band’s real vocalists spoke out and stated they will not be performing. “Others using the name ‘Milli Vanilli’ that appear on the advertisement should be considered a tribute band with no association vocally or musically to our sound or songs,” a statement said via X. While the artist behind C+C Music Factory has not yet backed out, he did post a 7-minute video defending himself from criticism, in which he also said he “doesn’t fuck with Trump.” He also said that connections between the festival and the president were not disclosed to him. Flo Rida has not spoken out since the wave of dropouts, either in favor or against the festival, and is still slated to appear. Fast Company reached out to the Freedom 250 task force for comment. Performer exodus quickly becomes a meme The shrinking lineup has not gone unnoticed online. The dropout announcements have become their own sort of meme, with users taking to social media to post fake versions of the flurry of announcements. “Marty McFly’s band The Pinheads has confirmed they will NOT be playing the Freedom 250 concert,” a user posted on Threads, referencing the fictional protagonist of the Back to the Future franchise. “Rick Astley has pulled out of the Freedom 250 concert series. He gave up,” another said, a riff on the artist’s “Never Gonna Give You Up”—a longstanding meme. A user replied, “Journey also pulled out. They Stopped Believing.”