The Freedom 250 events to celebrate America’s 250th birthday are set to begin in June.

Martina McBride drops out of ‘misleading’ Great American State Fair, says she’s not ‘abandoning the meaning’ behind her songs

The Freedom 250 events to celebrate America's 250th birthday are set to begin in June.

By Raechal Shewfelt

Raechal Shewfelt

Raechal Shewfelt is a writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2024. Her work has previously appeared on Yahoo and in American *Journalism Review* and *The Shreveport Times*.

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May 29, 2026 12:12 a.m. ET

Martina McBride performs in Nashville in 2025. Credit:

Jason Kempin/Getty

- Martina McBride said Thursday that she will not participate in Freedom 250's Great American State Fair.

- The "Independence Day" singer said she had been told the event was nonpartisan, but that was "misleading."

- McBride is one of several artists who have dropped out of the planned event.

Count Martina McBride as another performer who won't be taking the stage as part of the Freedom 250 celebration.

The country singer was listed as one of the acts participating in the Great American State Fair by the organizers on Wednesday, but she shared a lengthy statement Thursday, explaining that she would not be participating after all.

"I would like to talk to you and clear the air. I will not be performing at the Great American State Fair on June 25th," she wrote on social media. "I was presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading. I asked 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. 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. Yesterday things started changing and what we were told is, in fact, not what is happening."

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"I've spent my entire career singing songs about real people with real issues," McBride continued. "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 may have 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."

Morris Day responds to 'rumor' that he's performing at Freedom 250 event

Young MC backs out of controversial Freedom 250 concert: 'Politically charged'

McBride's exit from the event comes after other artists have dropped out.

The Commodores also posted Thursday that they wouldn't participate: "Our music has always been our voice and we choose not to publicly affiliate with any single political party," the posted. "We support the betterment of all Americans."

On Wednesday, rapper Young MC announced that he had also withdrawn from the event, citing the same reason as McBride.

"I HAVE INFORMED MY AGENTS THAT I WILL NOT BE PERFORMING AT THE FREEDOM 250 EVENT," he told fans. "The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event. 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."

Martina McBride at the CMA Awards in 2019.

Jason Kempin/Getty

Morris Day and the Time did the same. Day kept his message short and sweet.

"Contrary to rumor, Morris Day and the Time will not be performing at the 'Great American State Fair,'" Day wrote in a post captioned, "It's a no for me."

C+C Music Factory lead singer Freedom Williams posted a video casting doubt he would attend, and Milli Vanilli singer Jodie Rocco told the Associated Press that she was "shocked" to see the act's name listed.

When reached by * *on Wednesday, Freedom 250 spokesperson Rachel Reisner said, "Freedom 250 is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) dedicated to uniting Americans around the nation's 250th anniversary. Freedom 250 is focused on our signature celebrations and events that honor our history and engage all Americans — welcoming all who share our goal of commemorating this milestone in a way that uplifts and unites America."

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