Is Garth Brooks a MAGA man? Country artist slammed for Biden Inaugural performance after saying no to Trump
The stage is set and the line-up of performances for Joe Biden’s inauguration has already been announced. The inauguration of America’s 46th President, which is scheduled to take place on January 20, will witness several artists, including Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Jon Bon Jovi.
With only a few moments until the big event, it has been announced that country music star Garth Brooks, also a well-known Republican, will be joining other musicians to deliver electrifying performances during the inaugural ceremony.
Talking about gracing Biden and Kamala Harris’ swearing-in ceremony, Brooks told in a virtual press conference, “In our household, this is not a political statement, this is a statement of unity.” According to Deadline, incoming First Lady Jill Biden “asked him over the weekend to perform.”
Brooks had previously performed at the Lincoln Memorial inaugural concert in 2009. However, he did not perform at Donald Trump’s Inauguration in 2017, citing prescheduled tour dates as the reason.
The fact that the musician is performing at Biden’s inauguration isn’t serving MAGA supporters well and a considerable number of them have expressed on social media that they wouldn’t be listening to his music anymore as he is extending his support to the Democrats.
However, Brooks says he’s “tired of being divided” and seems content with his decision to perform when the 46th President will be sworn in. “There’s a common theme in every presidential election. New beginnings. New starts. We’re all together in this one, but truly I think the word unity, the word love, the word that we belong to each other. … We can’t just take an extreme left and extreme right, because there’s a silent majority in the middle. It’s going to dwarf both of those.”
This was enough to ignite fury among Trump followers, who took to Twitter to express their disappointment in Brooks, with many wanting to ‘cancel’ him. One social media user said, "Garth brooks should realize cancel culture goes both ways. Trump has an army of supporters that will never forget." Another wrote, "So let's cancel Garth Brooks!" One said, "And just like that, Garth Brooks becomes my least favorite country singer."
"If Garth Brooks is a MAGA man, why would he bother playing at the Biden/Harris inauguration?" one tweet read and another said, "I’m burning all my Garth Brooks music. Oh wait, I don’t have any."
Garth brooks should realize cancel culture goes both ways. Trump has an army of supporters that will never forget. https://t.co/e48C3TPUub
— Patricia Jordan- I’m an American Daughter (@Patrici50562587) January 19, 2021
And just like that, Garth Brooks becomes my least favorite country singer.
— DTLION60 🇺🇸🇺🇲🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸USA1st (@ClrGdr97) January 19, 2021
If Garth Brooks is a MAGA man, why would he bother playing at the Biden/Harris inauguration?
— therealcaptainsmee (@therealcptnsmee) January 19, 2021
I’m burning all my Garth brooks music. Oh wait, I don’t have any.
— Consume anti-virals (@CalframeDavid) January 19, 2021
Brooks hasn't revealed the name of the songs he would be performing during the big event, but he's told that it would probably not be 'We Shall Be Free' as he had sung it at Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009. Unlike the previous event, Brooks will be performing before a lesser audience, owing to the circumstances caused by coronavirus. But Brooks nevertheless called the opportunity an "honor".
He said in a statement, "I might be the only Republican at this place, but it’s about reaching across and loving one another."
The primetime event ‘Celebrating America’ will air on ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and MSNBC from 8.30 pm to 10 pm ET. Wondering where to stream it? Catch it on the Presidential Inaugural Committee's social media channels and Amazon Prime Video, Microsoft Bing, NewsNOW from Fox, AT&T DirecTV and U-verse.