Politics - News Analysis

Lee Greenwood, Mr. ‘Proud to be an American’ Himself, CANCELS His NRA Appearance, Then Drops Bomb on Fox News: ‘That Weapon Killed Kids!’

Lee Greenwood, the staple of Trump rallies with his “Proud to be an American” song (where at least I know I’m free…) has pulled out of the NRA’s annual meeting in Texas, being the most prominent musician to do so. In addition, Greenwood appeared on Fox News Friday morning where he told the hosts that his conscience would not allow him to perform at the event in the wake of the Uvalde school shooting.

Greenwood directly cited the massacre that left 19 children and two adults dead as the reason he just couldn’t go through with the appearance and performance.

During an appearance on Fox & Friends on Friday, Greenwood added: “For me to go and play at the NRA just days after the shooting would be an endorsement, and people would then deem that as me saying ‘I like this weapon.’ Obviously, that weapon killed kids. I just couldn’t go.”

See how easy that was Republicans? Greenwood can still be a patriot. He can be a Republican. And he can HE DECENT. It’s not difficult.

Yes, we are placing this image in every story about Uvalde. We want you to see their faces. God, they mattered.

Greenwood noted that he and other artists were on contract to perform, but that the event happened at “a very bad time” so soon after the attack.

The cowardly hosts quickly changed the subject after his comments. So typical.

On Thursday night, the country singer announced that “As a father, I join the rest of America in being absolutely heartbroken by the horrific event that transpired this week in Texas,” according to Variety. “I was scheduled to perform at the NRA’s private event on Saturday with my band. After thoughtful consideration, we have decided to cancel the appearance out of respect for those mourning the loss of those innocent children and teachers in Uvalde.”

Greenwood’s ultra-patriotic anthem “God Bless the USA” is just the latest song to vanish from the NRA playlist after a bunch of other performers canceled their planned performances this week. “American Pie” singer Don McLean pulled his appearance saying it would be “disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform for the NRA” in light of Tuesday’s massacre. The Houston concert—called “The Grand Ole Night of Freedom” also saw country singers Larry Stewart and Larry Gatlin back out after the shooting, with Gatlin going so far as to criticize the NRA for not supporting background checks. “I’m a Second Amendment guy,” Gatlin said, “But the Second Amendment should not apply to everyone. It’s that simple.”

Singer Danielle Peck took a similar line to Greenwood in her cancellation, citing a “respect for all of the families in Uvalde” in a statement announcing her withdrawal from the show, which is set to take place around 270 miles from the scene of the mass shooting. Their cancellations leave Jacob Bryant as the only artist remaining on the bill…which will be weird and time will tell if he decides to continue with his appearance.

And it’s not just musicians who are bailing on the event.

After days of intense public scrutiny, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott will no longer attend the event, deciding instead to send pre-recorded video remarks. Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Dan Crenshaw also said this week they’ll no longer attend. Although Cornyn hadn’t planned to attend prior to what happened at Uvalde, so don’t go giving him any special credit. He had a previously planned event and wasn’t attending the NRA convention anyway.

But Ted Cruz, who stormed out of an interview when asked about gun violence in America on Tuesday, is still set to show up and speak at the convention. And Donald Trump has remained steadfast in his conviction to attend the event. Turn down an auditorium full of MAGAs who will applaud and cheer him? No way is Trump turning that down. The fact that Cruz and Trump are attending should come as no surprise. They are repugnant in every way.

“America needs real solutions and real leadership in this moment, not politicians and partisanship,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday. “That’s why I will keep my longtime commitment to speak in Texas at the NRA Convention and deliver an important address to America.”

So, props to Greenwood for doing the right thing. This convention will really show who cares, and who doesn’t.

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meet the author

Nicole Hickman James is a lifelong Democrat and political activist who first cut her teeth as a teenager volunteering for Mike Dukakis’ presidential campaign. She has worked and volunteered for John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, HFA (Hillary For America), and Organizing For Action. She’s passionate about liberal and progressive causes and considers President Obama her favorite president ever. She holds her Bachelor’s from Boston College in Economics and her Master's from Columbia, also in Economics. When not working as a writer, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her three college-aged children.

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