The Freedom 250 celebration isn’t going according to plan. Multiple artists are backing out of the Great American State Fair due to the event’s failure to remain nonpartisan. It is scheduled to take place roughly one month from now, before July 4, in honor of the United States’ 250th anniversary.
Below, find out which major artists, including Martina McBride and Bret Michaels, have exited the lineup for the Freedom 250 Great American State Fair.
— Martina McBride (@martinamcbride) May 29, 2026
“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,” McBride wrote in social media announcement. “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.”
McBride went on, “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.”
“I’ve spent my entire career singing songs about real people with real issues,” McBride added. “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.”
