May 28, 2026
So Much Shade For America’s 250th Anniversary Concert Lineup, And It’s Shrinking By The Day
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RSS Feed The concert series announced to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary is being widely mocked online. All of the artists on the list haven’t had a hit song in decades, and to make matters worse, at least three of the named acts have already announced they will now, NOT be performing. The theme of the concert series is “I Love the ‘90s” but there isn’t much love going around for what many are calling a politically charged event.
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00:00:02
Speaker 1: Hey, folks. It is Thursday, May twenty eighth, and the months anticipated star studded lineup of performers for the Country two hundred and fiftieth anniversary concert was announced in the morning. By the afternoon, at least two artists had dropped out, but don't worry, Milli Vanilli and Vanilla Ice are still slated to perform. And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ. Who Robes? I saw people were dropping out. Thank god it ain't Milli Vanilli. I would have been upset.
00:00:35
Speaker 2: Yeah, but only half of Milli Vanilli can be there? And how much actual singing would be going on with the whole lip syncing they've been.
00:00:43
Speaker 1: He's been singing live lately. He's coming, He's doing this. Did you figure out? Is it Milli Vanilly? That's damn sorry.
00:00:48
Speaker 2: So confusing. I don't I don't know which one is, which Rob was He died in nineteen ninety eight. I think Robes and Fabrice is still living. That's the way I understood it.
00:01:04
Speaker 1: Here's the thing, folks, This conversation we have we're having is the one a lot of people are having. It's one of confusion after the big announcement that the list of performers for this year's two hundred and fiftieth Anniversary celebration happening on the National Mall for sixteen days this summer. Obviously, Rope, this is a big, big, big priority for President Trump.
00:01:27
Speaker 2: Oh yes, he has. In fact, a lot of his beautification projects have all been inspired by the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary. He's actually used this anniversary to justify lots of moves he's made along the way. But yes, pool right cool, You've got to get the reflecting pool exactly how you want it. There's talk of all sorts of marks he may leave with the two hundred and fiftieth anniversar a.
00:01:50
Speaker 1: So, folks, this is happening this summer over a couple of weeks. Was the day June twenty fifth of July tenth. They're going to turn the National Mall into a big festival. They actually calling it the Great America and State Fair, and people can go every day and just have a blast celebrating the country. So Robes, A big centerpiece is going to be entertainment. Correct, So they have let us know now the list of performers who are coming to the big two hundred and fiftieth anniversary. Something this big robes You have to imagine the biggest artists on the planet would be coming. So the list comes out, people were scratching their heads. So are we. So if you haven't heard yet, folks, actually tell me first your reaction before you give everybody all the names.
00:02:33
Speaker 2: I'm not your surprised. You're not surprised because honestly, look, think about the fact that Carrie Underwood saying at the inauguration she had so much backlash just for even being a part of President Trump's second inauguration. She was defending herself, having defend off a lot of hate, a lot of folks saying I'll never listen to your music again. I mean, the threat of fans literally turning off from you and tuning you out is real.
00:03:05
Speaker 1: So you're saying you're not surprised by the lineup because these are folks who maybe are don't have to worry about that or pass that prime, or don't give a damn what all.
00:03:15
Speaker 2: Of the aboves all that oh past their prime and don't have to worry what people think about them or whether or not they like their music, and they don't mind being affiliated with the Trump administration.
00:03:25
Speaker 1: So you think it's possible this was by design by the administration to actually get people who wouldn't have this might have been a strategy.
00:03:35
Speaker 2: Well, what current artist that you can think of has Lee Greenwood? Sorry, okay, okay, exactly who has publicly aligned themselves with President Trump. In fact, what you've seen, and we've done stories and episodes on this where the Trump administration will use a current popular artist's song for some of their online social media and not only do they get pushback, they get actual social media post saying never use my song again. I don't want to be affiliated with you. They're very aware that most current artists, and I think that's a fair thing to say, do not want to be attached to this administration.
00:04:14
Speaker 1: All right. So with that set up, the lineup was announced. It was yesterday morning. Here are your artists for the Big two and fiftieth anniversary concert.
00:04:24
Speaker 2: Martina McBride, Nice Morris Day and The Time.
00:04:27
Speaker 3: Love Them, Brett Michaels from Poison, Millie Vanilly Girl. You know is true, the Commodorees can't go wrong, Young mc busted a move still huh, flow right up?
00:04:41
Speaker 2: Wow, Apple bottom jeans see and See Music Factory.
00:04:45
Speaker 1: What's the song again? We just we can't guess.
00:04:48
Speaker 2: What a sweat machine? What is it called? Something like that? Wait?
00:04:51
Speaker 1: Because the title is bizare But it was a mega hit.
00:04:53
Speaker 2: It's a mega hit. I just remembered it and I still can't remember it.
00:04:58
Speaker 1: Throws you. The title of the song throw you because it's called Gonna make You Sweat. Everybody dance.
00:05:04
Speaker 2: Everybody danced, bump done, Yes, and then Vanilla Ice, mister Rip van Winkle himself.
00:05:11
Speaker 1: Yes, Vanilla Eyes. That is your lineup of performers. Now it is obviously these It's clear these are not folks who have current hits. But all of these folks robes have iconic songs. They literally have iconic music, even if it was just one hit. So this is not in my opinion. I look at this as we're music folks. These two folks have made an impression. I'll put an aster by Vanilla or Milli Vanilla, but you give Oh.
00:05:42
Speaker 2: I was gonna say, Vanilla Eyes, that song is legit. I I have listened to that song and it has been used in different iterations by other artists.
00:05:49
Speaker 1: Every single one of these folks have a legit music. History or or even iconic to a certain degree.
00:05:56
Speaker 2: Yes, and we will get into how much fun people are having with this list. But organized did say they claimed they chose the nineties as this iconic era where you've got crowd pleasing songs, so they wanted to have the crowd pleased right with what they chose. It's just a throwback and a little bit of a head scratcher for a lot of people expecting bigger current artists.
00:06:18
Speaker 1: Okay, so all of this went down the morning, but by the afternoon we got at least two and now maybe a third artist who has dropped out, and Rome's a part of it and will tell you who they are that dropped out, but Romes. The reaction that I saw was more people making fun than attacking the artists. But people were scratching their heads. Mister president, this is the biggest thing ever. And you've got Milli Vanilli on the list.
00:06:47
Speaker 2: Yes, because in their announcement they'd said that they would be they were announcing music icons. That's how they set it up. And so you're here thinking music icons, who have we got? And some of the posts were like icons, Lol. This lineup would have crushed in nineteen eighty nine. Yes, and uh, this is some of the funny ones. The York County Fair in Pennsylvania gets a better lineup than this. Okay, stop, that was a little tough. If you know who any of these musical acts are, here's a reminder to schedule your colonoscopy.
00:07:24
Speaker 1: Stop.
00:07:24
Speaker 2: That's kind of funny. Come on, They unironically brought out Milli Vanilly. Amazing, just amazing. Nothing says freedom like apple bottom jeans.
00:07:36
Speaker 1: Good. It is a good songs.
00:07:38
Speaker 2: The American Millennium of Humiliation is well underway. Oh, this one was kind of funny. This is a rural casino summer band lineup.
00:07:46
Speaker 1: Oh stop it.
00:07:47
Speaker 2: Yeah, this is part of what is being said. Someone even suggested Vanilla Ice and Millie Vanilli should merge, calling it Vanilla Millie Vanilli. I thought that was kind of funny. I thought just Milli Vanilla fun Yes, this was a funny one. Sixteen years ago this lineup would have also sucked.
00:08:07
Speaker 1: Okay, Scott, that's just being mean.
00:08:11
Speaker 2: And people were genuinely questioning the Milli Vanilli thing, like this is a joke, right, this isn't actually serious. A lot of the comments were questioning the the authenticity of the lineup, like thinking they actually wouldn't put Milli Vanilli up there after all the scandals and the fact that we all learned, at least those of us at a certain age, all learned that lip syncing was going on throughout all of it. I wonder if even younger kids know the Milli Vanilli uh controversy. They might not.
00:08:40
Speaker 1: Probably not do they know the song? Right? I don't hear the songs in rotation anymore. It's still available on Spotify. The Milli Vanilli one was a bit of a head scratcher. And again Fab is the one that the surviving member, right, Yes, bab Mormon, he's a surviving member and he has bro it has been active, been out there, been touring, been doing smaller gig, but he has been out there and it's active and still see even though he didn't think they go on Grammys, right.
00:09:03
Speaker 2: And they were revoked right right?
00:09:06
Speaker 1: Okay, so that's the reaction, the head scratching reaction. But Robes, they made the announcement yesterday and almost immediately we heard from two of those performers that yeah, we ain't coming, and then we heard from a third later in the day. Later in the day that we'll get into but robes. This was pretty quick. This was pretty swift, and it didn't seem like they waited for a whole lot of reaction to say, oh, I don't want to be a part of it. Some of them seemed genuinely surprised they were affiliated with it.
00:09:36
Speaker 2: Yes, the two who jumped out at first was it it was Morris Day in the Time and then Young MC and they seemed as though they weren't fully briefed on what it was they had agreed to perform at. They didn't realize it was affiliated and sponsored by the Trump administration. They thought perhaps it was just a celebrat partisan celebration on the mall. And once they got the sense that this was actually attached to the Trump administration, they fired back, and some of them fiercely.
00:10:10
Speaker 1: And Moore's Day did one that was it was short sweetened with the point. He actually put up a graphic on Instagram on his page and the graphic said, and the graphic said this, contrary to rumor, More's Day and the Time will not be performing at the Great American State Fair. That was in the image, and then in the caption below he wrote it's a no for me.
00:10:34
Speaker 2: It's a no for me.
00:10:35
Speaker 1: And that was it, and he left it there, didn't explain anything, didn't go into it. Now. Young MC had a little more to say in the Facebook.
00:10:43
Speaker 2: Ooh, he certainly did. He said, I have informed my agents that I will not be performing at the Freedom two fifty event. That was in all caps. By the way, the artists were never told about any political involvement with the event, and despite the claims by the organizers that the event is non part of it and Spin magazine describes it as Trump backed, I hope to perform in DC in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged.
00:11:08
Speaker 1: He could have said a lot more, but he left it short. The fir was still direct and fair.
00:11:12
Speaker 2: But I just think it's so interesting that none of this was discussed with these artists. They didn't know what they had agreed to, They didn't know did their agents not give them the full For one one, how is it that it got to the point where they were all announced and then almost immediately to the point where you said, it doesn't seem likely that they waited for the tea leaves. They didn't wait to hear what the reaction would be it seemed fairly, meaning that they were almost shocked that they were attached.
00:11:40
Speaker 1: To this, these two more as they and young see it feels as if if they had been informed when their agent was explaining it, it would have been an immediate and a hard note.
00:11:53
Speaker 2: Yes, that is exactly what it seemed. That's what it seemed like.
00:11:58
Speaker 1: But do you buy ro Is it possible? We deal with a lot of folks and a lot of entertainment and deals and things. We've had ourselves and schedules, and sometimes somebody will say to you, Hey, got this one coming up. It's going to be on this date. Cool, let's do it. Do you think that's maybe legit? They had no idea.
00:12:16
Speaker 2: It could be, you know, they might look. I don't know how it works when you're I don't want to say it has been, but your glory days are perhaps behind you, and you're excited to get works.
00:12:24
Speaker 1: Are your biggest hits are behind you?
00:12:26
Speaker 2: Your biggest hits are behind you. You're not touring with new music and selling out stadiums. So when you have some beloved favorites that are nostalgic, you find yourself going to different events that maybe yes, it's it's in your older years, and you're Yes, it's nice to get some extra income. It's nice to be back on stage. It's nice to have people singing your songs.
00:12:50
Speaker 1: We just saw cool in the game.
00:12:52
Speaker 2: Yes, and they were phenomenal. So that's what I'm imagining. So they think they're signing up for some festival in DC, or they get to sing their greatest hits that pe people know every word to, and or maybe even just their greatest hit, whatever it is. But they get to be the rock star they once were for at least a moment, and so they just say, sure, sign me up. Sure, that's an extra bit of cash. I don't know how much these artists are being paid, but I guess you could see how it would happen. They just get booked up and they don't necessarily read the fine print.
00:13:21
Speaker 1: I actually buy that these two. I take at their word. But we told you, folks, there was a third that dropped out, but then hinted that maybe he would perform. You gotta hear what the dude from CNC Music Factory had to say. It was a profanity laced and hilarious eight minute video explaining whether or not he'll be coming to perform, and also after the break robes and I will go through this list and tell you who we'd be excited to see performs to here.
00:14:08
Speaker 2: Welcome back everyone to this episode of Amy and TJ. We were talking about the Great American State Fair.
00:14:14
Speaker 1: Girl you know it's true.
00:14:15
Speaker 2: Yeah, girl, you know it's true. It's happening on the National Mall from June twenty fifth to July tenth, sixteen days of some of the most nostalgic artists of our.
00:14:26
Speaker 1: Time with iconic songs. We had iconic moments.
00:14:30
Speaker 2: Thy songs, colllebration songs.
00:14:32
Speaker 1: Ray can't everybody finished? Finish this sentence? All right, stop collaborate and listen. Isis back with a brand.
00:14:42
Speaker 2: New edition edition.
00:14:43
Speaker 1: Attention. Yeah, I'm saying we love these songs. Well, we laughing about Vanilla Ice as soon as we hear Doom Doom, Doom to Doom hit Crazy, So don't lack them all too much.
00:14:56
Speaker 2: Yes, no, I hear you. But we mentioned that immediately two of the bands that were put out in this big announcement left, like said, we ain't doing this the day it was announced, but they were fairly though they were politically correct they weren't. They didn't go in one direction or the other. They just said, don't want to be affiliated with any politics. So yeah, peace out everybody. However, Freedom Williams took another tactic.
00:15:27
Speaker 1: His name is even Freedom Williams.
00:15:28
Speaker 2: That's kind of fun.
00:15:29
Speaker 1: It'd be awesome to have him there. But he's the lead singer, C and C music Factor and robes. He he went on some of the headlines say they dropped out as well, But then he made it sound as if he might perform. Cis the Music Factor has that hit? Oh my god, we forgot the name of Dan say it.
00:15:44
Speaker 2: Everybody dance now done? That's their factory some sort.
00:15:50
Speaker 1: Of see the first part of it. I don't get everybody.
00:15:52
Speaker 2: Everybody danced down?
00:15:53
Speaker 1: You remember that? Okay, So he goes on and robes. He says every profane were you could come up with. He calls Trump names. He calls anybody out there telling him he can't perform at this thing, calls them name. That's what he was upset about, is that anybody would direct any heat at him for possibly performing at that concert. He says, I don't like Trump. He didn't use those words much stronger. He said, yeah, I don't like this guy, but you're not gonna tell me what I can do, so maybe I'll go perform just to piss you off.
00:16:27
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:16:27
Speaker 1: So he left it weirdly up in the air after saying, I ain't doing this. But he was one that said three months ago by agent came to me and said, got a show for you in DC. You good? Yep? He said, that was it.
00:16:39
Speaker 2: That was it. That's all he knew about it, And it's been described as a wild seven minute rant from his toilet profanity.
00:16:47
Speaker 1: Lacer wrote it is it is worth the watch, and it wasn't. He didn't write this one out. This wasn't free.
00:16:53
Speaker 2: No, he just this was just a video of passion. And you call it a crime of passion, a video of passion. But yeah, this is when it was confusing, is when he said, the day I let you mother efforts tell me what to do is the day I die. That's so interesting. He cared more about people being angry at him and started calling for him to be canceled because he was a part of this lineup. And that's where he got really angry.
00:17:22
Speaker 1: He was nobody was even in the room talking to him, and he was pissed at somebody. He was going off, like if somebody was engaged right there in verbal combat. He went off. So we actually don't know what he's ultimately going to do, but he had things to say about Democrats, Republicans. He went off on Obama, he went off. He says, I don't vote for none of these people. He went great. I hope he performed.
00:17:46
Speaker 2: Yeah, you actually you put a full quote along. This is from the seven minutes of video. This was probably the most delicious one it.
00:17:53
Speaker 1: Was, and this is him making the point of just how I don't give a damn about what you think of me, and I certainly don't give a damn about what Trump thinks about me. And he put it this way. I will skip over. I'm not gonna use all this profanity, but you'll get the idea quote. I'll do the mother FN show in North Korea, pissing on an e FN American flag, smoking a Cuban cigar, drinking Venezuelan wine, playing golf with Mother e F and Kim Jong un with an Iranian blank on my.
00:18:23
Speaker 2: Lap BITC eight.
00:18:25
Speaker 1: Yes, he's making the point that I don't give a damn really about the country or the president or anything. I do what I want to do. So Rhodes, he was so passionate that he had been included, but then was very passionate about the idea that you say he shouldn't participate, so we don't know what he's gonna do. Is word that.
00:18:45
Speaker 2: Maybe makes that actually makes the line up interesting to wonder whether or not he's gonna show up among the other artists. And I wonder if they have a backup plan for these artists. That's embarrassing. That is embarrassing to have a big rollout, a big announcement, all about celebrating an era, a decade, bringing people in to have some fun and to have immediately two to three we think of those artists on a fairly short list. Say I didn't know it was this, I'm out and Robes.
00:19:18
Speaker 1: It's not like Kendrick backed out like young him. See now, I love the song, no offense to him, but he had his time in his era, like you're you're not even getting the biggest names out there, and they don't even want to be like these folks don't even want to be a part of Again, I think make that sound like being offensive to these folks, But they are where they are in their career. Yeah, but Robes, you had the remind of this list. I say you want to do three, four, five, six, I see nine. How many would you actually honestly be excited to see live?
00:19:47
Speaker 2: Look, I've seen Brett Michaels. I know you're not shot, but it's still stings for some reason. And Poison. I am a fan of poison, so yes, I would know poison has Every rose has a thorn, every rose has it. Don't want nothing but a good time.
00:20:07
Speaker 1: So you would still see him?
00:20:09
Speaker 2: Now, you would still be I'd be happy to see Brett Michaels. The Commodores would be fun. Flow Rider. I've watched week, He's been in plenty of our morning show concerts. Vanilla Ice, duh, I would totally listen to that. That's it for me. How about you?
00:20:27
Speaker 1: Everybody but Brett Michaels and Martina McBride, just because I don't know her music at all.
00:20:32
Speaker 2: And Independence Day is pretty good, okay, I'm justice Okay, So that's only because I'm not familiar the rest rose.
00:20:39
Speaker 1: Vanilla Ice can't wait to hear that Doom see music Factor can't wait to see what that would be amazing in between songs. Now I want to hear him Florida love him Young MC. Obviously we're gonna go nuts easy like Sunday Morning with the Commodorees. It's so good, are you kidding me? More as day amazing, brand new dance robes and it's called the Bird. Yes, flappen my damn arms in the crowd, and yes, Milly freakin Vanilla. I would love to hear how he sounds. And if that song comes on, girl, you know it's true, you're gonna start doing the whole dance and everything. You remember the.
00:21:19
Speaker 2: Oversize suits from the nineties. Oh my goodness, that's true. And look, I agree, these are all fun songs that take us back. But when you're looking at the event that they're trying to put on it, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense that not only they really did not and they're claiming they weren't seeking out but perhaps, as we pointed out earlier, that is by design a current artist. But I don't know what current artist other than kid Rock and is he current? He's not current? Who would actually even agree to be a part of this?
00:21:55
Speaker 1: It has enough agency? Who has enough capital built up? With their audience, if they would forgive you for doing.
00:22:03
Speaker 2: This, I know, I just think of Carrie Underwood and what she went through. And then even she's not a singer, But think about Sidney Sweeney. She's been kind of outed as a possible MAGA supporter. She hasn't said she is or isn't. She hasn't and she won't and she won't. But like, think about all the backlash she has faced. So any artist who might kind of not even care about politics, forget it. They don't. They didn't vote for Trump, they didn't vote for Biden or Kamala, they whatever. But still, if you are a part of this celebration, you are immediately aligned with MAGA. According to a lot of folks who consume music.
00:22:41
Speaker 1: You know what, there was a I'm done here, Rose, I'm trying to find this thing. I'm not going to find it. But I there was a conservative commentator online. I was looking at this on Twitter and put this at You just made me think of it when you said Sidney Sweeney. He said, Republicans, we have got to get out of this. Meant this weird mentality that we will take any famous person who gives us the time of day. He says, it's just a weird mentality, like you see all those stars over there, and like, look we're relevant too, and look how many of the people that like us. It's okay, But he called it some weird mentality of giving attention to anybody who gives you the time of day. That's famous. Stop because he was responding to this.
00:23:27
Speaker 2: It's almost as if they're chasing, not attracting, that whole concept of dating. That is so true. And we also know from polling and from just the history of politics and who you vote for. Celebrity endorsements not only are fairly meaningless, they actually can hurt you sometimes. So I don't know what the draw is other than look the entertainment part of it. I get you want to be able to have fun and celebrate the country. And then a lot of folks are dogging the fact that they couldn't get any other artists because they love their politics more than their country. So people are throwing shaded artists who weren't even asked or aren't even a part of it, saying, all of you leftist musicians, you care more about your politics than you do about our This is about our country, This is about celebrating our country. So again, it's sad because music is the one thing that almost always unites, and yet in this story, in this moment, with this lineup, it seems to be fairly divisive because.
00:24:28
Speaker 1: Every single one of these artists has songs that, yes, you recognize and you would like.
00:24:32
Speaker 2: And it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter where you come from, how much money you have, what you look like, and who you voted for. The music speaks to you because it takes you back to a time, it takes you back to a place. It brings you a feeling, truly, and so that's sad that it's. Yes, people are having fun with it and they're roasting the list, and that's fine, but it is a little sad when you think about just where this this is spiraled.
00:24:56
Speaker 1: Because it feels like a Trump Birthday celebration to people and not really for the country. And that's too bad because these are wonderful artists who had all had moments that they gave us somewhere in our lives of them. So folks who just want to hop on, that's the update. We'll let you know artists still keep dropping like flies from this event, and we'll let you know what Freedom Williams.
00:25:20
Speaker 2: Has to say.
00:25:21
Speaker 1: I can't wait for Part two and with folks who appreciate your spending time with us. I'm tj on behalf of my dear Amy Robock. We'll talk to
Speaker 1: Hey, folks. It is Thursday, May twenty eighth, and the months anticipated star studded lineup of performers for the Country two hundred and fiftieth anniversary concert was announced in the morning. By the afternoon, at least two artists had dropped out, but don't worry, Milli Vanilli and Vanilla Ice are still slated to perform. And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ. Who Robes? I saw people were dropping out. Thank god it ain't Milli Vanilli. I would have been upset.
00:00:35
Speaker 2: Yeah, but only half of Milli Vanilli can be there? And how much actual singing would be going on with the whole lip syncing they've been.
00:00:43
Speaker 1: He's been singing live lately. He's coming, He's doing this. Did you figure out? Is it Milli Vanilly? That's damn sorry.
00:00:48
Speaker 2: So confusing. I don't I don't know which one is, which Rob was He died in nineteen ninety eight. I think Robes and Fabrice is still living. That's the way I understood it.
00:01:04
Speaker 1: Here's the thing, folks, This conversation we have we're having is the one a lot of people are having. It's one of confusion after the big announcement that the list of performers for this year's two hundred and fiftieth Anniversary celebration happening on the National Mall for sixteen days this summer. Obviously, Rope, this is a big, big, big priority for President Trump.
00:01:27
Speaker 2: Oh yes, he has. In fact, a lot of his beautification projects have all been inspired by the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary. He's actually used this anniversary to justify lots of moves he's made along the way. But yes, pool right cool, You've got to get the reflecting pool exactly how you want it. There's talk of all sorts of marks he may leave with the two hundred and fiftieth anniversar a.
00:01:50
Speaker 1: So, folks, this is happening this summer over a couple of weeks. Was the day June twenty fifth of July tenth. They're going to turn the National Mall into a big festival. They actually calling it the Great America and State Fair, and people can go every day and just have a blast celebrating the country. So Robes, A big centerpiece is going to be entertainment. Correct, So they have let us know now the list of performers who are coming to the big two hundred and fiftieth anniversary. Something this big robes You have to imagine the biggest artists on the planet would be coming. So the list comes out, people were scratching their heads. So are we. So if you haven't heard yet, folks, actually tell me first your reaction before you give everybody all the names.
00:02:33
Speaker 2: I'm not your surprised. You're not surprised because honestly, look, think about the fact that Carrie Underwood saying at the inauguration she had so much backlash just for even being a part of President Trump's second inauguration. She was defending herself, having defend off a lot of hate, a lot of folks saying I'll never listen to your music again. I mean, the threat of fans literally turning off from you and tuning you out is real.
00:03:05
Speaker 1: So you're saying you're not surprised by the lineup because these are folks who maybe are don't have to worry about that or pass that prime, or don't give a damn what all.
00:03:15
Speaker 2: Of the aboves all that oh past their prime and don't have to worry what people think about them or whether or not they like their music, and they don't mind being affiliated with the Trump administration.
00:03:25
Speaker 1: So you think it's possible this was by design by the administration to actually get people who wouldn't have this might have been a strategy.
00:03:35
Speaker 2: Well, what current artist that you can think of has Lee Greenwood? Sorry, okay, okay, exactly who has publicly aligned themselves with President Trump. In fact, what you've seen, and we've done stories and episodes on this where the Trump administration will use a current popular artist's song for some of their online social media and not only do they get pushback, they get actual social media post saying never use my song again. I don't want to be affiliated with you. They're very aware that most current artists, and I think that's a fair thing to say, do not want to be attached to this administration.
00:04:14
Speaker 1: All right. So with that set up, the lineup was announced. It was yesterday morning. Here are your artists for the Big two and fiftieth anniversary concert.
00:04:24
Speaker 2: Martina McBride, Nice Morris Day and The Time.
00:04:27
Speaker 3: Love Them, Brett Michaels from Poison, Millie Vanilly Girl. You know is true, the Commodorees can't go wrong, Young mc busted a move still huh, flow right up?
00:04:41
Speaker 2: Wow, Apple bottom jeans see and See Music Factory.
00:04:45
Speaker 1: What's the song again? We just we can't guess.
00:04:48
Speaker 2: What a sweat machine? What is it called? Something like that? Wait?
00:04:51
Speaker 1: Because the title is bizare But it was a mega hit.
00:04:53
Speaker 2: It's a mega hit. I just remembered it and I still can't remember it.
00:04:58
Speaker 1: Throws you. The title of the song throw you because it's called Gonna make You Sweat. Everybody dance.
00:05:04
Speaker 2: Everybody danced, bump done, Yes, and then Vanilla Ice, mister Rip van Winkle himself.
00:05:11
Speaker 1: Yes, Vanilla Eyes. That is your lineup of performers. Now it is obviously these It's clear these are not folks who have current hits. But all of these folks robes have iconic songs. They literally have iconic music, even if it was just one hit. So this is not in my opinion. I look at this as we're music folks. These two folks have made an impression. I'll put an aster by Vanilla or Milli Vanilla, but you give Oh.
00:05:42
Speaker 2: I was gonna say, Vanilla Eyes, that song is legit. I I have listened to that song and it has been used in different iterations by other artists.
00:05:49
Speaker 1: Every single one of these folks have a legit music. History or or even iconic to a certain degree.
00:05:56
Speaker 2: Yes, and we will get into how much fun people are having with this list. But organized did say they claimed they chose the nineties as this iconic era where you've got crowd pleasing songs, so they wanted to have the crowd pleased right with what they chose. It's just a throwback and a little bit of a head scratcher for a lot of people expecting bigger current artists.
00:06:18
Speaker 1: Okay, so all of this went down the morning, but by the afternoon we got at least two and now maybe a third artist who has dropped out, and Rome's a part of it and will tell you who they are that dropped out, but Romes. The reaction that I saw was more people making fun than attacking the artists. But people were scratching their heads. Mister president, this is the biggest thing ever. And you've got Milli Vanilli on the list.
00:06:47
Speaker 2: Yes, because in their announcement they'd said that they would be they were announcing music icons. That's how they set it up. And so you're here thinking music icons, who have we got? And some of the posts were like icons, Lol. This lineup would have crushed in nineteen eighty nine. Yes, and uh, this is some of the funny ones. The York County Fair in Pennsylvania gets a better lineup than this. Okay, stop, that was a little tough. If you know who any of these musical acts are, here's a reminder to schedule your colonoscopy.
00:07:24
Speaker 1: Stop.
00:07:24
Speaker 2: That's kind of funny. Come on, They unironically brought out Milli Vanilly. Amazing, just amazing. Nothing says freedom like apple bottom jeans.
00:07:36
Speaker 1: Good. It is a good songs.
00:07:38
Speaker 2: The American Millennium of Humiliation is well underway. Oh, this one was kind of funny. This is a rural casino summer band lineup.
00:07:46
Speaker 1: Oh stop it.
00:07:47
Speaker 2: Yeah, this is part of what is being said. Someone even suggested Vanilla Ice and Millie Vanilli should merge, calling it Vanilla Millie Vanilli. I thought that was kind of funny. I thought just Milli Vanilla fun Yes, this was a funny one. Sixteen years ago this lineup would have also sucked.
00:08:07
Speaker 1: Okay, Scott, that's just being mean.
00:08:11
Speaker 2: And people were genuinely questioning the Milli Vanilli thing, like this is a joke, right, this isn't actually serious. A lot of the comments were questioning the the authenticity of the lineup, like thinking they actually wouldn't put Milli Vanilli up there after all the scandals and the fact that we all learned, at least those of us at a certain age, all learned that lip syncing was going on throughout all of it. I wonder if even younger kids know the Milli Vanilli uh controversy. They might not.
00:08:40
Speaker 1: Probably not do they know the song? Right? I don't hear the songs in rotation anymore. It's still available on Spotify. The Milli Vanilli one was a bit of a head scratcher. And again Fab is the one that the surviving member, right, Yes, bab Mormon, he's a surviving member and he has bro it has been active, been out there, been touring, been doing smaller gig, but he has been out there and it's active and still see even though he didn't think they go on Grammys, right.
00:09:03
Speaker 2: And they were revoked right right?
00:09:06
Speaker 1: Okay, so that's the reaction, the head scratching reaction. But Robes, they made the announcement yesterday and almost immediately we heard from two of those performers that yeah, we ain't coming, and then we heard from a third later in the day. Later in the day that we'll get into but robes. This was pretty quick. This was pretty swift, and it didn't seem like they waited for a whole lot of reaction to say, oh, I don't want to be a part of it. Some of them seemed genuinely surprised they were affiliated with it.
00:09:36
Speaker 2: Yes, the two who jumped out at first was it it was Morris Day in the Time and then Young MC and they seemed as though they weren't fully briefed on what it was they had agreed to perform at. They didn't realize it was affiliated and sponsored by the Trump administration. They thought perhaps it was just a celebrat partisan celebration on the mall. And once they got the sense that this was actually attached to the Trump administration, they fired back, and some of them fiercely.
00:10:10
Speaker 1: And Moore's Day did one that was it was short sweetened with the point. He actually put up a graphic on Instagram on his page and the graphic said, and the graphic said this, contrary to rumor, More's Day and the Time will not be performing at the Great American State Fair. That was in the image, and then in the caption below he wrote it's a no for me.
00:10:34
Speaker 2: It's a no for me.
00:10:35
Speaker 1: And that was it, and he left it there, didn't explain anything, didn't go into it. Now. Young MC had a little more to say in the Facebook.
00:10:43
Speaker 2: Ooh, he certainly did. He said, I have informed my agents that I will not be performing at the Freedom two fifty event. That was in all caps. By the way, the artists were never told about any political involvement with the event, and despite the claims by the organizers that the event is non part of it and Spin magazine describes it as Trump backed, I hope to perform in DC in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged.
00:11:08
Speaker 1: He could have said a lot more, but he left it short. The fir was still direct and fair.
00:11:12
Speaker 2: But I just think it's so interesting that none of this was discussed with these artists. They didn't know what they had agreed to, They didn't know did their agents not give them the full For one one, how is it that it got to the point where they were all announced and then almost immediately to the point where you said, it doesn't seem likely that they waited for the tea leaves. They didn't wait to hear what the reaction would be it seemed fairly, meaning that they were almost shocked that they were attached.
00:11:40
Speaker 1: To this, these two more as they and young see it feels as if if they had been informed when their agent was explaining it, it would have been an immediate and a hard note.
00:11:53
Speaker 2: Yes, that is exactly what it seemed. That's what it seemed like.
00:11:58
Speaker 1: But do you buy ro Is it possible? We deal with a lot of folks and a lot of entertainment and deals and things. We've had ourselves and schedules, and sometimes somebody will say to you, Hey, got this one coming up. It's going to be on this date. Cool, let's do it. Do you think that's maybe legit? They had no idea.
00:12:16
Speaker 2: It could be, you know, they might look. I don't know how it works when you're I don't want to say it has been, but your glory days are perhaps behind you, and you're excited to get works.
00:12:24
Speaker 1: Are your biggest hits are behind you?
00:12:26
Speaker 2: Your biggest hits are behind you. You're not touring with new music and selling out stadiums. So when you have some beloved favorites that are nostalgic, you find yourself going to different events that maybe yes, it's it's in your older years, and you're Yes, it's nice to get some extra income. It's nice to be back on stage. It's nice to have people singing your songs.
00:12:50
Speaker 1: We just saw cool in the game.
00:12:52
Speaker 2: Yes, and they were phenomenal. So that's what I'm imagining. So they think they're signing up for some festival in DC, or they get to sing their greatest hits that pe people know every word to, and or maybe even just their greatest hit, whatever it is. But they get to be the rock star they once were for at least a moment, and so they just say, sure, sign me up. Sure, that's an extra bit of cash. I don't know how much these artists are being paid, but I guess you could see how it would happen. They just get booked up and they don't necessarily read the fine print.
00:13:21
Speaker 1: I actually buy that these two. I take at their word. But we told you, folks, there was a third that dropped out, but then hinted that maybe he would perform. You gotta hear what the dude from CNC Music Factory had to say. It was a profanity laced and hilarious eight minute video explaining whether or not he'll be coming to perform, and also after the break robes and I will go through this list and tell you who we'd be excited to see performs to here.
00:14:08
Speaker 2: Welcome back everyone to this episode of Amy and TJ. We were talking about the Great American State Fair.
00:14:14
Speaker 1: Girl you know it's true.
00:14:15
Speaker 2: Yeah, girl, you know it's true. It's happening on the National Mall from June twenty fifth to July tenth, sixteen days of some of the most nostalgic artists of our.
00:14:26
Speaker 1: Time with iconic songs. We had iconic moments.
00:14:30
Speaker 2: Thy songs, colllebration songs.
00:14:32
Speaker 1: Ray can't everybody finished? Finish this sentence? All right, stop collaborate and listen. Isis back with a brand.
00:14:42
Speaker 2: New edition edition.
00:14:43
Speaker 1: Attention. Yeah, I'm saying we love these songs. Well, we laughing about Vanilla Ice as soon as we hear Doom Doom, Doom to Doom hit Crazy, So don't lack them all too much.
00:14:56
Speaker 2: Yes, no, I hear you. But we mentioned that immediately two of the bands that were put out in this big announcement left, like said, we ain't doing this the day it was announced, but they were fairly though they were politically correct they weren't. They didn't go in one direction or the other. They just said, don't want to be affiliated with any politics. So yeah, peace out everybody. However, Freedom Williams took another tactic.
00:15:27
Speaker 1: His name is even Freedom Williams.
00:15:28
Speaker 2: That's kind of fun.
00:15:29
Speaker 1: It'd be awesome to have him there. But he's the lead singer, C and C music Factor and robes. He he went on some of the headlines say they dropped out as well, But then he made it sound as if he might perform. Cis the Music Factor has that hit? Oh my god, we forgot the name of Dan say it.
00:15:44
Speaker 2: Everybody dance now done? That's their factory some sort.
00:15:50
Speaker 1: Of see the first part of it. I don't get everybody.
00:15:52
Speaker 2: Everybody danced down?
00:15:53
Speaker 1: You remember that? Okay, So he goes on and robes. He says every profane were you could come up with. He calls Trump names. He calls anybody out there telling him he can't perform at this thing, calls them name. That's what he was upset about, is that anybody would direct any heat at him for possibly performing at that concert. He says, I don't like Trump. He didn't use those words much stronger. He said, yeah, I don't like this guy, but you're not gonna tell me what I can do, so maybe I'll go perform just to piss you off.
00:16:27
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:16:27
Speaker 1: So he left it weirdly up in the air after saying, I ain't doing this. But he was one that said three months ago by agent came to me and said, got a show for you in DC. You good? Yep? He said, that was it.
00:16:39
Speaker 2: That was it. That's all he knew about it, And it's been described as a wild seven minute rant from his toilet profanity.
00:16:47
Speaker 1: Lacer wrote it is it is worth the watch, and it wasn't. He didn't write this one out. This wasn't free.
00:16:53
Speaker 2: No, he just this was just a video of passion. And you call it a crime of passion, a video of passion. But yeah, this is when it was confusing, is when he said, the day I let you mother efforts tell me what to do is the day I die. That's so interesting. He cared more about people being angry at him and started calling for him to be canceled because he was a part of this lineup. And that's where he got really angry.
00:17:22
Speaker 1: He was nobody was even in the room talking to him, and he was pissed at somebody. He was going off, like if somebody was engaged right there in verbal combat. He went off. So we actually don't know what he's ultimately going to do, but he had things to say about Democrats, Republicans. He went off on Obama, he went off. He says, I don't vote for none of these people. He went great. I hope he performed.
00:17:46
Speaker 2: Yeah, you actually you put a full quote along. This is from the seven minutes of video. This was probably the most delicious one it.
00:17:53
Speaker 1: Was, and this is him making the point of just how I don't give a damn about what you think of me, and I certainly don't give a damn about what Trump thinks about me. And he put it this way. I will skip over. I'm not gonna use all this profanity, but you'll get the idea quote. I'll do the mother FN show in North Korea, pissing on an e FN American flag, smoking a Cuban cigar, drinking Venezuelan wine, playing golf with Mother e F and Kim Jong un with an Iranian blank on my.
00:18:23
Speaker 2: Lap BITC eight.
00:18:25
Speaker 1: Yes, he's making the point that I don't give a damn really about the country or the president or anything. I do what I want to do. So Rhodes, he was so passionate that he had been included, but then was very passionate about the idea that you say he shouldn't participate, so we don't know what he's gonna do. Is word that.
00:18:45
Speaker 2: Maybe makes that actually makes the line up interesting to wonder whether or not he's gonna show up among the other artists. And I wonder if they have a backup plan for these artists. That's embarrassing. That is embarrassing to have a big rollout, a big announcement, all about celebrating an era, a decade, bringing people in to have some fun and to have immediately two to three we think of those artists on a fairly short list. Say I didn't know it was this, I'm out and Robes.
00:19:18
Speaker 1: It's not like Kendrick backed out like young him. See now, I love the song, no offense to him, but he had his time in his era, like you're you're not even getting the biggest names out there, and they don't even want to be like these folks don't even want to be a part of Again, I think make that sound like being offensive to these folks, But they are where they are in their career. Yeah, but Robes, you had the remind of this list. I say you want to do three, four, five, six, I see nine. How many would you actually honestly be excited to see live?
00:19:47
Speaker 2: Look, I've seen Brett Michaels. I know you're not shot, but it's still stings for some reason. And Poison. I am a fan of poison, so yes, I would know poison has Every rose has a thorn, every rose has it. Don't want nothing but a good time.
00:20:07
Speaker 1: So you would still see him?
00:20:09
Speaker 2: Now, you would still be I'd be happy to see Brett Michaels. The Commodores would be fun. Flow Rider. I've watched week, He's been in plenty of our morning show concerts. Vanilla Ice, duh, I would totally listen to that. That's it for me. How about you?
00:20:27
Speaker 1: Everybody but Brett Michaels and Martina McBride, just because I don't know her music at all.
00:20:32
Speaker 2: And Independence Day is pretty good, okay, I'm justice Okay, So that's only because I'm not familiar the rest rose.
00:20:39
Speaker 1: Vanilla Ice can't wait to hear that Doom see music Factor can't wait to see what that would be amazing in between songs. Now I want to hear him Florida love him Young MC. Obviously we're gonna go nuts easy like Sunday Morning with the Commodorees. It's so good, are you kidding me? More as day amazing, brand new dance robes and it's called the Bird. Yes, flappen my damn arms in the crowd, and yes, Milly freakin Vanilla. I would love to hear how he sounds. And if that song comes on, girl, you know it's true, you're gonna start doing the whole dance and everything. You remember the.
00:21:19
Speaker 2: Oversize suits from the nineties. Oh my goodness, that's true. And look, I agree, these are all fun songs that take us back. But when you're looking at the event that they're trying to put on it, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense that not only they really did not and they're claiming they weren't seeking out but perhaps, as we pointed out earlier, that is by design a current artist. But I don't know what current artist other than kid Rock and is he current? He's not current? Who would actually even agree to be a part of this?
00:21:55
Speaker 1: It has enough agency? Who has enough capital built up? With their audience, if they would forgive you for doing.
00:22:03
Speaker 2: This, I know, I just think of Carrie Underwood and what she went through. And then even she's not a singer, But think about Sidney Sweeney. She's been kind of outed as a possible MAGA supporter. She hasn't said she is or isn't. She hasn't and she won't and she won't. But like, think about all the backlash she has faced. So any artist who might kind of not even care about politics, forget it. They don't. They didn't vote for Trump, they didn't vote for Biden or Kamala, they whatever. But still, if you are a part of this celebration, you are immediately aligned with MAGA. According to a lot of folks who consume music.
00:22:41
Speaker 1: You know what, there was a I'm done here, Rose, I'm trying to find this thing. I'm not going to find it. But I there was a conservative commentator online. I was looking at this on Twitter and put this at You just made me think of it when you said Sidney Sweeney. He said, Republicans, we have got to get out of this. Meant this weird mentality that we will take any famous person who gives us the time of day. He says, it's just a weird mentality, like you see all those stars over there, and like, look we're relevant too, and look how many of the people that like us. It's okay, But he called it some weird mentality of giving attention to anybody who gives you the time of day. That's famous. Stop because he was responding to this.
00:23:27
Speaker 2: It's almost as if they're chasing, not attracting, that whole concept of dating. That is so true. And we also know from polling and from just the history of politics and who you vote for. Celebrity endorsements not only are fairly meaningless, they actually can hurt you sometimes. So I don't know what the draw is other than look the entertainment part of it. I get you want to be able to have fun and celebrate the country. And then a lot of folks are dogging the fact that they couldn't get any other artists because they love their politics more than their country. So people are throwing shaded artists who weren't even asked or aren't even a part of it, saying, all of you leftist musicians, you care more about your politics than you do about our This is about our country, This is about celebrating our country. So again, it's sad because music is the one thing that almost always unites, and yet in this story, in this moment, with this lineup, it seems to be fairly divisive because.
00:24:28
Speaker 1: Every single one of these artists has songs that, yes, you recognize and you would like.
00:24:32
Speaker 2: And it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter where you come from, how much money you have, what you look like, and who you voted for. The music speaks to you because it takes you back to a time, it takes you back to a place. It brings you a feeling, truly, and so that's sad that it's. Yes, people are having fun with it and they're roasting the list, and that's fine, but it is a little sad when you think about just where this this is spiraled.
00:24:56
Speaker 1: Because it feels like a Trump Birthday celebration to people and not really for the country. And that's too bad because these are wonderful artists who had all had moments that they gave us somewhere in our lives of them. So folks who just want to hop on, that's the update. We'll let you know artists still keep dropping like flies from this event, and we'll let you know what Freedom Williams.
00:25:20
Speaker 2: Has to say.
00:25:21
Speaker 1: I can't wait for Part two and with folks who appreciate your spending time with us. I'm tj on behalf of my dear Amy Robock. We'll talk to