Trump Is Running Out Of Performers,  Another One Bites The Dust!

00:00:02
Speaker 1: Hey, folks, it is Friday ninth, and even Brett Michaels doesn't want to perform at Trump's concert on the National Mall. And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ. Nine performers were announced for this thing on Wednesday morning, Robes, as we sit here on Friday morning, a majority of them have dropped out, and damn near all of them.

00:00:26
Speaker 2: Yeah, there are only three artists left, and who knows if that's gonna hold. Because this is updated. Actually, since we recorded Morning Run, we already had another one say nah, no thanks. This is downright embarrassing.

00:00:44
Speaker 1: Is it embarrassing? A some of this people made fun of the lineup when they first heard it. Then a couple of people dropped out, and then Robes, this is almost the entire lineup, And folks were talking about the likes of Brett Michaels, Martina McBride, the Commandois and so on and so forth. We'll get into the whole list. But Rose something about this stings, and I was so disappointed that just we love these songs and we just because it has anything any affiliation to this white Hot it songs we love. We're divided over now that part is sad to me, manbe it's.

00:01:19
Speaker 2: A damn shame because and we can get into mark Tina McBride's actual statement, but she even made the point.

00:01:25
Speaker 1: Music is a uniter.

00:01:27
Speaker 2: It always has been in times of division, in times where you need to just feel your community, feel like you both. Music brings us together. No matter who you're voted for, no matter what color your skin is, we all can come together on a dance floor. And so the purpose of this look, we've talked about this yesterday, even that perhaps the Trump administration was looking for the least amount of pushback I could find by deciding to go nostalgic with this celebration. They decided to make it a nineties theme. I love the nineties, and even that has blown up in their face.

00:02:05
Speaker 1: Now is this This is tough, but nine performers. When you came in this morning, it took a few minutes and I turned to you, I said, babe, oh my god, I forgot to tell you. Martina McBride dropped out. She is considered between her and what maybe Brett Michaels to the big headliners. Brett Michaels was actually scheduled to do the concert on July third. Well, I think he was the last.

00:02:26
Speaker 2: He was the big look, the big show, the lead singer of Poison. Anyone who is of a certain age, I've actually seen Brett Michaels and Poison perform. They're amazing. These are the songs of our youth, and yes, something to be celebrated, to remember, to reflect, and even Brett Michaels has said I'm out.

00:02:46
Speaker 1: We'll get it to his words as well. But a reminder, this is the Great American State Fair. What they're going to do for a couple of weeks in between June and July up to the fourth of July and the country's two hundred and fiftith anniversary, they're turning the National Mall into what looks like a state a typical state fair. There'll be rise, they'll be performances, there'll be food, all that good stuff. So as a part of it, this group Freedom two fifty that's putting the whole event together, this public private partnership put out a list robes on Wednesday morning. So Wednesday morning, this was the list of the lineup that they gave us.

00:03:20
Speaker 2: Yes, so they said Martina McBride, Boris Day and the time that's awesome, Brett Michaels, Millie Vanilli, the Commodorees, Young mc, flow Ryda, See and See Music Factory, and Vanilla Ice. And if you go down that list, there is at least one song that you could say, oh my god, that's one of my favorites. That one will get me on the dance floor. They all had one of at least one of those major hits.

00:03:48
Speaker 1: That's a good way to put Everybody knows at least one of their songs and you actually like it exactly, not just oh i've heard that before, you actually like. So those were nine performers you just listed. We have as of this morning, it appears three remaining. That's Vanilla Ice, that's Flow Rider, and maybe the guy from Millie Vanilli. We'll explain that confusion here in just a second. But Robes, this was the big one. We got up this morning door seeing this word yesterday. Martina McBride, this happened late yesterday, but she was going to be dropping out and she put out a long statement in Robes this too. It's kind of sad, kind of heartbreaking that she had to make this call.

00:04:33
Speaker 2: She felt like she had to defend herself We can read in part what her statement was, but she began by saying, I would like to talk to you and clear the air.

00:04:42
Speaker 1: Not a good start.

00:04:43
Speaker 2: No, I will not be performing at the Great American State Fair on June twenty fifth. I was presented with an opportunity to perform at a non partisan event, but that turned out to be misleading. I asked lots of questions and was assured this was a non partisan event that was meant to celebrate all fifty states. Okay, She goes on to say, 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. 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 has 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.

00:05:33
Speaker 1: Oh sad babe is to think that any fan, just because she performs there and it's in some way affiliated with President Trump, that you're abandoning or you're messaging or just the I get the political times, but Robes, we can't. You are a bad person, right, You've been with this woman for thirty years of her career, she's performing for the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary, and you come down on her so hard that she has to back out. I how are we supposed to handle that magic?

00:06:02
Speaker 2: This is sad because this should be considered an honor, and I think a lot of these artists initially did consider it an honor. It should be an honor to sing, to perform on the national yea to celebrate our nation's two hundred and fiftieth anniversary. Why wouldn't that be an honor? And I'm curious is this now considered a partisan event because it was privately funded.

00:06:26
Speaker 1: It was supposed to be a They call it a public private partnership. But yes, they're working in direct, indirect affiliate, in direct contact with the White House. They're working directly with an actual Trump organization to put this together. So yeah, it is Trump back, it's Trump affiliated, but it's supposed to be for the nation. But at the same time, Robes, the ARKDA Trump is supposed to be for the nation. The Kennedy Center is supposed to be for the nation, all these other things. Still feel like artists were dropping out from performing at the Kennedy Center because of the name change. It's just robes. We can't do anything, and now we can't even come together to hear Ice Ice Baby without fighting about something. That part just sucks. It was funny at first, it's sad.

00:07:10
Speaker 2: Now it's actually sad to think that we can't even have musical acts or entertainment to celebrate our nation because artists are too concerned that they will be aligned then with MAGA philosophy. And that is where I was trying to understand how what these artists were initially presented, how it now is suddenly a completely different beast once the announcement was made. Was it more that they saw the reaction from folks or were they truly misled? And if so, how were they misled? I'm just confused. Is it where the money was coming from? That was what I was trying to figure out. Were they accepting money that felt like it was in a sense dirty money, or it came from President Trump, where it came from some magadon or that they didn't want to say they accepted money from because I'm just trying to figure out what changed for them.

00:08:04
Speaker 1: You know, I don't think they even had time to read tea leaves. Some people came out in immediately like I'm out because Robes it didn't see it. That was a complaint from I think the majority of these artists is that we were told one thing, or in some caseses. They're companies, a production company, a manager. You get booked and say hey, you're free, got a concert in June, and that's kind of it, and you forget about it until you get a little closer and closer and closer Robes some of them seemed genuinely shocked that they were affiliated with this Trump thing, as they call it. I take them kind of at their word. I could see how that's possible.

00:08:43
Speaker 2: Yes, and we just got worried about Brett Michaels before this statement of poison, before this episode, excuse me, and he released a similar statement to what we're hearing from a lot of the artists at this point. He said, Unfortunately, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of concerns have also been raised regarding the safety of my fans, band crew, family, and myself, including threats that are completely unfounded and unforgivable. Because of that, I have made the difficult decision to step away from this performance. This isn't about politics. It's about staying true to what I've always believed in. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. That's one of the freedoms our veterans fought for and something I've always respected. But as a father, friend, and bandmate, I have to take threats and safety concerns seriously.

00:09:47
Speaker 1: I mean, he kind of hinted a little bit at I don't know. It seems like he might have known, and then afterward he said it evolved into something more divisive, and okay, I can see that.

00:09:57
Speaker 2: So he thought, yes, he knew he was going to be performed, or he knew he agreed to perform at this event celebrating our two hundred and fiftieth anniversary, when he wasn't necessarily anticipating were death threats. Were people and fans of his saying if you perform, I'll do this or this will happen, And clearly that is what he is insinuating has occurred in the last two days.

00:10:19
Speaker 1: Again, damn shame over performing us. What's the poison song?

00:10:23
Speaker 2: The oh Well, ain't nothing but a and every rose has its Yes, there's tons of hits.

00:10:31
Speaker 1: Okay, So then the Commodores, to be honest with you, when I heard the Commodores were performing, they were the one group that he really like.

00:10:37
Speaker 2: Sunday mall.

00:10:38
Speaker 1: Everybody loves these songs. They're out. They put out a statement saying they're not going to perform. Our music has always been our voice, and we choose not to publicly affiliate with any single political party. We support the betterment of all Americans, simple plain is put. They're out as well. So now Milli Vanilli ropes. Now, this is one that got a lot of attention when it was mentioned because obviously of Millie Vanilli's history.

00:11:01
Speaker 2: Yes, and are they even really a band? I don't even know what they might sound like. And one of the two of the Milli Vanilli is no longer here.

00:11:10
Speaker 1: So the one that we still have, the surviving member is Fab Morven. He has actually been out there touring. He's actually been through Europe and doing his thing out there. So the announcement gets made robes that Milli Vanilly is going to be there, and it just has his picture on that marquee. So we're waiting to get word from him is he going to perform? And a lot of people making jokes is he actually going to sing? How is he going to come? How is Milli Villin villa? They're not even a real group, their songs weren't written, all this stuff. But then we get a statement robes from Milli Vanilli, And this is where things got confusing because I never thought about this.

00:11:46
Speaker 2: Yes, remember I was saying to you, I can't figure out if Millie Vanilli is performing or not, because on one hand people are saying they're not, and on the other they're saying he is. Well, here's where the confusion lied. The original feel vocalists of Millie Vanilly, so their names are Jody Rocco, Linda Rocko, Brad Howell, John Davis, and Charles Shaw. They wanted it to be very clear they will not be performing their hits live at the Great American State Fair. Others using the name Millie Vanilli that appear on the advertisement should be considered a tribute band with no association vocally or musically to our sound or song.

00:12:28
Speaker 1: There's better. Okay, so still bitter. I had no idea. This is perfect.

00:12:33
Speaker 2: So there are Look, the people are putting memes up online showing basically the original announcement with the pictures of all of the artists with big x'es over them for each one that has now declined or rescinded their offer to perform, and Millie Vanilli has an X over it and some of them. So that's where I was like, wait, what happened? So now, yes, the original band that actually is the sound behind Millie Vanilli is saying we're not perform, but the artist who actually had a Grammy taken away from him for not singing the song is saying that he will be singing.

00:13:08
Speaker 1: Okay, this is perfect for the confusion, this is perfect. I had no idea there was a group of folks out there who still held on to the Milli Vanilli name and called themselves the group Milli Vanilli. I did not know that yet. I didn't either. I now we know, but apparently they have some rights to at least the name and some of the music, so they're trying, and yes, they're using this as an opportunity to hoot and holler and shout hey, it was us. Those were our voices that won the Grammy. Actually we get it fine, but nobody would show up to a Milli Vanilli concert. And there's a woman named Jody that came out. I'm no offense to her, but I'm saying I want to see faby girl. You know it's true, and I want to see a fab can sing. Yes, that's what I want. As of now, he's still in. Vanilla Ice is still in flow Rider is still in. This is the content as of this recording. I think we really need to make that point clear. Okay, yes, because it keeps changing. Two hundred and fiftieth anniversary. You have a lip syncer, a white wrapper, and flooride altfu bottom Geenes. I love it. But we did actually hear from Vanilla Ice. It sounds like he ain't dropping out no matter what y'all say.

00:14:25
Speaker 2: Stay here, Welcome back to everyone to this episode of Amy and TJ, where we do continue to have to say while we're recording this. This is the latest numbers, but as of now, six of the nine announced performers for the Great American State Fair celebrating our nation's two hundred and fiftieth anniversary have dropped out of the performance. This is beyond embarrassing. They at the White House, they made this big announcement two days ago and people were already mocking. I was mocking, mocking the lineup, saying, wow, that's as good as you can get. And look, they said, this is a celebration of the nineties. We want to have a nostalgic, fun concert series on the National Mall where people can get out and dance of all agencies or songs we know we love. And when you look at it from that perspective, we understood the lineup. It was kind of shocking at first because there were really no new artists. These all of these artists haven't had a hit in decades.

00:15:38
Speaker 1: So, but they're hits we love. So okay, okay, we can get our we can get our heads around that.

00:15:44
Speaker 2: And then pressure, absolute pressure came from fans, from people reacting, and one by one, folks just started dropping out. This isn't what I signed up for. I didn't know I was attached to this. I don't want to be affiliated with MAGA. I don't want to be affiliated with the trumpetmention so all of a sudden, now there are three standing as of.

00:16:06
Speaker 1: Now, Florida, Fab morvan One. Half of the group we know is Millie Vanilli and Vanillas. And we have not heard from Florida. We have not, but vanilla Ius looks pretty excited to be coming.

00:16:23
Speaker 2: Yeah, he was trying to like be his own cheerleader, it seemed on this social media post on Instagram. But yeah, he went out there and said, Happy birthday America, two hundred and fifty years. It's gonna be an epic party. This is to bring us all together. I'm tired of all the news channels dividing this country. We are all one. This is not a political platform. This is celebrating America's birthday. Nothing too serious, just enjoying some fun, dancing and great memories. Hope you guys can join us, and I get it. I wish that could be the spirit of everybody. That's what I was trying to figure out. Why, why, all of a sudden, now these artists say by performing that somehow aligns them with this administration.

00:17:10
Speaker 1: I think the thing is, sweetheart, it doesn't matter if what the artist thinks, it matters what the fans think. And if you are any way associated with this president. People come after you in some circles, robes, and these artists have like rabbit fan bases for decades even, and they're turning on these artists just for going to DC and not standing now I'm around the president, not it's own political rally. Maybe folks are afraid that's what it will devolve into. Bay but it's just these are really are great songs and even diverse. You got rock, you got by Tim mc brown's country, isn't it?

00:17:50
Speaker 2: Yeah?

00:17:50
Speaker 1: Country? Okay, so you've got some hip hop, you got old school R and B, you got It's kind of awesome.

00:17:54
Speaker 2: Yeah. They did actually do a good job of showing all the amazings from that decade. For sure, they were able to kind of nail it on that sense. But now four, I mean, are they going to replace these artists with other artists? I mean, is Lee Greenwood gonna step in? Is kid Rock gonna step in?

00:18:14
Speaker 1: We were shocked they weren't on the market anyway.

00:18:16
Speaker 2: I think maybe they knew at this point they had been so overused it was a little embarrassing to put them on, So maybe they thought, let's try some new folks, meaning nostalgic new folks, New nostalgic folks, because I can't think of a current artist. We talked about this. Every single time the Trump administration uses a current artist song in any sort of social media post, we just constantly get new headlines generated by those artists outraged that their song is being used. No one wants to be affiliated, it seems, with the Trump administration. Other than Lee Greenwood and Kid Rock. Those are the only two perciple artists that I can even remember, at least to date, that are openly happy to be affiliated with this administration.

00:19:02
Speaker 1: And we should mention here as well. Rose I remember the I say remember, but I think it's September of alternate festivals being put together now by Bruce Springstey. So he's going to do that in DC. So this rerinds me of the super Bowl thing, right, we have to do an alternate, alternative or alternate. Super Bowl has done terrible. It's music terrible.

00:19:24
Speaker 2: This is music. We're supposed to come together and sing Kumbaya.

00:19:28
Speaker 1: We ain't singing nothing together apparently, And just funny here the way this is going. I was trying to check Twitter one more time, make sure nobody else had dropped out or whatever. And one of the first posts I see from somebody was about the Brett Michaels and it started with this another.

00:19:42
Speaker 2: One, Oh my god, and DJ Kelly drop out another one.

00:19:48
Speaker 1: Uh, they keep dropping So that's the update. We're smiling about it. Initially, Robes, when the list came out, we were laughing at some of the jokes and we kind of understood why they were chosen. And then people started dropping out and we kind of snickered. But now it's sad. It's sad. It's sad. All right.

00:20:05
Speaker 2: Well, we'll keep our eye on this dwindling list for you, but we appreciate you as always listening to us. I'm any roboch alongside T. J. Holmes.

00:20:15
Speaker 1: We'll talk to you soon.