Nashville quiet on the Trump conundrum
Country singers are faced with a conundrum when it comes to U.S. President Donald Trump: As part of the most conservative-leaning musical genre, shouldn’t they have something to say about the most polarizing Republican administration in history?
As multiple publications have pointed out, the answer has been a resounding “no.”
Nashville stars remain unusually silent about their political thoughts, as they did before the election.
A few artists declared themselves pro-Trump; one deemed Trump “crazy;” a handful tweeted positively about the Women’s March; and some, like Toby Keith, performed at inauguration activities but avoided taking sides. The majority of performers, however, don’t want to touch the topic, as it’s the easiest way to enrage and/or alienate fans.
A few days after the inauguration, Rolling Stone Country argued in an article titled Why It’s Time for Country Stars to Speak Up About Trump.
At the other end of the spectrum, some listeners just want singers, to borrow a phrase from the Dixie Chicks, to shut up and sing. Billboard reported that Nashville artists still fear getting “Dixie Chicked,” or blacklisted from the industry, for having an opinion — as the trio did for their stance against George W. Bush.
So, what do artists think their role is in this divisive political era, especially when they might have the ear of fans who largely voted for Trump?
“I wish that more country artists would speak out — because we are from those little towns. Rural America needs a voice in this country,” said Angaleena Presley, member of the Pistol Annies trio with Miranda Lambert and Ashley Monroe. “We write songs that they relate to. Because we are them.”
Presley, a Kentucky native, participated in the Women’s March and says some in her family — many of whom voted for Trump — see her as a “liberal hippie chick.” But she doesn’t judge people based on their vote or values.
“I would never be this Trump supporter-bashing person. … A lot of Trump supporters, I think they want change. And in rural America, it’s tough,” she said. “I can understand why they want something different. For me, I believe in honesty; I believe in equality; I believe in choices; I believe in freedom over your own body; over what you think. So it’s really hard to get behind someone who doesn’t necessarily exhibit those values, or anywhere near them.”
Other artists say even though they recognize they’re in a unique position where they have a platform, they don’t always regard that influence as positive. “I’m in a place where people are going to listen. That’s really scary,” Granger Smith said. “But I don’t need to tell people what I think. I’m a musician. What does my opinion matter over anybody else’s?
“I’m a firm believer that if I live a life with integrity and honesty and credibility … that’s enough of an example that I don’t have to start talking about what I think about politics or the latest executive orders in the White House.”
Other artists agreed that just because they have a fan base, that doesn’t mean anyone would care what they think.
Tim Rushlow, the lead singer of Little Texas, who performed at Trump’s inauguration, feels similarly. He was criticized after he accepted the inaugural gig, though he insists there was nothing political about his appearance.
“I didn’t look at it as a Republican or Democrat,” Rushlow said. “I looked at it as an American.”