{"id":65580,"date":"2026-05-29T14:13:32","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T14:13:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/29\/bret-michaels-drops-out-of-trumps-freedom-250-concert\/"},"modified":"2026-05-29T14:13:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T14:13:32","slug":"bret-michaels-drops-out-of-trumps-freedom-250-concert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/29\/bret-michaels-drops-out-of-trumps-freedom-250-concert\/","title":{"rendered":"Bret Michaels Drops Out of Trump’s Freedom 250 Concert"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n\tPoison<\/a> frontman Bret Michaels<\/a> is the latest artist<\/a> to drop out of the Great American State Fair concert<\/a> in Washington, D.C., saying the type of show he was pitched \u201cevolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tIn a statement shared on Instagram<\/a>, Michaels said that the event \u2014 which is part of the Trump administration\u2019s Freedom 250 initiative to mark America\u2019s 250th anniversary \u2014 was described as \u201ca celebration of our country through music and a chance to honor our veterans, active military, first responders, teachers and hardworking Americans from all walks of life.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tMichaels did not say what exactly about the direction of the show had changed. But like other artists who have dropped out<\/a>, he seemed to indicate the supposedly nonpartisan concert had become politicized.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cAs many of you know, I\u2019ve spent my entire career bringing people together through music, positivity, and good vibes,\u201d Michaels wrote. \u201cMy shows have never been about politics. They\u2019re about giving people a place to come together, have a great time and forget about life\u2019s stresses for a few hours.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tMichaels pointedly added that, along with the direction of the show, there were new \u201cconcerns\u201d about \u201cthe safety of my fans, band, crew, family, and myself, including threats that are completely unfounded and unforgivable.\u201d Michaels did not offer any other details, and a rep for the musician did not immediately return a request for comment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tIn the rest of his statement, Michaels insisted his decision wasn\u2019t \u201cabout politics,\u201d but \u201cstaying true to what I\u2019ve always believed in.\u201d He also apologized to fans in the D.C. area, promising to \u201ccome back and perform in our nation\u2019s capital under circumstances where the focus can remain on what it should be \u2014 the music and the fans.\u201d (Michaels\u2019 full statement is below.)<\/p>\n

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\n\tThe lineup for the Great American State Fair show was originally slated to include artists like Martina McBride, Morris Day and the Time, Flo Rida, Young MC, Vanilla Ice, Milli Vanilla, and the Commodores. But many have already backed out. Day said the concert was \u201ca no for me,\u201d while William King of the Commodores and Young MC both followed suit. Young MC told VIBE<\/em><\/a> that he \u201chad no clue it was considered a \u2018Trump-backed\u2019 event, so that was new to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tMcBride also pulled out of the concert, saying that she was \u201cpresented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event, but that turned out to be misleading.\u201d While McBride said she \u201casked lots of questions and was assured this was a nonpartisan event,\u201d things started to change this week and she realized \u201cwhat we were told is, in fact, not what is happening.\u201d<\/p>\n

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