Martina McBride Drops Out of Trump’s Great American State Fair

Several artists are already backing out of the Great American State Fair — and Martina McBride is making it clear why.

The country superstar is among at least five acts who have dropped out of the upcoming Washington, D.C. event less than 24 hours after its initial lineup was announced, with multiple performers raising concerns about how the event was presented to them.

Martina McBride Says She Felt ‘Misled’

McBride addressed her decision directly in a statement shared to social media, saying she believed the event would be nonpartisan — something she now says wasn’t accurately conveyed.

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“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,” she wrote.

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.

McBride added that the way the event was presented to her team was ultimately “misleading.”

Other Artists Also Back Out

McBride isn’t alone in stepping away.

Morris Day confirmed that Morris Day and The Time will no longer participate, writing simply, “It’s a no for me.”

Rapper Young MC also pulled out, saying artists were not informed about any political ties when they were approached.

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“The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event,” he wrote on Facebook, adding that he hopes to return to D.C. for “an event that is not so politically charged.”

Meanwhile, representatives for Milli Vanilli said the group was never even asked to perform, despite being listed on the lineup.

The Commodores also announced their withdrawal, explaining they prefer not to align publicly with any single political party.

Event Organizers Respond

The Great American State Fair is part of the larger America 250 celebration marking the country’s 250th birthday and is scheduled to take place over 16 days on the National Mall.

It is being organized by Freedom 250, which has described itself as a nonpartisan group.

In a statement, a spokesperson said the organization’s goal is to “honor our history and engage all Americans” while creating an event that “uplifts and unites.”

What Happens Next

Despite the exits, several artists — including Bret Michaels, Flo Rida, Vanilla Ice, and C+C Music Factory — are still listed as performers.

But with multiple acts dropping out so quickly — and citing similar concerns — the spotlight is now firmly on how the event was presented behind the scenes, especially for artists like McBride, who say they were told a very different story.