Why artists drop out of the Great American State Fair
After questions about the Freedom 250, the musicians canceled their appearance at the Great American State Fair and insisted the July 4 event was nonpartisan.
President Donald Trump has revealed the lineup for a rally celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary, days after a number of musicians declined to perform at the multi-day Freedom 250 concert event.
President Trump announced in a June 4 social media post that country singer Lee Greenwood will sing his 1984 hit “God Bless The USA” at the June 24 rally before introducing the headliner himself, the president.
“We don’t want untalented singers, but we’re paying high prices to put you to sleep. We told everyone to stay home. All we want is you, me, a few speakers, and the best music ever played, the same music you’ve been listening to for years!” Trump wrote.
Freedom 250, a quasi-governmental group formed by President Trump to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, originally planned a 16-day concert series as part of an event dubbed the “Great American State Fair.” But last week, a number of musicians declined to perform, some citing the event’s perceived political nature and confusion over the content of their applications.
As a result, President Trump decided to cancel the performance and instead deliver a speech in person, a White House official previously confirmed. The rally is scheduled for June 24th.
Here’s what you need to know, including the rally lineup.
Lee Greenwood to perform at Freedom 250 rally with President Trump as headliner
According to a post on Trump’s Truth Social, the president is classifying the June 24 event as a rally rather than a concert, but several musical acts will be part of the lineup.
In addition to Greenwood, opera singer Christopher Macchio is also scheduled to perform before President Trump’s headline speech.
Trump said the U.S. military band, military choir, Marine Corps band and joint military choir will also perform.
In a statement, Greenwood called the opportunity “a great honor.” Macchio, 83, is a longtime Trump ally who has performed at past campaign rallies and even sold Bibles with the president in 2021. Similarly, Macchio performed at President Trump’s inauguration in 2025.
What happened to the Freedom 250 at the Great American State Fair?
The original 16-day concert series was associated with the Freedom 250 Great American State Fair. According to the Freedom 250 website, the concert has now been replaced with President Trump’s headline speech, but it appears the rest of the fair will go ahead as scheduled. USA TODAY has reached out to the group.
The event will feature pavilions, specialty exhibits and classic trade show attractions representing 56 states and territories. The fair will be held daily on the National Mall from June 25 to July 10, according to the Freedom 250 website.
The performer lineup for the currently canceled performances was revealed on May 27th, but within hours a number of performers had dropped out of the event.
Country musician Martina McBride wrote to X that she was misled into thinking she would be performing at a “nonpartisan event.”
“I have had the opportunity to be a voice for those who felt they had no voice. I am deeply upset that my fans, who have been touched by my music, feel like I am abandoning the meaning behind those songs. I assure you that is not the case,” she wrote.
Bret Michaels said his exit was due to the “divisive” nature of the event.
“Unfortunately, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has evolved into something far more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of,” he wrote in a lengthy Instagram post.
In response, President Trump announced on May 30 that the show would be replaced by a rally headlined by the president himself.
Contributors: Saman Shafiq, Mike Snider
Melina Khan is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. X Keep up with her at @melinakh and on Instagram @bymelinakhan.
