Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, More on Misguided “Accountability” List

Needless to say, the world has been rocked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25th, and the music world has done its part to rise up and give a voice to the anger and frustration for not just what George Floyd suffered, but what scores of African Americans have suffered through over the years.
However this movement has not always been perfect. On Tuesday, June 2nd, the entire music industry was charged to observe “Blackout Tuesday,” where everyone—from artists, to labels, to media outlets and everyone else—were asked to be silent for the entire day to reflect on how everyone could do better when it comes to race in America.
The idea was well-intentioned. The implementation was somewhere between ineffective and detrimental. So many music artists and industry personalities posting black squares on social media properties gummed up the entire Black Lives Matter movement as people used BLM hashtags that was being utilized by protestors and organizers out in the field to disseminate information. Very soon, there was a backlash against the effort.
Major African American artists such as Lizzo, Chance The Rapper, Lil Nas X, Kehlani, Tatianna, and many more came out showing great concern to outright condemnation of Blackout Tuesday, both for how it was disrupting the actual Black Lives Matter movement, but also how the results felt so shallow, since it’s so easy to simply post a black square on Instagram. Many non-black artists and industry personalities showed concern as well, specifically for how the movement was almost immediately co-opted by major labels who’ve been taking advantage of black musicians for going on a century, and how they were using the day as a marketing and branding opportunity and ploy.
The Washington Post, Rolling Stone, Time Magazine, The Guardian, The Verge, Variety, Vulture, Buzzfeed, Entertainment Tonight, LA Times (who said it “backfired spectacularly”), In Style, Telegram, Refinery 29, The Tennessean, Deadline, and many more, including Saving Country Music, also ran stories either showing concern or strongly criticizing the initiative, or covered the scores of artists that came out in opposition to it. And appreciate, many of these outlets define the left or far left of popular media coverage.
Something important to understand is that artists posting black squares on Instagram, Twitter, or other social media properties on Tuesday was not part of the original plan. The original idea put forward by Blackout Tuesday organizers Jamila Thomas and Brianna Agyemang was for everyone to go completely silent on the day and post nothing, with the hope being that so many music entertainers and entities going silent would help everyone reflect on race in America, as well as raise awareness for the cause while the industry took time to reflect. The black squares emerged out of major labels posting branded statements on black backgrounds in the days leading up to Blackout Tuesday.
In other words, posting a black square or tweeting your solidarity with Black Lives Matter on Black Tuesday was against the original idea, and ended up being detrimental to the cause. Saving Country Music, for example, did not post a black square on social media. Saving Country Music did not post anything on Blackout Tuesday aside from an obituary for guitar player Jimmy Capps who died on the day, since this news was deemed essential. But major country music outlets like Taste of Country and The Boot posted articles in solidarity with Blackout Tuesday … and then proceeded to post six articles apiece on white artists showing support for Blackout Tuesday, which was completely against the idea of going silent. Major artists in the Americana realm such as Jason Isbell spent much of the day tweeting support for African American performers, which was admirable, but again, against the original purpose of remaining silent.
These performers and entities shouldn’t be blamed for their efforts, but it shows just how misguided and confusing Blackout Tuesday was. In fact, what many had been saying around the George Floyd killing and before is “Silence = Violence.” This has been posted on social media, and printed on protest signs. So by going silent on Blackout Tuesday, were you doing your part, or becoming part of the problem? All of a sudden, people who were trying to do right were being actively criticized for participating in Blackout Tuesday.
Actress Emma Watson was faced major backlash for participating in Blackout Tuesday. Morrisey participated in Blackout Tuesday by posting a black square, but was widely criticized since he’s supported right-leaning politics in Britain in the past. A bakery in Ottawa posted about Blackout Tuesday on Instagram, and then later posted on Instagram about their reopening after the Coronavirus lock down, resulting widespread public shaming of the business (strangely, that didn’t happen to Taste of Country). Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was actively telling Instagram users to delete their Blackout Tuesday posts due to the hashtag issue, instructing them that just editing the post may not be enough due to caching on the social network, but the posts needed to come down entirely, and reposted if necessary.
And remember, all of this is for activity on social media, not anything anyone is actually doing to fundamentally address racism in America. And with so much conflicting information and misunderstanding about what Blackout Tuesday was supposed to be, some decided to not participate at all, whether it was posting a black square or not, or attempting to elevate black voices. And those individuals can’t be blamed for their inaction due to the mine field Blackout Tuesday created. If you posted about it like Emma Watson or Morrisey, you might be admonished. Many artists in country music, for example, faced strong opposition from both racist fans, and black activists for not acting properly on the day.
Now this focus solely on social media posts as opposed to in the real world has taken a very dangerous step with one country music publicist and journalist name Lorie Liebig drafting a spreadsheet she’s calling the “Country Music Accountability Sheet,” where she’s actively logging who and who has not posted support for George Floyd or the Black Lives Matter movement recently. It would be one thing to aggregate a list with the intent to praise who has spoken out. But the intent of this list is to admonish who hasn’t, even with the perilous nature surrounding Blackout Tuesday, and how to handle the current crisis on social media in general.
This completely inappropriate, unconscionable, and arguably libelous exercise is not only extremely shortsighted not just in its methodology and approach, but from the timeline it is working from. It doesn’t take into account anything artists have done beyond the current crisis, and also curiously excludes statements that might have been made on Facebook, on websites, during live stream events, interviews (some which may not be published yet) or public appearances. It’s solely the myopic focus of Twitter and Instagram.
Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson are on the list as not having made any public statements. Would anyone question where the heart of either of these country legends is when it comes to the killing of George Floyd, or race in America? Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton are two of the greatest humanitarians ever, not just in country music, but of our time. One of the reasons they have not made any statements is because they don’t need to. Everyone knows where they stand. This is also the reason many others have not said anything.
Eric Church is on the list as “no statements of support made.” However Eric Church famously does not use social media. He’s actively renounces it. Furthermore, you can make the case that nobody has done more to elevate black voices in country music in the last 10 years than Eric Church. At the 2013 ACM Awards, Church brought black country artist Valerie June out with him to sing an intimate, acoustic duet with him on the song “Like Jesus Does.” The moment is given credit for helping to spark Valerie June’s career. When Saving Country Music interviewed her the next day, Valerie said of Eric Church, “I sing what I feel. It’s so nice when you are with superstars that do the same. He was so kind and just a true gentleman to share the stage with.”
Many in the media love to tout Rhiannon Giddens whenever race and country music become part of the news cycle, but few have given Rhiannon a leg up like Eric Church. Not only did she duet with Church on the anti-racism song “Kill A Word,” it result in Giddens’ highest charting performance of her career, hitting #6 on the country charts. Church also performed the song with Rhiannon on the 50th Annual CMA Awards, and the performance was nominated for the CMA Musical Event of the Year the next year.
Garth Brooks is another example of someone that doesn’t deserve to be on any list that would ever imply complacency or inaction when it comes to racism. In 1993, Garth Brooks was supposed to perform the National Anthem at the Super Bowl—a topical subject since the NFL has been so embroiled in the current race discussion. Wanting to first run a video he had compiled for his anti-racism song “We Shall Be Free” in the wake of the beating of Rodney King by police officers in 1992, Garth Brooks refused to perform the National Anthem until the video was played, even walking out of the stadium. The standoff became so problematic, the NFL started looking for someone to fill in, and eventually had to move back the kickoff time to facilitate the airing of the video—the only time in history that’s been done.
Eric Church’s actions for African American women in country speak way louder than all the black squares posted on Twitter and Instagram combined. Garth Brooks on many occasions has stood up for social justice in very substantial ways. But they’re not receiving any credit on this irresponsible spreadsheet that reminds one of Hollywood blacklists and Gestapo papers.
Why exactly did a journalist draft a list such as this in the first place? As we have commonly seen from the Nashville-based media culture that has become very insular, politically-driven, strident in its ideology, and myopically obsessed with social capital on Twitter, this spreadsheet will likely be used to determine who receives coverage by certain media members, and how favorable that coverage is. This list is an act of bias, that is arguably libelous to some of the artists included.
Lorie Liebig has attempted to clarify, saying “There’s no shaming here, it’s literally information compiled in one place.” But the title of the list is the “Accountability List.” She later said on Twitter, “If the implication is that it’s a problem that they haven’t said anything, then I’m fine with that being taken away from the document. You have your opinion, but I think it IS problematic if they are choosing to not say anything.” In other words, while feigning simple information gathering, she’s let her true intent be known.
Lorie Liebig is actively trying to hold artists accountable for not posting on social media about this matter—regardless of what they they have done, are doing, or will do in the real world, solely based on what they post on two social media networks most people don’t even use, while curiously excluding Facebook. Meanwhile, many of the artists who have received an all clear from the list simply are getting a pass for posting a black box on Instagram during Blackout Tuesday, which arguably hurt the cause of Black Live Matter as opposed to helped. Miranda Lambert is being criticized, even though as the list says, her Pink Pistol stores did do a post. So what is enough to satisfy the list?
And yes, the list is having a negative effect on the artists being chided for not participating. “Garth and Church surprise me in a negative way :/,” a blue checkmarked journalist named Ben DuBose said in rely to this list. A fan named Lindsey Graves said, “Oof, didn’t think I’d have to cancel Clint Black, but here we are I guess.”
Many blue checkmarks have promoted the list, including performer Amanda Shires. At the time of this post, the list had been retweeted over 106 times. Compiling the list also smacks of a version of white heroism, where a white person champions a cause to elevate themselves as opposed to doing something substantial for African Americans.
As Chance The Rapper, Lil Nas X, Lizzo, and others said, simply posting something on social media is pointless. In fact, when it came to Blackout Tuesday, it was detrimental. Action is what is important and needed, and many of the performers on the Lorie Liebig accountability list, their actions speak louder than any pointless, virtual signaling Instagram post.
Just like all the black squares that co-opted the Black Lives Matters hashtags and sowed chaos on Tuesday, the “Country Music Accountability Sheet” should be taken down because it is directly detrimental to the cause, nonfactual at times, dangerously misleading, and destructive to the careers of artists who’ve actively worked to raise minority voices.
June 6, 2020 @ 11:27 am
You can never win with blue checkmarked groupthink journalists. Even if your actions have spoken louder than their tweets. I think most rational people will see this “accountability list” as the crock of shit it is hopefully.
June 8, 2020 @ 11:20 am
“Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Sr and George Jones have also not made any public statement”.
This is the state of journalism today: to shame people, go through their twitter timeline and write some BS hitpiece to make you comply with the pc narrative. Where is the pushback against these activists posing as journalists? Someone who says that they can stick it where the sun don’t shine? I read that statement from Farm Aid and it is the biggest pile of virtue signalling crap I’ve seen in a long time. I might not be the ideal person to comment on the US situation because I’m European but for me it’s pretty simple: you judge a person by the way they act, not by how they look. I come from a working class left leaning background and grew up with black and brown friends. We literally stood side by side fighting real racists during the time I was a football hooligan. So I don’t take any lectures from midde and upper class white liberals whose only interaction with non-white people is when they pay the cleaning woman. I don’t take kindly to people who talk about my so-called white privilege or that always play the racism card when things don’t go their way.
And instead of trying to get some real dialogue going, the media, Hollywood and politicians have been feeding the fire of division. But for them it’s just politics, they don’t care who they screw, they will still be safe in their private security protected homes. How many people have actually read the mission statement of BLM or still think that antifa are really anti-fascist? They just this weekend defaced statues of Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln in London. They are communist scum, pure and simple. They operate under the anti-racist banner because noone in their right mind would support racism.
I know the race situation in the US is different, but in Europe we also have to deal with this ‘social justice’ BS. Just last Sunday thousands came together in my hometown to protest the death of George Floyd, but when jewish people are being spat on and gay people beaten up under their noses, they are nowhere to be found. That shows you just how far their anti-fascism really goes; as far as their agenda allows them.
Or we’re all in the same boat, or it’s all politically driven BS. Racism comes in all colours and should be called out equally. Taking a knee or hating yourself because you’re white isn’t going to make things better, there is an urgent need of grown-ups finding out how we together can move forward. At the moment I don’t see that happening. I just see mainstream media and especially politicians from the left pushing for confrontation. Now ask yourself, why would they do that?
Alright, I applaud you if you have made it this far. I hope Trigger is okay with the strong language..
Everybody take care, do good and take no shit!! Steven
June 8, 2020 @ 11:43 am
About “Taking a knee or hating yourself,” here are some wise words: https://tinyurl.com/yatpexc6
June 8, 2020 @ 7:29 pm
“That shows you just how far their anti-fascism really goes; as far as their agenda allows them.”
Exactly.
July 17, 2020 @ 9:01 am
Well said.
June 6, 2020 @ 11:29 am
This list is stupid and unnecessary, as is the person who compiled it. Sheesh! 🙁
June 6, 2020 @ 11:35 am
Incredible.
What a bunch of self-important, misguided morons with a complete lack of self-awareness.
June 6, 2020 @ 11:39 am
Trig,
I also noticed the infamous wolf-crying boy, Shane Morris commented on the Tweet.
June 6, 2020 @ 11:43 am
Yep. Young Mary’s Records promoted this crap on IG stories, too, but didn’t call out her own artists, of course
June 6, 2020 @ 11:47 am
“If the implication is that it’s a problem that they haven’t said anything, then I’m fine with that being taken away from the document. You have your opinion..”
Translation: “If you think this is shaming, that’s your interpretation of it, not mine.”
LOL.
June 6, 2020 @ 11:58 am
The triple L.
Lorie
Liebig
Loser
Sorry babe,
If you are going to be so crass as to call out kind, compassionate people such as Dolly Parton & Willie Nelson, and many others who i do believe would reach out to help their fellow man with their very last dime, then i have no problem calling you out.
Get your ass out of the oh so esoteric voiced NPR studio(s) mindset & stop with the juvenile posts.
June 6, 2020 @ 12:25 pm
Folks, Lorie has her opinions, we have ours. Let’s show some class, and not insult and attack her, and let the truth speak for itself.
June 6, 2020 @ 1:34 pm
Was not attacking her.
Called her out
June 6, 2020 @ 12:13 pm
How stupid. This just reeks of a witch hunt. She’s giving the SJW a reason to go trash the artists on social media. “You didn’t post anything, so you don’t care!” Or “only posting a black square means nothing!” You don’t have to post on social media to prove you’re against racism.
June 6, 2020 @ 12:15 pm
Get.over. it.
June 6, 2020 @ 12:16 pm
Even if the intentions here are good (not clout chasing), this mentality is leading to a very dark place. I just looked on Twitter and although there is some pushback, she seems quite pleased with herself, and the majority of the comments I saw are supportive. Willie and Eric getting dragged in several comments. Fasten you’re seatbelts…it’s only going to get worse. Thanks for covering this Trigger. It takes the “shitty media men” list to a new level.
June 6, 2020 @ 2:41 pm
One of the biggest issues with media right now is that people on both sides live in a Twitter echo chamber. That is why I am so thankful I never deleted my comments section because I get to interact and see so many different diverse points of view. Lorie will find extreme amounts of support over this issue for the same people who kneejerk cast off anything I have ever done as sexist and racist. But they’re just wrong. I’m not always right. But I’m right on this issue.
June 10, 2020 @ 11:45 am
Trigger:
Despite your claims to the contrary, you have very low tolerance for diverse points of view, at least from the conservative/libertarian side. You have every right to allow or disallow whatever posts you wish, since this is your site, but I am getting mighty tired of having my posts censored.
June 10, 2020 @ 1:34 pm
And I’m getting tired of censoring your posts. You know where the line is. Quit purposely crossing it and your comments will get through.
June 10, 2020 @ 2:27 pm
Right.
The line is EXACTLY in the same position as the lines at CNN, MSNBC, the New York Times and the Washington Post. You do live in an echo-chamber, just as the half-wits in NYC, DC, LA and San Fran do.
I could be mistaken, but I thought you lived in Texas.
June 6, 2020 @ 12:35 pm
Hi there! Lorie hasn’t done anything to attack or “expose” artists who haven’t done anything. I follow her on twitter and I didn’t know that Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton hadn’t spoken up until I read this article. Seems like you’re doing more than she is to spread the word that they haven’t done anything 🙂
June 6, 2020 @ 12:50 pm
Sydney,
I appreciate the concern, and addressed this specifically in the article.
“Lorie Liebig has attempted to clarify, saying “There’s no shaming here, it’s literally information compiled in one place.” But the title of the list is the “Accountability List.” She later said on Twitter, “If the implication is that it’s a problem that they haven’t said anything, then I’m fine with that being taken away from the document. You have your opinion, but I think it IS problematic if they are choosing to not say anything.” In other words, while feigning simple information gathering, she’s let her true intent be known.
And yes, the list is having a negative effect on the artists being chided for not participating. “Garth and Church surprise me in a negative way :/,” a blue checkmarked journalist named Ben DuBose said in rely to this list. A fan named Lindsey Graves said, “Oof, didn’t think I’d have to cancel Clint Black, but here we are I guess.”
June 6, 2020 @ 12:50 pm
That makes sense. I know it’s presumptuous, but I’m guessing “I didn’t mean for the rocks and bricks I dropped off to be used that way,” would make sense to you too.
June 6, 2020 @ 2:26 pm
Willie took Charlie Pride out on tour around FIFTY years ago back when a black Country singer was unheard of.giving Charlie his first chance to succeed,& a way to gain exposure,and change minds about race.charlie won the audiences over, & he and Willie became lifelong friends.Now THAT was something real that had an impact.not this cheesy ,pointless back patting garbage.research the truth before you get in line to shame.
June 6, 2020 @ 12:46 pm
i’ve never heard of this person and i think her list is misguided, but i wonder if any of us be aware of this if you weren’t giving it more press and sort of making your own list against her?
also, the sturgill show last night was great. don’t sleep on it.
June 6, 2020 @ 1:50 pm
There’s a good chance I’m giving Lori Liebig and her list more attention by highlighting it. But after sleeping on it, and feeling so disturbed by the implications of journalists compiling lists based off such spurious things like whether they posted something on Twitter or Instagram (but not Facebook, mind you, where most people actually are). Someone had to step up, even if it results in punching down.
June 6, 2020 @ 12:51 pm
I couldn’t be famous people would cancel me real quick.
June 6, 2020 @ 12:52 pm
Criticizing others for their less-than-perfect efforts to help while you do absolutely nothing seems more than a little hypocritical.
June 6, 2020 @ 12:57 pm
Best. Name. Ever.
June 6, 2020 @ 4:42 pm
Trigger champions artists based on the merit of their music and nothing else. Exactly what else do you want him to do? He hasn’t criticised anybody for taking part in Blackout Tuesday. He’s only criticised Lorie Liebig whose list is completely irrelevant to anti-racism as it doesn’t achieve anything positive – how does this list benefit anybody black or white?
June 7, 2020 @ 5:14 pm
I think it is dangerous to assume someone has done absolutely nothing just because they havent broadcast their good deeds all over social media.
June 6, 2020 @ 1:01 pm
Lorie Liebig is an ugly moonbat who’s always foaming at the mouth at something. The most read story in her life will be this one thanks to you posting about it.
The best black square I’ve seen yet had a picture of a big smiling Ralphie from the Simpsons with the caption “Look at meeeeeee.. I’m defeating racisim!” In other words, black squares don’t solve shit.
June 6, 2020 @ 2:14 pm
That is true. I said this the other day, but I see a lot of “bandwagoning” with the black square. Most of the country singers who posted the black square on Instagram, posted it then have said nothing about it since. They went back to posting normal stuff right after. There are some who are still posting things about it, but they are the exception to the rule. This isn’t just country singers, but people on Instagram in general. Someone else said it’s the equivalent to the “thoughts and prayers” when there’s a shooting (although I think it’s dumb to shame someone for that, intentions are good).
June 6, 2020 @ 2:56 pm
You know, “thoughts and prayers” isn’t as empty as it sounds IF you actually include that person in your thoughts and prayers. I mean, put the person/and people right next to your family when talking to God, and actively thinking how you can help.
If every “thoughts and prayers” person was thinking and praying for underprivileged black people then do you think they would still be able to walk past homeless black people on the way to church?
And Dolly and Willie are some of the nicest people who have done so much for the world that this is absolutely ridiculous.
Can we point out that MLK also didn’t take the time to rise from the dead and change his Instagram to flatter your ego?
June 6, 2020 @ 1:03 pm
Celebrities are quick to jump on causes when they can to promote themselves so I think it’s only fair game to point out when they stay quiet on important social issues. Country artists who don’t say anything won’t face any consequences because their fan bases aren’t out there supporting BLM either. Miranda boot licked the entire police force and NYPD as they were beating innocent people on the streets. Nobody is out there trying to cancel her because let’s face it nobody cares about non A list celebrities.
June 6, 2020 @ 1:04 pm
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt3GBlVjUd0
June 6, 2020 @ 1:10 pm
That’s a classic. This one might be better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDL1ivY1M0Y&feature=youtu.be
June 7, 2020 @ 11:02 pm
Holy crap, that made me laugh! I hate being accosted by people asking for donations like that.
June 6, 2020 @ 1:06 pm
Liebig’s List is a classic Communist Party tactic and repulsive on every level.
Why? Because it makes assigns a specific negative meaning to silence itself and so becomes coercive. That is, silence is “suspect,” so to avoid suspicion, you have to confess. Confess, you sinner!
The Far Left in this country is poisoning the well.
God bless musicians who do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do, not because some self-appointed apparatchik is surveilling and keeping careful records.
June 6, 2020 @ 1:51 pm
This.
June 6, 2020 @ 1:57 pm
calling a list a communist tactic… you’re clearly a student of history. it’s like you’ve never heard of people being blackLISTED during the red scare/mcarthyism.
June 6, 2020 @ 1:57 pm
I would have more respect for Lorie Liebig’s list if she would just come out and say, “These people didn’t tweet about Black Lives Matter. Let’s shame them,” than acting like, “Oh, I’m just compiling information here. What’s the big deal?”
EVERYBODY knows what Lori Liebig is doing with this list, and she even admitted it later in a subsequent tweet. Feigning simple information gathering is a mark against her character, and all of the people defending her.
June 6, 2020 @ 2:06 pm
Totally agree Trigger. This is such a bad look for someone who calls herself a journalist. If she’s so concerned about statements from artists, why not reach out to them herself for comment?
June 6, 2020 @ 2:32 pm
The word microagression comes to mind.
June 8, 2020 @ 7:57 am
I agree. The “this is just informational” routine comes off as a passive aggressive attempt to ward off criticism of the list.
June 6, 2020 @ 1:12 pm
Who wants to lay bets that when Willie and Dolly pass on (God forbid) Lorie will be the first in line trumpeting what incredible human beings they were?
June 6, 2020 @ 1:20 pm
Goddamn I hate society so much. I feel like an old man always bitching and complaining about people these days and I’m only 22. Group think is bullshit.
June 6, 2020 @ 1:21 pm
Trigger, this post is false framing. We can debate “the list” but it’s not about black out Tuesday. You literally could have many any statement, in any way, at any time, to avoid having “no statement of any support made”
And while yes, I think the idea of Church and Garth in particular being anit-the movement would be odd based on past history…it’s also odd that they haven’t spoken up at this time. Sometimes in history silence is also a statement….and this feels like one of those times.
June 6, 2020 @ 2:06 pm
A few folks are trying to discredit this article by saying that it’s only drawing from the context of Blackout Tuesday, and that’s just not true. I made sure to speak more about the global concern of how just speaking out on social media is a shallow way to address a very, very deep problem. This is something that Lizzo, Chance The Rapper, and others said, and I said the day before Blackout Tuesday.
The reason I brought up Blackout Tuesday is to illustrate what a mine field posting about this topic can be. Anna Kendrick was just trying to do the right thing, and got publicly rebuked. So did Morrisey. So did a bakery in Canada of all things, and dozens of others. So if you’re the social media manager for Dolly Parton or Garth Brooks, and you see people getting attacked for posting something—not by racists—but by black activists, you may be compelled to do nothing.
I appreciate the sentiment behind Blackout Tuesday, and on the principle on the importance of people speaking out, I sort of agree with Lorie. But in both cases, the delivery system was extremely poorly thought-out, and does more harm than good. And I just in good conscience stay silent about it (so to speak).
June 6, 2020 @ 2:22 pm
What harm? The country artists who spoke out are the ones under attack from country fans. They’re the one being cancelled. How many Alan Jackson fans are outraged he didn’t say anything? Jason Aldean’s fans aren’t calling him out. Miranda fans are defending her and throwing in some horrific racist comments at that. The people who are cancelling them were never fans to begin with. Their wallets are safe.
June 6, 2020 @ 2:46 pm
There are multiple country artists who’ve caught all kinds of hell in the last week for posting things on social media, most of which are simple, commonplace concerns for people, and it’s unfortunate that’s occurring. If you’re a fan and don’t want to see all the “Black Lives Matter” stuff, in this situation it’s important for you to understand that these artists feel compelled to do it, or they might end up on some “Accountability” list. They’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. Don’t be the asshole. Understand these are difficult waters for them to navigate, and don’t hold it against them for speaking their mind in such a difficult environment.
June 6, 2020 @ 3:15 pm
A rock and a hard place? People are getting murdered, protestors are getting their skulls cracked. Get some perspective mate. None of these country artists who didn’t make the list are going to be negatively affected. Lorie’s list isn’t going viral. They’re all going to be fine, you’re getting your clicks .
June 6, 2020 @ 3:22 pm
Hotdog,
My comment was for fans hot and bothered about artists posting things on social media, telling them to chill out. Nobody is comparing what artists are facing to the victims of police brutality.
June 6, 2020 @ 3:25 pm
I think I would suggest that maybe in general we don’t hold it against people for stating what they believe in. Rather then, well it’s only ok in this instance for them to speak out, because they probably feel that they have to.
a) stating that someone shouldn’t speak out, is denying them part of their humanity, we all have the ability to speak out or not, as we choose, why should celebrities be denied this merely because they’re famous
b) country artists speak out all the time, they proclaim their faith, pride in southern heritage etc…it just that those statements aren’t generally regarded as controversial in Country music especially. As a non-Christian, non-Conservative country fan, if I only followed artists I agreed with, or who never said anything, I would be far poorer musically.
June 6, 2020 @ 8:11 pm
So the “rock and a hard place” here is say something against racism or have your silence noted? Damn, that does sound like a quite a dilemma.
June 6, 2020 @ 2:35 pm
Trigger, if the above was your point (paraphrasing): that social media is problematic – see black out Tuesday as an example, and therefore you can understand why some have chosen not to speak out. Then I think your response above would have served better then opening with a multi-paragraph complaint about black out Tuesday, which, I think, muddies the waters.
Social media can be problematic for sure, and I can understand not wanting to say anything on it. Especially since as hotdog points out, many country musicians who have spoken out have received a backlash (because some country music fans). And so we can question the list.
That said, you are never going to please everyone, and in this case, silence also has a cost. I am not famous, but if I had not said something, my students would have questioned me – & rightly so. So, while the title may be unfortunate, I am not sure why it is problematic to point out those stars who have chosen silence at this time.
And for the record, it is not a list of those who have not spoken out, it is a list of how country singers have responded, with a no response if they haven’t.
June 6, 2020 @ 2:52 pm
Look, I specialize in long form content. Whether it’s this article, the Jason Isbell review, the recent article on Sturgill Simpson, I write long articles that zoom out and try to place things in a broader context. And I’ve been doing this for going on 13 years. And I do it because in the world of Twitter and 2-minutes cable news soundbites, I think there some value in slowing down, looking big picture, exporting nuance, etc. I understand it might not appeal to everyone, and I definitely recognize that a large chunk of this article was about Blackout Tuesday. In truth, I had wanted to write about the aftermath, but then passed on it because of the wreck the first comments section became. But when I saw this “Accountability List” I felt like I couldn’t stay quiet, and I felt it was a good forum to say everything I wanted to say on Blackout Tuesday as well. Yes, I probably could use a lesson in getting to the point. But it’s just kind of against my nature.
June 6, 2020 @ 3:19 pm
Hmm, I don’t think the issue is long form vs short form. Regardless of length of essay, you generally want to make one central point. I think in this case you were trying to make two main points, and that ends up confusing the piece.
(also sorry, I’m spending my weekend grading essays so my brain is simultaneously stuck in grading mode….and frazzled)
June 6, 2020 @ 5:04 pm
I absolutely agree Trigger. I thought and still think it was wrong to publish a accountability list of people who spoke out and people who didn’t. That’s just wrong. If they want to speak great do it but if they don’t they sure the hell shouldn’t be on a list complied of people who have and have not. Quite frankly a few of them have made comments that are far from love and unity but disrespect and hatred, so I got one am glad he spoke on this matter. It’s nit right I’m my opinion and we are all entitled to one..
June 6, 2020 @ 1:27 pm
Trigger,
Is there any evidence that the killing of George Floyd was due to his race?
Also, why don’t the white victims of police brutality (there’s more white than black victims every year) get this much attention?
All anybody can do is give smart-aleck strawman answers to these questions, but I really want to know why almost all media, including you, are embracing false narratives, and and straight up pretending they’re true, with complete disregard to data that shows the opposite.
June 6, 2020 @ 2:06 pm
are you really trying to play victim right now? compare dylann roof’s treatment and arrest for killing nine people in a church versus george floyd’s for a counterfeit $20 bill and perhaps you will see what the big deal is.
June 6, 2020 @ 2:20 pm
Like I said, strawman.
I’m not a victim. The cops haven’t killed me.
Please try again to answer.
June 6, 2020 @ 2:28 pm
Honky, let’s please stay on topic. Thank you.
June 6, 2020 @ 2:55 pm
Okay, if you mean specifically this list, I wish I could be famous for 6 months, so I could publicly announce how proud I was to be on the list.
But Willie’s crazy as an outhouse rat, so he’ll probably kneel soon.
June 6, 2020 @ 2:07 pm
I had wondered that too and wondered if it was racially motivated or if the cop was just a prick in general. BUT even if it wasn’t racially motivated I think it brings up the painful topic of racism to a lot of African Americans. If this happened to a white guy, the topic would be more about police brutality and not racism. I feel bad that a lot of black people feel like they can’t trust the police and feel like they have to fear for their lives, even though the majority of the cops are good people. The media isn’t helping.
June 6, 2020 @ 2:22 pm
If it happened to a white person, you wouldn’t know their name.
June 7, 2020 @ 2:44 am
God help us, or Willie. If he kneels he won’t be able to get back up.
June 6, 2020 @ 3:14 pm
Honky, valid question. Yes there is evidence. No I don’t have the links.
Stats show that when adjusted for different crime rates, population differences etc, yes, black people are more likely to be killed by cops.
More importantly that are more likely to be harrased by cops even when innocent. Studies show that if there are black people in a car they will be way more likely to be pulled over and searched even though statistics show that cops are way more likely to find drugs etc in white people’s cars.
So the overall effect is like if you and your family keep getting picked on for doing nothing wrong, your neighbours start complaining they don’t like the cops always being around and you get evicted, and then to cap it off one of your family gets killed by a cop for no good reason. Well, you can see something was going to happen.
Please, please, verify my information, i haven’t got time to search for it at the moment, but i generally get my information from valid sources.
June 6, 2020 @ 3:36 pm
Except Honky’s not really asking.
June 6, 2020 @ 4:13 pm
I’m definitely asking, but I’ll admit that I don’t believe you can answer, so I am being semi-rhetorical. Rhetorical in that I don’t think you can answer, but sincere in that I will listen to anyone who sincerely tries.
June 6, 2020 @ 3:41 pm
well said.
June 6, 2020 @ 5:39 pm
Blackh4t,
I think Trigger had enough. My reply didn’t make it through moderation. Take it easy.
June 6, 2020 @ 6:51 pm
There are far more white people than black people i this country. That’s why the numbers are as you say. But a much higher percentage of the black population gets killed by police, which seems suspect. Also, y’know, slavery happened, so a lot of people are sensitive to white authorities oppressing black people. It’s not rocket science.
In any case, police brutality is bad regardless of who it happens to. If you want to go protest white people being killed by police, please do. I support you. But I’m pretty sure you don’t want to do that, you’re just here to troll.
All that said, this list is ridiculous. A person’s social media posts are not the sum total of their character, even if they’re a celebrity. And everyone retweeting the same 5 posts isn’t even that helpful.
June 6, 2020 @ 8:05 pm
If you’re going to take a look at these statistics, you need to take it a little further. I’m not here to shame anyone for having higher numbers, but crime is disproportionately committed by a certain demographic, which causes more police involvement with that demographic. Once that involvement is factored in, the most comprehensive study has shown there is no bias in police killings along racial lines. That said, your other point is I think absolutely correct. This isn’t just about statistics. It’s about history, disadvantage and the way a white police officer was so brazen in suffocating a black man pleading for his life, right out in the open. There’s something extremely disturbing about that fact alone, that shows a deep-seated issue beyond the statistics. It’s absolutely horrific. The good news is that almost everyone universally recognizes that. The bad news is that we aren’t all going to agree on how to fix it.
June 6, 2020 @ 1:40 pm
We need to get over it it’s gone to far now. Hell takeing things down that is history. 2 wrongs don’t make it right grow up
June 6, 2020 @ 2:19 pm
LOL. Let us wait until Willie, Eric and co. release their new albums. Then we shall see what the effect on their sales will be. As for social media Eric has gone way up in my esteem. I, too, am not into social media. No Twitter, YouTube etc just in case anyone is interested. I assume that SCM is not regarded as social media.
June 6, 2020 @ 5:42 pm
You don’t watch live music on YouTube?
June 7, 2020 @ 2:40 am
Nope.
June 6, 2020 @ 4:07 pm
This is just disgusting behavior. Assuming someone is a racist because they don’t post the same generic bull crap everyone else does? Sounds like a page right out of the dark parts of American history and should be condemned by everyone who favors the freedoms this country was founded on.
This whole thing has become its own religion at this point, complete with rites and observations to rival anything produced by church. Those who don’t kneel and accept the “faith” will be punished by the lunatic mob of idiots roaming the Internet.
The funny thing is with the “requirement” to make a statement – imposed by the mobocracy – the value of a statement becomes meaningless, so in effect they’re destroying the thing they wanted to build up.
June 6, 2020 @ 5:39 pm
Couldn’t agree more – the two minutes hate.
June 6, 2020 @ 6:31 pm
I never thought I would support Mitchell “Bitches” Tenpenny in anything, but I guess there’s a pig flying somewhere right now.
June 6, 2020 @ 7:50 pm
George Floyd is dead.
He was a felon, with multiple convictions and incarcerations who does not deserve the veneration he is getting from those who are ruled by emotions rather than logic.
Floyd was and is no hero.
His death was unfortunate – even tragic – and the officers involved have been charged in various capacities with is death.
That’s it.
It’s over, now.
Nothing to see here.
June 7, 2020 @ 2:48 am
Big Tex, I agree. The statements that he was a shining example to his family is nothing short of laughable. What happened should NEVER have happened. Let the powers that be deal with it. In the knowledge that the eyes of the world is are watching.
June 7, 2020 @ 10:20 am
paddy:
Thanks.
It is always great to hear from someone who makes decisions based upon logic instead of emotion.
June 7, 2020 @ 11:26 am
Big Tex, it is not over. During the last few months we ALL have made sacrifices at the hands of a pandemic. We thought we were beginning to get over it. But all these protests are knocking back the progress we have made. Should there be further breakouts of this pandemic and more people die then I believe that the organisers of these protests should be charged with manslaughter at least. Maybe they will finish up in the same prison as the cops involved. I would love to hear the chat they would have.
June 7, 2020 @ 8:01 pm
Racist comment right here
June 6, 2020 @ 8:35 pm
I’m sympathetic to your premise, given Willie’s and Dolly’s track record, and a critique of this as a tactic. Just so happens, I think shaming repels more people than it convinces, so I think it’s not so great most of the time as a method to widen/deepen your support and power.
On the other hand, I’m also skeptical of outsider critiques of social justice movement tactics; most often it’s not so much tactics they’re hung up on, but the cause of the movement itself. Based on reading you, my guess is that more-or-less describes you.
And, yet another article form you about the sanctity of country music being polluted by liberal politics, you never miss a chance, even when it’s desperately strained like this latest example. Just state your angle: “I’m conservatively inclined and resent the presence of liberalism and all “this black lives matter stuff” (as you put it) more specifically ‘mattering’ to the music and the musicians that matters to me”. The cognitive dissonance is tough for you and many others. It’s manifest.
June 6, 2020 @ 8:59 pm
Ryan,
I’m a writer, so my words matter, and I choose them carefully.
I never said, “this black lives matter stuff,” which you put in quotes as if it was from me verbatim, and then you underscore it by saying “(as you put it).” I’m sure that’s what you read, because you’ve made a wild-eyed assumption about my political leanings that are false. But those are your words, not mine. I have never been dismissive of the Black Lives Matter movement as you imply. As I explained in the article, I respectfully observed Blackout Tuesday here.
I’ll state this, and you can quote me, “Politics is a scourge that has cost millions of lives.”
Branding a Scarlet Letter on artists as iconic as Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, and even Garth Brooks and Eric Church for what they have done over the years, is something I won’t stay silent on. My allegiance is to country music, and truth.
June 6, 2020 @ 9:33 pm
That’s some high-minded stuff that amounts to a non-denial denial of your politics.
Is that quote some kind of juvenile libertarian credo? Cause politics and policy are neutral; it’s what you do with them that matters.
As for misquoting you:
“Trigger
JUNE 6, 2020 @ 2:46 PM
There are multiple country artists who’ve caught all kinds of hell in the last week for posting things on social media, most of which are simple, commonplace concerns for people, and it’s unfortunate that’s occurring. If you’re a fan and don’t want to see all the “Black Lives Matter” stuff, in this situation it’s important for you to understand that these artists feel compelled to do it, or they might end up on some “Accountability” list. They’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. Don’t be the asshole. Understand these are difficult waters for them to navigate, and don’t hold it against them for speaking their mind in such a difficult environment.”
I don’t think I’ve been unfair to you.
If your a fan of a country music artist and your put out by their generic statement against racism on instagram, I’m inclined to say you might harbor some problematic attitudes. Personally, it’s hard to muster much sympathy for their pain, but it sounds like you got their back’s here, you defender of truth.
June 6, 2020 @ 10:17 pm
Ah, so you’re taking about something I said as a response to a comment. My apologies.
But still, to take that language and isolate it (from a comment especially) as if I’m diminishing Black Live Matter is sort of like ignoring all of Dolly Parton’s humanitarian work for not tweeting a black square.
Also, as I clarified to Hotdog below the comment you quoted, “My comment was for fans hot and bothered about artists posting things on social media, telling them to chill out. Nobody is comparing what artists are facing to the victims of police brutality.”
June 6, 2020 @ 11:25 pm
Well that’s confusing. You must not choose your words ‘carefully’ in your comments then? You could definitely plausibly argue that that would mean your “comments” reveal MORE about biases rather than less. Or that could be unfair. It’s just an odd defense.
The context of that quote isn’t just “hey, I observed blackout Tuesday” and therefore me typing “black lives matter stuff” doesn’t matter. The context is also an article whining about how country music is being hurt by pressures from black lives matter activists. I don’t think the context helps you as much as you think it does.
An alternative approach would be for you to just say “black lives matter stuff” is a dismissive characterization; whoops, I shouldn’t have put it that way!”.
More than anything though, the whole quote I included is ridiculous and the spirit of it, probably offensive. It boils down to “don’t worry all ye ‘hot and bothered’ by X artist’s anti-racist words, they don’t/might not mean it; they were probably just pressured into it for fear of liberal bullies. So chill out”
The temper-tantrums from those saddened by ant-racist positions from their favorite artists aren’t “unfortunate” because those fans are failing to recognize this “dilemma” and then behaving like “assholes”; they’re unfortunate because they’re based in racist attitudes and then they’re behaving like assholes. I fail to see another explanation of why people would object to an anti-racist post from American Aquarium or John Moreland on Instagram. Do you have one?
That whole comment was a whole lot of contortion for the purpose of care-taking for the feelings of those harboring bad ideas and feelings about race. It’s convoluted and odd. Your misguided, and futile desire for a thick wall between music and politics that has NEVER existed is so extreme that it leads you to some degree of sympathy for those people sad about generic, milquetoast anti-racist public stances from artists made in the wake of yet another murdered black person. How to make sense of that other than by inferring that you don’t like their politics either.
June 7, 2020 @ 8:17 pm
Ryan,
Seriously, fuck off with this. First off, I’m not willing to cede what I said as a response to a comment was dismissive to Black Lives Matter. Furthermore, I can point to a dozen or so examples that refute your claim. But you chose one comment that you believe validated your assumed and prejudicial opinion of me based off down-looking arrogance. This is a common tactic of the politically incited. “Gotcha!”
“The temper-tantrums from those saddened by ant-racist positions from their favorite artists aren’t “unfortunate” because those fans are failing to recognize this “dilemma” and then behaving like “assholes”; they’re unfortunate because they’re based in racist attitudes and then they’re behaving like assholes. I fail to see another explanation of why people would object to an anti-racist post from American Aquarium or John Moreland on Instagram. Do you have one?”
The entire point of my comment was to say, in a nutshell, “Chill out on artists for sharing their opinions in this trying time.” If that’s not seething and judgemental enough for you, I apologize. But my job is not to create a release valve for your rancorous guilt. I was simply trying to be pragmatic. Perhaps try it sometime.
June 6, 2020 @ 8:55 pm
Good Lord, Lorie
June 8, 2020 @ 9:24 pm
A++++++++
June 6, 2020 @ 10:20 pm
Whatever you say or do will be wrong since there’s no “doing it right” in this case. This is about confessing your sins and kneeling into submission for redemption the in form of social acceptance. And if you reject/snub the gospel in any way, the believers will brand you a heretic and burn you at the stake, because that is how religious fanaticism work.
June 7, 2020 @ 10:38 pm
So saying “racism is horrible and wrong” is such a controversial idea? This is one of those defining moments of life. If you are an artist of good character, you’ll say it and accept that racist scum who used to be you fans won’t like you any more. And if you are a person of good character, you’ll think, “good riddance.” And know there are a majority of fans who will love you even more now.
June 7, 2020 @ 3:57 am
This is probably wrong place to put this but here I go. I have just been watching CNN here in Northern Ireland and their coverage of George Floyd protests on Saturday. In particular their coverage of the London protest. They state that a police officer fell of his horse which went out of control. That did not happen. The horse unseated the police officer because of the actions of the protesters. Stones and bottles were thrown at police resulting in the horse bolting and unseating the rider. Just a very small example of how a story can be twisted.
June 7, 2020 @ 4:18 am
This right here is why I haven’t gone on twitter or Instagram in five days. It’s toxic. It gets to a point where I don’t know what people such as Lori want these country stars to do. Apparently posting about Blackout Tuesday isn’t good enough, but there are also a lot of singers who aren’t necessarily comfortable posting things that could cause controversy and divide between their fans (such as speaking out specifically against police brutality-they night not want the all cops are bad people to get involved). Those who are familiar with amazing people like Dolly know all she has done in terms of humanitarian work. I even think she said a quote once (I forget the exact words) but it was along the lines of why she stays out of both politics and controversy. It’s a shame that situations like these have turned into full-fledged controversy, but here we are.
June 7, 2020 @ 6:02 am
The virtue signalers have an insatiable need for the affirmation of their viewpoints from media and entertainment, because as we are seeing, the means and likely results of their ways are quite ugly. Their one true aim is to politicize all corners of our culture, and then be seen as members of the empowered “enlightened” class, set the terms of right-think, and make or break fortunes and careers.
The Soviets (the original SJWs) likewise politicized all society, and forced millions into fealty under the pretense they would achieve 100% equality of all peoples. They were largely successful in that all those who were allowed to survive were 100% equal under the heel of the Apparatchik. Doomed to repeat…
June 7, 2020 @ 11:50 am
corncaster, is that you?
June 7, 2020 @ 12:32 pm
No.
June 8, 2020 @ 4:27 pm
You confuse having a moral compass with virtue signaling. When a person who has morals sees someone murdered by police, on video, they DO SOMETHING. Whether that something is boots on the ground protesting, opening their purse for worthy organizations like Black Lives Matter, or if you’re a celebrity, using your clout and privilege to let people know the world is changing, you are on the side of right, and your fans who don’t like it can go ahead and get lost. 10s of thousands of people are protesting in Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and all 50 states in the U.S. (including, and this just warmed my heart to no end, Boise Idaho that’s almost 100% white.) They know what’s up. This is a global revolution. Be on the side of right or be a racist asshole. Your choice.
June 8, 2020 @ 5:53 pm
So what do you do with all the people who do not comply with your demands? The “immoral”?
June 8, 2020 @ 6:04 pm
Celebrities? I stop streaming, buying, attending their shows, and let everyone know they’re a douche via social media. Currently cancelling Jason Aldean. (Whose music I really like, so this sucks. )
June 8, 2020 @ 6:17 pm
That is the means. What is the end, the final objective?
June 8, 2020 @ 7:04 pm
I think people should be given a chance to grow and improve. So anyone who apologizes profusely and sincerely and takes some steps to show they mean it (open purse, give substantial sum to Black Lives Matter and I believe you) they are uncancelled.
If they stick to being a racist asshole, hopefully good people speak with their pocket books and that celebrity is eventually reduced to being unpopular and ridiculed….
June 8, 2020 @ 7:40 pm
“ 10s of thousands of people are protesting in Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and all 50 states in the U.S. (including, and this just warmed my heart to no end, Boise Idaho that’s almost 100% white.) They know what’s up. This is a global revolution. Be on the side of right or be a racist asshole. Your choice.”
I’m in full support of the protesting and decreasing police violence against citizens, but I’ll be damned if this isn’t a perfect example of bandwagoning.
June 8, 2020 @ 8:07 pm
Jake, if we get that knee on neck chokehold banned nationwide; if those murderous cops go to prison for a long time; if there is finally meaningful discussion between police and the Black community; if Black parents do not have to have “the talk” with their first grader (the “how to avoid being shot by cops” talk not the sex one); then I don’t care if some guy in Paris just went to protest cause he thought it would impress his girlfriend and get him laid. Y’all aren’t getting it. It’s not a bandwagon, its a revolution. (And nobody is perfect.)
June 8, 2020 @ 10:33 pm
Yeah I agree those would / will be good things. I’m just curious where you were and if your purse was open the last dozen times it happened. Or even some comments here? After saying something akin to “everyone else is doing it so should you” and “join us or be an asshole,” I find your peer pressure bandwagon tactic suspect, Ms. Revolutionary. Or maybe It’s that I was just listening to Positively 4th St and can’t get that line out of my head.
June 9, 2020 @ 5:59 am
When we were still living in LA we were broke as shit cause of high overhead so we let our feet do the talking and went to many protest marches, against the evil cheeto’s brutal treatment of immigrants and other issues. Now that we live in Vegas and our business is doing well, purse was open for Cory Booker who was my #1 choice for Prez, now have a monthly recurring donation to Black Lives Matter, contributed to George Floyd memorial fund, and the two Democrats who are running against McConnell and Graham. On a side note, also contribute regularly to dog rescue organizations.
The fact that you see “don’t be a racist” as a bandwagon rather than basic morals is disappointing.
June 9, 2020 @ 5:20 am
A revolution sponsored by corporate America and 3/4 of the media and establishment. You talk a good talk, but all I’ve read in your comments is that folks have to agree with you or else… why don’t you piss right off back to college campus with that BS.
June 9, 2020 @ 5:46 am
Um, I’m a middle aged, long time married, small business owner. Have been active in politics since high school. And yeah, I’m saying stop being racist. That’s not a bandwagon, that’s a basic tenet for anyone who wants to be a good person.
June 7, 2020 @ 6:38 am
With Clint Black, it’s more about what he said say. Here is what tweeted:
Must be said; Anyone attending a protest tonight is enabling others to commit violence and destruction. People who had nothing to do with what happened in MN are having their lives and property destroyed in these would-be protests. These protests are now camouflage for criminals.
“Would be protests,” he says. And I guess if one is out there exercising their first amendment rights to protest police brutality, they are somehow complicit in the actions of others they probably don’t know and have no control over who destroy property. Guilt by association, in other words.
I’m not really into Clint Black and am not much for cancelling, but the situation with him is a little different.
June 7, 2020 @ 7:21 am
What do you mean you’re not much for canceling, but it’s different with him…you mean people shouldn’t be cancelled unless you really don’t like their opinion? I’m not a fan and don’t agree with him either- it’s pretty dumb…but where exactly do we draw the line where someone should face cancellation?
Regarding the protests and placing blame, the absolute craziest thing is to see how quickly it went from “if you’re not social distancing you’re killing grandma and POC,” to now…absolute support of not social distancing. Even in many cases excusing the destruction. The “right wing” protests against government overreach in shutting down businesses were met with condemnation and accusations of murdering people by spreading COVID. I get the difference in causes, and at the same time understand that this has in many eyes destroyed what was left in the credibility of health officials.
June 7, 2020 @ 8:10 am
No, I didn’t mean that. I meant he said something as opposed to saying nothing.
June 7, 2020 @ 8:58 am
Good point, apologies for misunderstanding.
June 7, 2020 @ 9:15 am
No problem.
June 7, 2020 @ 10:36 am
If Lorie Liebig or anyone else wanted to take what Clint Black said and expound upon it in an article about why it’s misguided, that would be fine. I may disagree with it or other people may disagree with it, but it would be her sharing her opinion. By populating this spreadsheet, it immediately impugns people without giving the full picture. The assumption is that they don’t support African Americans, when in truth when you talk about Willie, Dolly, etc., the assumption should be the exact opposite.
I guarantee you Willie Nelson doesn’t even know what the fuck Twitter is. Dolly might, just because she’s a little more connected. But they both come from the generation when people weren’t expected to feel the need to publicly express things as some sort of token.
Also, this goes to a point I’ve been making for years. Lorie Liebig and that whole gang bang of echo chambered journalists in east Nashville have for years been demanding country artists speak out politically. But they never stop to think that if they do, they might not like what they have to say. Clint Black did speak out politically. That’s what you asked for. And surprise, most country artists tend to lean conservative. So be careful what you wish for.
June 8, 2020 @ 4:33 pm
daaaaaamn I never liked him much anyway but he is so cancelled. Also cancelling Jason Aldean for blocking his fans who were begging him and his wife to speak out. (Which makes me very sad cause I love his music, I’m an old metalhead and he has those crunchy pop metal guitar riffs that just make me so happy. Saw him in concert. Sigh…..[sad face emoji here])
June 7, 2020 @ 10:09 am
Police FORCE- clowns in uniforms with badges and guns systemically abuse the privileges granted them. They follow the example set by the clowns in Empty Suits. They (and we) are taught from the outset of life to conform- comply. Thugs in clown suits with guns and badges take the abuse of privilege one step further- comply or die. They believe themselves to be judge, jury and executioner in the land whose pledge of allegiance states; Liberty and justice for all.
There are more black people incarcerated than white people and most of the offenses are drug related- where does one get the authority to tell another what he can ingest?
Do any of you genius’s know why marijuana was made illegal?
BTW, at the time of Floyd’s arrest he was *suspected* of using a counterfeit bill- the rule of law, is, FYI, innocent until proven guilty.
His past record is, in this instance, immaterial. An honest judge wouldn’t allow it as evidence in a trial.
None of that excuses the looting and burning. Those are separate things from the protests perpetrated by trouble makers to intentionally create a larger divide- and social media perpetuates it. It makes no difference to them, they’ll just move to the next cause de jour that pays them for their time.
SMH- idiots they are- tools, as easily discarded as used.
June 7, 2020 @ 11:40 pm
Most offenses for which people are in prison or jail are not drug-related. Violent crimes and property crimes are involved more than drug-related crimes. In state prisons it’s not even close as far the ratio of violent offenders to drug offenders goes. It’s greater than 3-to-1 in favor of violent offenses.
June 7, 2020 @ 10:22 am
In honor and remembrance of George Floyd, yesterday I played all seven of my Charley Pride albums back-to-back.
June 7, 2020 @ 11:29 am
Aw Big Tex. You are such a softie. And just as I was about to make you my new best friend.
June 7, 2020 @ 12:07 pm
And I just found my old Stoney Edwards album! Stoney was very underrated in his day!
June 7, 2020 @ 2:16 pm
I suppose he was from Texas. Go listen to an Irish group called The Gloaming. Not an ounce of country in them. But they have two fiddlers.
June 7, 2020 @ 2:22 pm
Stoney was an Okie, if memory serves me. I will check out the Irish group. I also like another Irish group, the Chieftains.
June 7, 2020 @ 10:26 am
I never knew Willie Nelson was such a racist…How dare he have his own way of processing and dealing with this!? I no longer think he is the greatest country artist of all time…
June 7, 2020 @ 1:58 pm
Here’s just one story that tells a lot about Willie Nelson. And this was way back in the day:
Willie has endured a lot of criticism over the years for his embrace of unpopular causes and his willingness to fight for tolerance and fair play. One of his acts of courageous decency was his championing of the great, black country singer, Charlie Pride, who was the victim of racial prejudice. Willie recalls embracing Charlie Pride in front of unhappy white audiences.
“He’s been treated unfairly. They didn’t want him to sing there. And the owner of the club, who’s a real good friend of mine, was a solid redneck, and he didn’t want him there. So I kissed Charlie on the mouth. I was just trying to ease the tensions a little bit.”
June 7, 2020 @ 11:43 pm
Great story. Also, it’s “Charley”.
June 7, 2020 @ 2:18 pm
Zero percent chance I would have heard of this dumb list without this article. Social media is so fucking dumb.
June 7, 2020 @ 4:28 pm
In his 1994 autobiography, Pride: The Charley Pride Story, Pride recounts how Nelson helped him early in his early career. He also notes in the book that Nelson referred to him as “Supernigger.”
Interviewed backstage before performing with Rucker at the sixth annual Darius and Friends benefit at Nashville’s Wild Horse Saloon in June, Pride shows an uncharacteristic flash of indignation when asked about the nickname. He reaches into his pants pocket and pulls out his smartphone. “Look, we could talk about this all day,” he says, using an index finger to scroll through his photo library. “Willie did call me that — it was his term of affection for me. He’d say, ‘Hey, Supernigger!’ But here, look at this.”
On the screen of his phone is a publicity portrait of a young Willie Nelson, hair slicked back and wearing a white oxford shirt and skinny black tie. Pride jabs his finger at the inscription on the photo. “You see that there? What does it say? Can you read it?”
It says: “To the next No. 1 country singer, Charley Pride. Your friend, Willie Nelson.”
June 7, 2020 @ 4:33 pm
I want Derek Chauven to get convicted of murder for killing George Floyd.
And BLM can go to hell.
Those thoughts are not mutually exclusive.
June 7, 2020 @ 5:14 pm
Derek Chauvin is a loose cannon.
A bully.
Chauvin should have been dealt with and removed from his job at the PD years ago.
Put him in prison.
Justice will take its course
June 7, 2020 @ 5:35 pm
Regarding Eric Church. Remember when he played the Grammy’s for the first time? He performed “Give Me Back My Hometown” with a powerful video of Martin Luther King Jr playing on the screen behind him.
June 7, 2020 @ 7:40 pm
People were told to not use the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag with their black square so as to not clutter the hashtag and make it harder to provide info about protests and donations. You were supposed to use #BlackOutDay2020 or #BlackOutTuesday. Many people took Black Out Day very seriously. For instance, Rihanna stopped all business for her Fenty makeup and lingerie lines. Millions of people stopped streaming and didn’t buy anything to show the economic impact of the movement.
Many country artists took the time to listen and express support. ( It was supposed to be a day of reflection, listening and learning about Black history and the current movement.) And that is to be commended, because there is a backlash. For instance, Blake Shelton tweeted support for justice for George Floyd and lost 200,000 followers. Great way to weed out the racists!
I am making my own accountability list with the help of online friends. And that is going to determine who gets my future concert ticket and merch money and who doesn’t. Lindsay Ell actually went to a protest so I am streaming her every day as a show of appreciation.
So many artists spoke out this time there are no more excuses. Like Angela Davis said, its not enough to be non racist, you need to be anti racist. This is a defining moment in history.
June 9, 2020 @ 10:43 am
“I am making my own accountability list with the help of online friends. And that is going to determine who gets my future concert ticket and merch money and who doesn’t. Lindsay Ell actually went to a protest so I am streaming her every day as a show of appreciation.”
You’re making a lot of assumptions on why artists didn’t put up a black square or publicly address the matter.
Maybe they were on a cruise ship for a week and didn’t have Internet access.
Maybe they lost their phone.
Maybe they were taking shit.
Or maybe they, and hear me out, they know that Twitter and Instagram isn’t real life, and rather than using a platform that is nothing but a means to get people to look at you so you can get an ego boost and post things that are nothing but humblebrag, that artist would much rather support it quietly with zero fanfare by donating a check or going to a protest and not tooting their horns about it.
June 9, 2020 @ 2:42 pm
Oh please. I have a survivalist prepper acquaintance who lives way out in the boonies and literally grows and hunts his own food. But he stiil knows about the Black Lives Matter movement as does every single person on earth who has a TV and/or Internet access.
And if you think Twitter isn’t the primary instant communication device of the world, I dont know what to tell you. Except I hope you are enjoying your fax machine and landline phone. Peace out.
June 9, 2020 @ 3:21 pm
Not to butt into this discussion, but I think it’s really important to note on this matter just how few people use Twitter. According to the Pew Research Center, it’s only 1 in 5 Americans. When you consider rural dwelling people and older people like who listen to country music, I’m sure it’s much less than that. This is why the spreadsheet is extremely presumptuous, because it only counts Twitter and Instagram info, not Facebook. Meanwhile, 7 in 10 Americans have Facebook, and that number is likely even greater when it comes to country fans. Facebook is the way country artists communicate with their fans, but the spreadsheet can’t be bothered to check it.
Twitter is simply the preferred social media platform of the media, and super fans of sports and celebrities. That is why it’s so dangerous at creating echo chambers, or inaccurate perceptions about the pulse of the public. I use Twitter all the time, but it is a really bad window on the greater world.
June 9, 2020 @ 3:33 pm
Correct.
June 9, 2020 @ 4:35 pm
Trigger that is a legit point. I personally despise Facebook because Zuckerberg allowed Russion bots to spread horrible disinformation before the 2016 election. Twitter has bots too but easier to identify and block. I would really encourage older country fans to give Twitter and Instagram a shot. All their favorite artists are there to follow.
June 10, 2020 @ 8:24 am
Trigger, you will be delighted to know that I am not on any social platform. Twitter, Facebook etc etc. so you can say anything you want about me on those sites and I will never know. But I will keep reading SCM. I do hope that somehow the USA comes to its senses and assumes its position as leader of the free world. I think USA is in a terrible position. I do not see Trump winning the election. Biden is 78 I do no see him running for re-election in 2024. So who will his running mate be in 2020. His choice, I believe, will be Trump’s only hope. Some of the people being put forward are unbelievable.
June 10, 2020 @ 3:42 pm
“Oh please. I have a survivalist prepper acquaintance who lives way out in the boonies and literally grows and hunts his own food. But he stiil knows about the Black Lives Matter movement as does every single person on earth who has a TV and/or Internet access.“
Way to make sweeping assumptions about everyone else based on your one friend but then again we’ve seen that from you already. I believe that’s called “living in a bubble.”
“And if you think Twitter isn’t the primary instant communication device of the world, I dont know what to tell you.”
The data says otherwise. I believe that’s called “living in a bubble.”
June 10, 2020 @ 7:01 pm
96.7% of Americans own a TV.
The Amish, whom I’m presuming make up a good portion of that remaining 3.3%, still knew what was going on and gathered in support of Black Lives Matter.
And today, NASCAR banned confederate flags on their premises and there is a Black Lives Matter car zooming around the track at this very moment.
Soooooo that’s kind of a big bubble dontcha think?
June 7, 2020 @ 9:10 pm
“The entire point of my comment was to say, in a nutshell, “Chill out on artists for sharing their opinions in this trying time.” If that’s not seething and judgemental enough for you, I apologize. But my job is not to create a release valve for your rancorous guilt. I was simply trying to be pragmatic. Perhaps try it sometime.”
That’s not what you said, in full. That was one of the ideas you also tried to reassure them why they should chill out; that was the focus of my criticism and you sidestepped it.
Read what you said. If that’s what you meant, write that. Your responses almost never engaged in the content of the critique.
Fact is that you post ad nauseam about imagined assaults on country music by liberal politics. It’s revealing about you and sad and disingenuous; you’re conservative so you don’t like it, but you wont say that. And aside from that, your take is ignorant; some the best country music of all time is explicitly political. And even more of the best is implicitly political. You must know that, right?
If you examine your fan responses to all these kinds of takes, you’ll notice that the most flagrantly and manifestly racist agree with you. Of course, that doesn’t make you one of them, but they definitely have you confused as a kindred spirit. And your lukewarm, periodic admonishments of them to be kinder aren’t helping you distance.
Aside from all that, I’m not sure what “politically incited” means registered as an insult. I’m also not sure what my “rancorous guilt” is. This is just like insult salad that conservatives try to hurt liberals with; it has not content, and frankly it’s ever more revealing.
June 7, 2020 @ 10:09 pm
On the one hand, if you feel this way, and this is a toxic and racist comment section and Trigger is in the wrong for letting it happen, why are you “platforming” him? Apparently you’ve noticed it for a long time and you’re still here, platforming away. You’re not supposed to be doing that, ya know? You should be cancelling him. I’m just trying to help you out – seems you haven’t gotten the memos.
On the other hand, GTFO with this.
#defundthethoughtpolice
June 9, 2020 @ 1:02 pm
Now that is a hashtag I can get behind!
#defundthethoughtpolice
June 7, 2020 @ 10:28 pm
“Fact is that you post ad nauseam about imagined assaults on country music by liberal politics.”
The only thing I post ad nauseum is album reviews and other features for unknown country artists that barely anyone reads. But certain readers seem to be drawn like flies to the light to articles like this, and articles like this only, making them believe this is all I post.
“you’re conservative so you don’t like it”
See, you’re view of the world is political, and binary, where if you criticize something of a political nature, than you must play for the other team. Because there’s only two teams to play for, and the absolute worst thing you can do is criticize your own side.
Because I’m worried that Americana artists and ideological journalists are making a walled-off garden to more moderate or right-leaning fans doesn’t mean I lean to the right myself. It just means I want all audiences to be open and receptive to the messages of Americana artists, and this isn’t possible if artists repel audiences before they even hear a note by either insulting them or working to exclude them. You’re also not going to win any new converts by trying to cancel people’s favorite artists by drafting “accountability” lists.
Dolly Parton is not a racist.
June 8, 2020 @ 12:09 am
I went about my normal day, just as I would any other. Online social movements are lame. “Hashtags save lives!” Whatever. You know what may save lives? Making people accountable for the lives they may take. If they think they can get away with it, they just might not care if the guy under their knee lives or dies. Immunity laws and unions are problems. Solutions lie within the law, not within Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook with their pointless popularity posturing. When I first saw one of those #BlackOutTuesday posts I rolled my eyes. It is my initial reaction to all sanctimonious celebrity statements. I am not more inclined to believe in something just because Lizzo or Alyssa Milano does. So lame. I’m also curious as to what donations do. If they’re to help George Floyd’s family, or if they’re to help that poor, retired firefighter rebuild his bar after it was destroyed by riotous looters, I’m all for donations. If they’re to help “educate” white people about their privilege and about how racist they and America are – no thanks. I’ve already heard those lessons many, many times.
June 8, 2020 @ 6:39 am
If you examine your fan responses to all these kinds of takes, you’ll notice that the most flagrantly and manifestly racist agree with you. Of course, that doesn’t make you one of them, but they definitely have you confused as a kindred spirit. And your lukewarm, periodic admonishments of them to be kinder aren’t helping you distance.
I pretty much agree with that sentiment and have for a long time. I don’t think you’re a full on Trumper/hard right wing partisan. Maybe you’re in the center relative to where you’re from (thinking of that McMurtry song again). From the East Coast perspective (where I’m from), you seem like a right leaning independent. And contrary to what some people might think, there are plenty of hard right East Coast Trumpers (e.g, see 2016 election results for the NYC borough of Staten Island and Suffolk County, LI). And maybe it isn’t your intention, but it seems to me that some of these articles (like the one two Isbell article combination a little while back, each of which got over 400 comments) end up being red meat to the hard right portion of your readership.
June 8, 2020 @ 4:56 pm
Jack,
I am very cognizant that there are people who believe that Saving Country Music leans right, or has taken a right turn lately, or just a political turn in general over the last few months or years. There are many reasons for this sentiment, some or most of which are out of my control. I don’t choose who leaves comments here. I can’t help the fact that EVERYTHING in society has become more political, where even posting about things that are not political on the surface like the death or diagnosis of someone with COVID-19 will immediately become political. There’s also certain topics that I feel like I can’t avoid, even if they will be taken politically one way or that another (like this one), or be a magnet for right-leaning individuals, or even racists, which a country music website probably already attracts by default. Also very important to the matter at hand is that the individuals covering both country and Americana (like Lorie) tend to lean very left, and have a specific political agenda that is embedded in most, if not all of their musical coverage. At this point, Rolling Stone Country is just as much a political site as it is a music site. Because of this dramatic shift in coverage by country/Americana media in general, I’ve felt the need to offer counterpoints and context, which is the reason for this very article.
But when I read the comments section of those two Jason Isbell articles (for example), what I see is my opinion getting absolutely trounced by Jason Isbell fans, with perhaps a few people from the political right piping up between, I don’t feel like people on the left are being unrepresented. There also been numerous instances when people from the left have dive bombed other articles that don’t really have anything to do with politics at all. This happens with people on the right too, and probably more prevalently here. But readers from both sides are much more likely in this environment to veer the discussion in a political direction as opposed to respecting the idea of this as a political free zone.
This is a very unique time in the world, and there are important topics that need to be addressed. I am doing everything I can to keep any political discussions to a minimum, on either side. But I also have to do my job. And when someone posts something as irresponsible as this spreadsheet, which is directly affecting public sentiment of artists I know feel very strongly opposed to racism, I have to pipe up, regardless of what the optics are, or the assumptions people will draw about me.
August 13, 2020 @ 4:26 pm
No she is NOT a racist and she doesn’t need to be on any “lists”. She can speak for her self….
https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/08/dolly-parton-black-lives-matter-writing-will-interview/
June 8, 2020 @ 12:07 pm
“Fact is that you post ad nauseam about imagined assaults on country music by liberal politics. It’s revealing about you and sad and disingenuous; you’re conservative so you don’t like it, but you wont say that.”
See that’s the problem with extreme far-lefters like yourself, Ryan. You’re so far-left, that neutral beliefs, middle of the road beliefs, or left-of-center Democrats all look like conservatives to you.
There’s a reason why a lot of Democrats are sliding closer to the middle or crossing the two-party system line altogether.
The reason? The irrational, batshit craziness of the Lorie Liebigs and Ryans of the liberal world.
June 8, 2020 @ 2:04 pm
Boy you sure do like to talk. I think Trigger also said you were quite arrogant, I agree with that..
June 7, 2020 @ 9:39 pm
Just when I thought socio-political discourse couldn’t get much worse in America, we get this sort of insane, disingenuous, false dichotomy, false equivalence, gaslighting, mind-fuckery this week whereby if we all don’t post a black square on social media we are actually complicit in race-based murder. Nope. Get the fuck out of here with that shit.
June 8, 2020 @ 2:25 am
So the Committee of Public Safety is putting peoples’ names on lists now, is it? The tumbrels are rolling to the Place de la Révolution where the social media guillotine awaits.
I suppose we should be thankful it isn’t an actual guillotine. For the moment…
June 8, 2020 @ 8:02 am
Social media campaigns like this never seem to me to amount to much. Social media have so much noise on them that nobody but a fan of a given artist is likely to notice that said artist is silent today.
June 9, 2020 @ 6:24 am
@DeeManning Middle aged and you still wanna cancel Jason Aldean. I’m just shocked that anyone listens to that crap in the first place. But that’s your business. If I had to cancel every album, artist and movie based on them having a different opinion as mine, I wouldn’t have much left…
Look, all I’ve read from you is: reach in your pockets for BLM (an openly marxist organisation), do this, do that or you’re a racist. Maybe you can bully some, but not all. I treat people as they treat me, regardless of colour or background. That’s basically the most anti-racist you can be. What BLM and their allies are doing is first and foremost political, that’s fine, just be honest about it.
June 9, 2020 @ 2:25 pm
Steven, we are talking about ONE topic. Whether you (the editorial you, not you personally) support the global movement against racism and racially motivated police brutality, or not.
If you don’t like BLM there is the NAACP, The Southern Poverty Law Center, and many more good organizations to donate to.
And I’m not bullying anyone. Everyone has to decide which side of history they want to be on. I’m just one person out of millions of people who are saying enough. We will no longer tolerate the status quo.
June 9, 2020 @ 4:19 pm
P.s. if you get emails from Ryman Hospitality/Ole Red read the one they just sent. Those are people with a pro active plan to combat racism and I can’t wait for covid19 crisis to be over so I can go to Nashville and spend lots of money there.
June 9, 2020 @ 3:57 pm
@Steven
Thing is, I’m already starting to see a backlash to this bandwagoning, up against the wall, you’re with us or against us demand. Recent polls show almost every American is for police reform and ending violence, chokeholds, etc. but only 16% support defunding the police. It’s the mindless joiners, chanting unrealistic demands and the Karens of the world telling everyone how to think and what to do, that will eventually poison the movement. This list and Dee’s comments are a perfect example of that.
June 9, 2020 @ 6:56 pm
Did I say ONE SINGLE WORD about defunding the police? No. I don’t know enough on the topic tho my general gist it’s transferring such 911 calls as suicidal and/or mentally ill disruptive people as well as overdoses to EMTs and mental health professionals instead of cops. Stay tuned, I’m reading about it so I know what I’m talking about. What a concept.
Also I have not seen Lories list cause she privatized her Twitter account. I suspect mine will be a little different. Old guys who might not be in good health like Willie get a pass.
But I am going to say what Ryman Hospitality/Ole Red management just said. The people who own your sacred space, remember? On Twitter in really big all caps. To quote:
RACISM IS REAL. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE.
AND IT HAS NO PLACE AT OLE RED.
In the longer email they outlined what specific steps they were going to do to provide more diversity at Ryman Auditorium, both in staff and artists.
If that is too damn progressive for you, then [insert extreme pejorative characterization and wish for unfortunate fate here]
June 11, 2020 @ 11:31 am
Dee:
You need to get control of your emotions, or, in the alternative, you need to take your emotion-over-reason blatherings and post them on some site where the average IQ is low enough that the readers will take you seriously.
June 9, 2020 @ 4:49 pm
You can never satisfy a progressive. His appetite is immense. And he will eat his own in a heartbeat.
June 10, 2020 @ 7:27 am
Problem is that IMO the pushback against this ‘progressive’ movement (cancelling, banning, doxxing) is much too soft. This is a 100% culture war we’re in right now. The Republicans are useless, media and social media are almost entirely run by liberals and most people just wanna get on with their lives and hope all this madness will blow over like some bad dream.
In the meantime peoples’ lives are being destroyed, you’re forced to fall in line and join in some crazy orgy of payback and penance.
People who use their newfound power to exact revenge on their ‘oppressors’.
I’m in no way opposed to combatting racism and police violence. I’ve been on the wrong side of a cop baton numerous times. I genuinely hope that some progress will be made on that front. On the other hand, defund the police? Fuck that.
What’s happening right now is a mixture of justified anger, indoctrination though education , having been locked up because of covid19, politicians on a powertrip and sickening behaviour by the mainstream media. When eventually this dies down again, probably nothing will have changed for most of the black community. They will have voted for ‘you ain’t black’ biden and still be represented by frauds like Al Sharpton. And that’s what makes this even more tragic.
June 10, 2020 @ 8:51 am
When eventually this dies down again, probably nothing will have changed for most of the black community. They will have voted for ‘you ain’t black’ biden and still be represented by frauds like Al Sharpton. And that’s what makes this even more tragic.
I don’t know, mate. I guess we’ll have to see. And I wonder if you might be doing a little concern trolling here. Your views on Al Sharpton are a bit (and maybe conveniently) out of date. I don’t think he’s quite the shameless ambulance chaser he used to be (e.g., he was vocal about the shooter of Trayvon Martin having to stand trial, but I don’t recall that much from him when that shooter was found not guilty.) And the African American community members who vote tend to vote overwhelmingly Democratic and so yes, that will no doubt happen with Biden. As far as his recent gaffe goes, that did piss people off, but I don’t think it’s a deal breaker. Let’s just say that I don’t think black folks expect white Democrats to be pure of heart. I think the expectation of some blind spots and maybe some racist skeletons in the closet might be “baked in,” as it were. Perhaps they are more sophisticated as a community than you give them credit for. And what’s the alternative, especially with the state of the GOP today, with a world class race baiter at the top? As it is, black folks saved Biden’s sputtering candidacy because I they seemed to think he had the best chance of beating Trump.
June 10, 2020 @ 12:10 pm
“Let’s just say that I don’t think black folks expect white Democrats to be pure of heart.”
I would say that is especially true of the black population who vote Republican/ for Trump/ or for any other non-Democratic nominee.
What a statement.
Black folks, as opposed to white Democrats.
Interesting
June 10, 2020 @ 7:19 pm
The irony of modern-day activism and the so-called cancel culture is that it sometimes turns me against causes that I actually support. My other major issue with the left is that, increasingly, it doesn’t allow free speech or even, apparently, the right not to speak.