Freedom 250: The Great American State Fair is a 16-day festival held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., from June 25 through July 10.
The event is being put on to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s independence. The lineup of performers was released on May 27th.
The performers included Martina McBride, Vanilla Ice, Milli Vanilli, The Commodores, Flo Rida, and Bret Michaels. Other performers announced were many different military performance groups.
One Day After Lineup Was Revealed, Artists Began Dropping Out
On Thursday (May 28), Martina McBride was one of the first to drop out, stating, “I would like to talk to you and clear the air. I will not be performing at the Great American State Fair on June 25th.”
She gave a lengthy explanation:
“I was presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading. I asked lots of questions and was assured that this was a nonpartisan event that was meant to celebrate ALL 50 states. In my mind I thought this was a great way to celebrate the states and also bring people together in the way that only music can. I saw it as just a bigger version of so many state fairs I have performed at over the years, celebrating community and what makes each state special. Sounds fun, right? Wholesome, even. Yesterday, things started changing and what we were told is, in fact, not what is happening.”
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Bret Michaels followed suit, citing similar reasons. See his post below.
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Other performers who have since dropped out include The Commodores, Morris Day, and Young MC.
While Milli Vanilli is listed as “Internationally recognized pop duo known for chart-topping hits, including ‘Girl You Know It’s True,’” it is actually Fab Morvan who will be making the appearance, as the other member, Rob Pilatus, has since passed away.
Additionally, Milli Vanilli was embroiled in a scandal where it was revealed they lip synced to singing voices provided by several singers including Jodie Rocco and Linda Rocco. Jodie told The AP that she, nor any other singing voice for Milli Vanilli, was asked to be part of the event.
Who Will be Performing At The Great American State Fair?
After all the dropouts, it’s hard to keep straight who is still performing at The Great American State Fair. Here are the remaining artists after all the dropouts:
Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli
C + C Music Factory
Vanilla Ice
Flo Rida
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The organization has not announced replacement performers yet.
Freedom 250 Responded To The Artists Who Cancelled Their Performances
In a statement on Instagram, the organization disputed the artists’ claims that the event is misleading, saying, “Freedom 250 is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to uniting Americans around the nation’s 250th anniversary.”
They continued, “The Great American State Fair is one of Freedom 250’s signature celebrations, bringing together all 50 states and 6 territories in the Nation’s capital for the first time to celebrate 250 years of our history. This once-in-a-generation event will showcase what makes America exceptional — farmers, innovators, educators, small business owners, law enforcement officers, our strong military, and the American people who make up the fabric of this great country. From blue ribbon events and military flyovers to movie nights, the Great American State Fair will be a safe, secure, and enjoyable event for all ages — welcoming all who share our goal of commemorating this milestone in a way that uplifts and unites America.”
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