Riley Green responds to backlash over Kid Rock’s MAGA

Country music star Riley Green has addressed the controversy surrounding his resolution to headline Kid Rock’s music competition.

The chart-topping artist is scheduled to carry out at Rock the Country in Ashland, Kentucky, happening July 10-11. Rock the Country is a touring nation music competition created by Kid Rock, that includes eight dates in small communities nationwide.

Though Riley has sometimes stayed impartial and quiet on numerous points, he briefly explained his resolution to seem at Rock the Country in a current Billboard interview.

The 37-year-old musician acknowledged, “The simplest way I can put it is if somebody calls me and wants me to come play a festival, and financially it makes sense, then I’m probably going to go do it. I don’t ask a lot of questions beyond that.”

He added, “Rock the Country sounds like a fun festival. I don’t see any benefit in me making anything political. I think people go to concerts to escape their every day problems and enjoy country music. My job is to entertain them.”

Riley will take the stage at the competition alongside fellow nation and rock artists Jelly Roll, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Brantley Gilbert, and Gavin Adcock, among others. Despite Riley’s continued participation in Rock the Country, quite a few other performers have withdrawn from the event.

Both Shinedown and Ludacris canceled their scheduled appearances at Rock the Country in South Carolina, in the end forcing Kid Rock to scrap the complete event. Rolling Stone had beforehand reported that Morgan Wade and Carter Faith also backed out of the competition.

In explaining their withdrawal, Shinedown cited the competition’s political overtones and adverse response from their fanbase as key components of their resolution.

The band launched a press release saying, “SHINEDOWN is everyone’s band. We feel that we have been given a platform to bring all people together through the power of music and song. We have one BOSS, and it is everyone in the audience. Our band’s purpose is to unite, not divide. With that in mind, we have made the decision that we will not be playing the Rock the Country Festival.”

The assertion continued, “We know this decision will create differences of opinion. But we do not want to participate in something we believe will create further division. And to our fans, thank you for supporting and believing in us. We love and appreciate you always. All love and respect, SHINEDOWN.”

Rapper Ludacris also withdrew from the contentious competition, along with his spokesperson stating that his inclusion had been an error from the outset. Following the transfer, a consultant for the hip-hop star told TMZ, “Lines got crossed and he wasn’t supposed to be on there.”