The Commodores are once, twice, three times not playing the Great American State Fair.
By late Thursday, May 28, the legendary R&B group was one of five acts who’d withdrawn their participation in the 16-day festival in Washington, D.C., running June 25 through July 10 on the National Mall to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
The event was announced Wednesday by Freedom 250, which, according to Newsweek, the Interior Department declared to be the official branding of all 250th anniversary celebrations. Which means, of course, President Trump‘s White House is part of the organizational oversight for the show.
In the end, it was an easy decision for The Commodores.
“The Commodores will not be performing at Great American State Fair,” reads a brief statement on the group’s Instagram Stories. “Our music has always been our voice and we choose not to publicly affiliate with any single political party. We support the betterment of all Americans.”
Other acts who have pulled out of the free event since Thursday are Morris Day & The Time, Young MC, Milli Vanilli and Martina McBride. Artists still on the bill include Vanilla Ice and C+C Music Factory, who are doubling down on their involvement, while Flo Rida and Bret Michaels have yet to comment.
Founded at Tuskegee University, The Commodores signed with Motown in 1972 and enjoyed a slew of hits, including “Brick House,” “Sail On,” “Three Times a Lady” and “Easy.” Along the way, The Commodores scored four platinum albums, a Grammy Award and 10 top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 along with a Vocal Group Hall of Fame induction.
Tuskegee, whose Commodore Museum housed the group’s former rehearsal and recording studio, held a Commodores Day back in March 2019, when members of the troupe received the keys to the city of Montgomery, Ala. The legendary group will celebrate their 60th anniversary in 2028.
In addition to the music program, which runs on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, The Great American State Fair will feature salutes to the military and themed days, including Military & Veterans Appreciation Day and Faith Values and Inspiration Day, as well as MAHA Monday, a day focused on Make America Healthy Again, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s key initiative.
