For fairly obvious reasons, Toby Keith is rarely compared to Nirvana.
But there’s finally a reason to write about the country music artist and the iconic rock band in the same sentence.
And that’s because Keith has a simple response to anyone giving him grief for performing this weekend at Donald Trump’s Presidential Inauguration:
NO APOLOGIES!
The country music star is maybe the biggest name to have signed on for this controversial event, which will take place on January 20 in Washington, D.C.
Very few major acts want to be associated with the 45th President of the United States, with Keith having received a great deal of flak for agreeing to take the stage.
Not that he seems bothered by the criticism.
“I don’t apologize for performing for our country or military,” the artist told Entertainment Weekly late last week, explaining further:
“I performed at events for previous presidents [George W.] Bush and [Barack] Obama and over 200 shows in Iraq and Afghanistan for the USO.”
That is certainly one point of view.
We can see how some singers out there view performing at the inauguration as a patriotic act that represents the country and the democracy more than one single man.
But we can also see how many stars simply see this as an exception.
We can understand their hesitance to support Donald Trump in any way, shape or form.
Keith will be joined at the celebratory concert by 3 Doors Down, Lee Greenwood, Jackie Evancho, The Piano Guys and the Frontmen of Country, according to an announcement posted on the Presidential Inaugural Committee site.
Broadway actress Jennifer Holliday was also scheduled to perform, but published a letter on Saturday that said she felt a need to pull put.
In her statement, Holliday apologized to the LGBTQ community for agreeing to perform in the first place, calling the initial decision a “lapse of judgement.”
Trump, meanwhile, is well aware that artists are refusing to take his stage.
But he’s claimed on Twitter that not only isn’t he bothered by their absence… he doesn’t want them anywhere near him anyway!
“The so-called ‘A’ list celebrities are all wanting tickets to the inauguration, but look what they did for Hillary — NOTHING,” Trump tweeted in December, adding:
“I want the PEOPLE!”
We guess Toby Keith isn’t a person, based on this line of reasoning?
Trump, of course, has other things to worry about these days than who will or will not perform in D.C. later this week.
Such as accusations that he really is a puppet for Russia and/or talk that he will violate the Constitution on his first day in office due to his many business conflicts.
But, like Keith, Trump doesn’t seem too upset by the insults and threats being hurled his way.
Nor by the lack of well-known stars who went to perform on his behalf.
“Inauguration Day is turning out to be even bigger than expected. January 20th, Washington D.C. Have fun!” he recently Tweeted.
Will you be attending the event?
Will you be watching it on TV?
Will you be boycotting Keith and/or anyone who performs at it?
Or will you be lining up to purchase their records in a show of support?