Musician Aaron Lewis stated that the music industry has turned its back on him due to his political beliefs, leading to a decline in invitations to perform at venues such as the Grand Ole Opry. Lewis, who rose to fame as the lead singer of the band Staind before launching a solo career in 2010, shared these sentiments during a recent appearance on the "Pickin’ It Out with Andrew Pope" podcast.
"Everything’s too political now," Lewis explained during the podcast. "I’ve played the [Grand Ole] Opry a whole bunch of times, and I don’t get invited to the Opry anymore. All because I believe in this beautiful, amazing country that we’re so blessed to have."
Lewis, 54, reflected on his nearly 30-year career, noting that he and Staind are now eligible for the Hall of Fame, but he believes "it’ll never happen."
His upcoming sixth studio album, titled "Give My Country Back," is scheduled for release on July 17. Lewis expressed concerns about the album's accessibility, suggesting, "You got to look for it. Any of my stuff. The machine that is has no problem turning its back on me."
The musician's experience echoes similar controversies faced by other artists. Rapper Vanilla Ice recently encountered backlash after agreeing to perform at the Great American State Fair, an event celebrating America's 250th anniversary and supported by President Trump. Following the announcement of the fair's lineup on May 29, several other performers withdrew from the event.
Vanilla Ice commented on the situation, stating that he is "just an entertainer" and that it is unfair for artists to be "dragged into politics and stuff." He suggested that people should "enjoy this concert, this celebration of our country, and we should all come together. That’s what music’s for anyway, to bring people together." While he chose not to withdraw, he acknowledged that other artists have "their own reasons" for doing so.