With little more than 100 days before the 2024 presidential election, artists are aligning with the candidate of their choice. While the majority of musicians tend to keep their political preferences to themselves — in part for fear of alienating their audience — more and more country artists are speaking out in support of Republican nominee and former president, Donald Trump.
Country music and conservative politics have been hand in hand for more than 50 years. As Richard Nixon ran for re-election in 1972, he began peeling away working and middle class Southern whites, who had previously voted Democratic. Concurrently, country music began shifting to the right, culminating in the Country Music Association making a compilation album for Nixon that year called Thank You, Mr. President, according to NPR. The shift built on Merle Haggard’s culturally groundbreaking 1969 hit “Okie from Muskogee,” which took on San Francisco “hippies” and praised a way of life where “we still wave Old Glory down at the courthouse.”
While many pop and hip-hop artists, including Ariana Grande, Cardi B, Charli XCX, Lil Nas X, Lizzo, Demi Lovato and Katy Perry have rushed to voice support for Vice President Kamala Harris, who is poised to be the Democratic candidate following President Joe Biden’s July 21 announcement that he will no longer seek reelection, country artists have been slower to voice their choice. However, a number have been very vocal in aligning with Trump and been vociferous in their support, one even going so far as to release a song that echoes Trump’s talking points.
Below are country artists who have proudly declared their support for Trump.
