John Rich Blames “Wokeness” for Killing Country Music; Claims Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn Wouldn’t Be Allowed To Exist Today

Throughout his years in country music, John Rich explored a promising solo career on top of joining country bands like Lonestar. Although, most might remember the singer as part of the popular duo Big & Rich. Besides carving his own path in country music, the singer also witnessed the genre go through numerous changes over the years. With a new era of country music on the horizon, Rich recently criticized the genre for caving to “Wokeness.”

While speaking with Prager U about his rich history in music, Rich decided to open up about his current beliefs on the direction of country music. Holding nothing back, the singer said, “The wave of wokeism that’s hit this country and especially the entertainment business, that made its way to Nashville. So these artists are being told by their publicists, their managers, the heads of the records labels: ‘Hey, we know you think these things about America, that you’re against this woke stuff that we do (they don’t call themselves woke, of course) but we know you’re not for that. Don’t even think about putting out a post that pushes against that, don’t say x,y,z on your microphone on stage, no you cannot record that song because it says this.’”

[RELATED: Country Artist John Rich on “Wokeism” in Nashville and the Music Industry]

John Rich Claims Johnny Cash Couldn’t Exist Today

Knowing how hard it can be to break into the industry, Rich suggested performers have two choices, “Do they wanna go have a career, it’s been their dream, do they play the game, go forward and just don’t step on these landmines? Or, do they go out and hit the trip wires and light the place up? And lose their record deal, and not get invited to the awards show, and radio won’t play them, but… basically erase their career. That’s what they’re faced with. Is there freedom in art in Nashville, total freedom? Absolutely not.”

Criticizing wokeness for what he believed to be the downfall of country music, Rich ended his taje insisting greats like Loretta Lynn or Johnny Cash couldn’t exist. “If you’re wondering why it seems like people are pulling back and not giving you the full deal, there’s no Johnny Cashs, or Waylon Jennings, or Loretta Lynns, there’s a good reason for that… none of those people would have been allowed to exist today.”

(Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)