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Country music singer-songwriter Lee Greenwood and Texas native Larry Gatlin are among a growing list of entertainers who are withdrawing as performers at the 2022 annual National Rifle Association convention.
The convention kicks off in Houston on Friday, four days after 19 children and two adults were killed in a school shooting in Uvalde.
“I was scheduled to perform at NRA’s private event on Saturday with my band,” Greenwood said, according to Good Morning America. “After thoughtful consideration, we have decided to cancel the appearance out of respect for those mourning the loss of those innocent children and teachers in Uvalde.”
Country and Southern gospel singer Gatlin, a native of Seminole, also pulled out late Thursday, joining entertainers Larry Stewart of Restless Heart, Don McLean and Danielle Peck in passing on the convention.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Gatlin said:
“I cannot, in good conscience, perform at the NRA convention in Houston this weekend. While I agree with most of the positions held by the NRA, I have come to believe that, while background checks would not stop every madman with a gun, it is at the very least a step in the right direction toward trying to prevent the kind of tragedy we saw this week in Uvalde— in my beloved, weeping TEXAS.”
Gatlin also said he’s a “2nd Amendment guy,” but “I pray that the NRA will rethink some of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms in AMERICA.”
Stewart tweeted that he wanted to honor victims, families and the town of Uvalde, so “I just believe this is best for me at this time.”
Due to the tragedy in Uvalde I want to honor the victims, families, the town and our friends in Texas the best I know how. So I have made the decision to pull out as a performer for the #NRA convention this weekend. I just believe this is best for me at this time. God Bless!
— Larry Stewart (@LarryStewart_) May 26, 2022
McLean, best known for his song American Pie (1971) and an avid gun collector, said in a statement that he “decided it would be disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform.”
Country singer Danielle Peck also pulled out. In a statement, she said she withdrew “as both a mother and out of respect for all of the families in Uvalde.”
The withdrawals leave the concert with two scheduled entertainers: Jacob Bryant and T. Graham Brown.
The concert is part of a larger three-day rally organized by the NRA, featuring speeches from former President Donald Trump, Gov. Greg Abbott and Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.
The NRA released a statement Wednesday confirming that the scheduled convention would still take place and the event would “reflect on these events.”