Country music - a list of Democrats and Republicans

[mvd]

See if you can add to this list I'm making.

Democrats:

Dixie Chicks
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Pam Tillis
Matraca Berg
Rodney Crowell
Emmylou Harris
Nanci Griffith
Faith Hill
Kathy Mattea
Tim McGraw
Maura O'Connell
Willie Nelson
Garth Brooks
Trisha Yearwood
Kris Kristofferson
Marcus Hummon
Carrie Underwood (based on strong rumors and a confirmation from a friend only)
Raul Malo
Allison Moorer
Steve Earle
Rosanne Cash
Todd Snider
Adrienne Young
Alison Krauss? (while researching, I saw she donated to People For The American Way)

Republicans and/or Bush supporters:

Brooks And Dunn
Sara Evans
Toby Keith (DINO)
Darryl Worley
Clay Walker
Alabama
Tanya Tucker
Lorrie Morgan
Rascal Flatts
Lee Ann Womack (supposedly neither party, but a blind supporter)
Reba McEntire
Vince Gill
Charlie Daniels
Miranda Lambert (very disappointed in this one - she's a great young talent)
Ricky Skaggs
Robert Earl Keen
Travis Tritt
Randy Travis
Neil McCoy
Gretchen Wilson (saw at DU that she was at a Repuke fund raiser)
Loretta Lynn
Hank Williams Jr
Mark Chesnutt
Craig Morgan

[Left Is Write]

1. What about Garth Brooks? Trisha is married to him.

Neil McCoy must be a HUGE Rebpulican. You have him listed twice. ;)

[mvd]

3. I think Garth is a Democrat

I'll see if I can confirm anywhere.

[Left Is Write]

5. I would think so, but people surprise you.

[L A Woman]

2. thanks for compiling that....

disappointing about Loretta Lynn and Vince Gill, but my faves are mostly Democrats.

[WCGreen]

43. vince is a very sincere Christian and is probably a Republican

just because of the abortion issue....

[Maestro]

4. Robert Earl Keen? Damn!

Hank Williams III is probably a democrat if he even votes. He leads quite the alternative lifestyle. And he sings just like his grandfather.

[sasquatch]

8. Hank Williams I could carry a tune

[mvd]

9. Attended Bush's inauguration, unfortunately

The book Rednecks And Bluenecks: The Politics Of Country Music lists as a Repuke one alt-country singer who didn't want to be named, and it's probably him.

[mvd]

15. Here's a link

http://robertearlkeen.com/node/128?page=1

It lists him as a performer at *'s inauguration. Supposedly he's a favorite of the Bush family, so I hope that's the only reason he came.

[Lasher]

42. Heard Hank III's Straight to Hell album?

I'm told III came here to West Virginia to spend a week with Jessco White before doing D Ray White on his Straight to Hell album. Jessco is a real nice but bizarre guy, so I imagine the two of them got along fine.

http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/PrintLyrics?OpenForm&ParentUnid=A551E43587D44CF548257155000F3CF4

[Maestro]

57. I have it.

Fine album.

[Lasher]

61. There's another tune where III mentions Boone County moonshine.

He wasn't kidding.

On edit: PM me if you want to know more about what III is talking about on the D Ray White track. I have lived here in BC all my life and have some guilty knowledge.

Lasher

[ghostsofgiants]

45. Well Hank III did appear on "Rise Above: 24 Black Flag Songs To Benefit The West Memphis Three"

Their supporters tend to be left-leaning. (Though Michale Graves is also a WM3 supporter and he's an outspoken conservative. Weird.)

[fla nocount]

54. I can't believe this about Robert Earl

He was duped into the performance for *. Probably tricked by his agent who works for %. No Republican could sit on their front porch on Sunday morning in their underwear greeting the Presbyterians as they come and go to the church across the street while drinking beers.

You know, I think I've just convinced myself that Robert Earl is a Republican and still worse I might leanings as well. Maybe drinking beer and hooting at Presbyterians on Sunday morning is something that crosses party lines.

[Pushed To The Left]

6. Willie Nelson should probably be on the Democratic list

He was a very active Dennis Kucinich supporter during the 04 elections.

[mvd]

13. You're right! I'll add him

Thanks. :hi:

[speedoo]

7. I thought Vince Gill was OK.

He could be a repub, but he defended the Chicks, as I recall. :shrug:

I'd like to think Gillian Welch was on our side, but I don't know.

[mvd]

10. He's a Republican, but yes, he didn't bash the Chicks

I love his music, so I'm glad one thing is in his favor. I bet if he educated himself, he'd change.

[Oeditpus Rex]

11. REK Jr. is an asshat??

I ain't buyin' it.

[graywarrior]

12. Reba

:puke:

[Shell Beau]

14. I am not a huge country fan although I do love some

Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. But I honestly listen to music I like regardless of their political position. But I do get a little happy to know someone I like is a little leftie.

[mvd]

18. I agree, but I do get annoyed when a singer is a Repuke

I can listen to them, but with some disgust.

[qnr]

16. A point in case Martina McBride comes up. She did a benefit for the familes

of fallen soldiers that was hosted by Sean Hannity, and while she doesn't reveal her affiliation, she thought it was funny and insulting that people assumed she was a Republican just from that. She seems to be pretty progressive in many of her statements.

[mvd]

19. That's why I didn't list her

There is indeed some doubt. I lean towards her being a Republican, but not one who is as judgmental as others.

[guitar man]

17. I'm almost 100% positive

Garth is a Democrat. Alabama, what a shame, I remember them back in the '80s and they seemed to be solid Democrats. Oh well, times change I guess :(

[mvd]

21. I'll put Garth on the list

As a fan, I'm happy to hear you are so positive.

[guitar man]

22. Well

...I'm not 100% sure, but close. I haven't seen him since I went to OSU with him back in like '85-86. Didn't really know him, but he seemed poretty progressive. Still does.

Oh, and you can add The Mavericks to the Dem list :)

Here's a cool site, haven't looked at it in detail yet, but it seems like they are on the right track.

http://www.musicrowdemocrats.com/

[mvd]

25. Yes, I know about the Music Row Democrats

Bobby Braddock is one of the founding members. That's good, because he's such a well known country music writer.

[guitar man]

27. Cool

....I'm searching for Shooter Jennings' affiliation, but no luck yet. I'm pretty sure his Dad was a Democrat.

[leftofthedial]

20. I only see two from the Democrat list who have actual

Nashville commercial country careers.

The rest are indies or used to have major label deals.

The talent comparison between the lists is w-a-y lopsided in favor of the Democrats, but they've mostly been driven out of major-label country music.

The industry for over a decade has been extremely hostile to anyone not on board with the jingoistic propaganda agenda of the establishment country music industry. The powerful in Nashville claim they have no agenda, that all decisions are made based on commercial success, but that is a flat-out lie. They neutered the music of the white working class and turned it into a propaganda tool of their own.

[mvd]

23. Here's my take on how much I like the Repukes musically

Brooks And Dunn - like
Sara Evans - like
Toby Keith (DINO) - never cared for him; early stuff is ok
Darryl Worley - new album is a big step back
Clay Walker - early stuff is good
Alabama - generally like or love
Tanya Tucker - like
Lorrie Morgan - love
Rascal Flatts - dislike
Lee Ann Womack - love
Reba McEntire - love early stuff
Vince Gill - love
Charlie Daniels - like early stuff
Miranda Lambert - love
Ricky Skaggs - he's ok
Robert Earl Keen - haven't heard much of his stuff
Travis Tritt - like
Randy Travis - love much of his stuff
Neil McCoy - just ok
Gretchen Wilson - pretty good
Loretta Lynn - love
Hank Williams Jr - dislike
Mark Chesnutt - like
Craig Morgan - dislike

[AspenRose]

24. I heard some guys from Sawyer Brown interviewed on Ed Schultz

so take that for what it's worth :shrug:

I also wonder where Leann Rimes goes on that list....

[mvd]

26. Sawyer Brown seem like Democrats

LeAnn Rimes - I'm almost sure she's a Repuke. Loves Hannity.

[Left Is Write]

62. Mark Miller from Sawyer Brown...

and me.



He definitely seems like a Democrat-type to me, though obviously I did not ask him. This picture is almost 13 years old.

[AspenRose]

28. What about Jo Dee Messina, Shania Twain or George Strait

???

[mvd]

29. Not sure about Jo Dee Messina

Shania is Canadian but probably on the liberal side. George Strait is likely a Repuke, but a quiet one.

[AspenRose]

32. I'm thinking Canadian+Vegetarian=probably liberal

re: Shania Twain

[guitar man]

30. George Strait is a die hard repuke

...damn shame because I've always liked his stuff

[mvd]

31. Yeah, it is a shame

Another Texan who probably thinks he has to be a Repuke.

Clint Black is another Repuke.

[Indy_Dem_Defender]

64. He is actually friends with Old Man Bush

I won't hold that against him because he doesn't bring up politics in his music or in public. I wondered for the longest time if Karl Rove tried to pattern W's phony cowboy imagine after George Strait. When W's in cowboy mode he tries to do a very bad impression of Strait, they even tried to dress him up in very similar clothes.



W


Strait

[AspenRose]

33. How does Big & Rich strike y'all...

eom

[mvd]

34. In the book Rednecks and Bluenecks: The Politics Of..

Country Music, they did not take sides.

[guitar man]

35. Merle Haggard-Democrat

[mvd]

36. In the book I mentioned, he's listed as "purple"

Speaks out against Bush, but still would have voted for Bush over Kerry, if he did vote. He didn't vote. Also still loves Reagan.

[Lasher]

44. Yay, I was wondering about Mearle

Figured him to be on the good side.

[LSK]

60. he wrote an anti-Iraq war song

[begin_within]

37. Carrie Underwood is a vegetarian, but decidedly apolitical

[mvd]

39. If she is a Democrat like indicated, I don't think she'll..

get into politics much. She's not ignorant of politics, though, as she was a page for a Democratic Oklahoma state representative.

[cmkramer]

38. Big and Rich

I believe are Democrats or at least progressive. I saw them on HANNITY AND COLMES a while back promoting a documentary they did and Sean seemed to imply that he was a fan although they didn't share his politics.

On Miranda Lambert, her parents are private investigators and worked on the Paula Jones case - mainly checking for other women who had similar complaints about Clinton. I think they were the ones who found Juanita Broaddrick.

[mvd]

40. That's good news

As for Miranda, she was seen wearing a "Friends don't let friends vote Democrat" shirt into the studio. Boo!!

[emmadoggy]

41. Well, I'm not a country music fan AT ALL, but it's great to see

that the two who I really DO like are the first two on the Dem list. The Dixie Chicks (knew about them, obviously!) and Mary Chapin Carpenter (I figured she was Dem). Love both of them. I also really like Allison Krauss - she seems iffy???, but glad we think she's on our side. Faith Hill and Tim McGraw are ok, too and I was aware they were Democrats too. Not too many surprises - although, for some reason, I was surprised to see Garth Brooks on our side. Don't know why, he just strikes me more as leaning the other way. I've always been rather annoyed by him but this earns him some brownie points from me.

:)

[hellbound-liberal]

46. Lee Ann Rimes is one of us!

She sang at the kickoff dinner for the Al Gore campaign in 2000. It was held at the MCI Center in D.C.

[querelle]

47. Kenny Chesney?

I read somewhere that he's gay. If that's true, then he's likely a liberal.

Q

[cmkramer]

55. I just read an interview with him where he denies he's gay

He's not someone I follow particularly, so I have no opinion on the matter.

Being gay doesn't make you more likely to be liberal.

[Bridget Burke]

48. Why don't you add references to your list?

I'll continue to listen to Vince Gill & Ricky Scaggs, no matter what.

Here's the website for Music Row Democrats: www.musicrowdemocrats.com/

[mvd]

52. Some of them are from the book Rednecks & Bluenecks

that I have been mentioning. Is there a particular one you want a link to? I will consider adding the sources in the file I have on my computer that has the list.

[zanne]

49. How many of the Dems stood up for the Dixie Chicks? nt

[fudge stripe cookays]

50. KD Lang, Canadian- most likely liberal

considering she's a very out lesbian.

Anybody know about Lyle Lovett? He and Robert Earl Keen were roomies at A & M back in the day. I would figure him for a liberal, but checked Newsmeat and he doesn't show any donations.

[formerrepuke]

51. Dolly Parton.. She's pretty liberal

[Starbucks Anarchist]

53. I would bet James McMurtry is a Democrat.

[Beausoleil]

74. I'll second that

about James McMurtry. And add John Prine, too!

[LSK]

56. Brad Paisley featured Reagan as a "lost hero" in a video

[mvd]

68. Ugh

Another talented artist lost to the dark side. I'll have to add him to the Repukes after what you said, since there's nothing about him being anti-Bush.

[youthere]

58. I don't feel so bad buying that Carrie Underwood CD for my daughter now...

I am NOT a country music fan. In fact I am the exact opposite..I'm an anti-fan.
But for whatever reason, my oldest daughter likes it, and she really likes Carrie Underwood.
She used to like Sara Evans until she was on Dancing with the Stars. We watched a couple episodes
and finally my daughter said (after they showed another interview with Sara) "She's kind of stupid, isn't she?"
That's my girl.:D

[LSK]

59. anyone know about Alan Jackson?

[mvd]

65. Alan Jackson seems apolitical

Hi, LSK! :hi:

[gbate]

73. I have my doubts about him after that 9/11 song he recorded.

[Pierre.Suave]

63. Who knows about

Chely Wright?

[mvd]

66. Supposedly pro-military and not necessarily

pro-Bush. Her family has a history of being in the military.

[Pierre.Suave]

69. I am aware of that

But am not aware of her political affiliation.

[mvd]

71. I'm not sure if she's a Democrat or a Repuke

Possibly just an independent.

[Indy_Dem_Defender]

70. ?Only clue

She wrote and sang the song "Bumper of My SUV" about a woman who flipped her off while driving for having a US marines sticker. She does actually have a brother who is a marine, so it isn't like she a chickenhawk.

[sakabatou]

67. Don't like country that much anyway

I'll stick to the bands I listen to.

[ashling]

72. Willie Nelson (whose music I love)

supported Ralph Nader AND Kinky Friedman, both of whom did nothing more than help keep Democrats out of the offices for which they ran.

I've liked Willie's music since the days when he was trying to make it in Nashville, but I would be a liile more pleased if he had supported Gore and Chris Bell (TX governor).

[AspenRose]

75. Lyle Lovett strikes me as progressive

eom