“After much personal reflection, band discussions, prayer and many honest conversations with some of our closest Black friends and colleagues,” the country music group said they “decided to drop the word ‘Antebellum.'”
The trio explained how their band name came to be. “As musicians, it reminded us of all the music born in the south that has influenced us… southern rock, blues, R&B, gospel and of course country,” they shared. “But we are regretful and embarrassed to say that we did not take into account the associations that weigh down this word referencing the period of history before the Civil War, which includes slavery.”
“Causing pain was never our hearts’ intention, but it doesn’t change the fact that indeed, it did just that,” they said. “So today, we speak up and make change. We hope you will dig in and join us.”
“There are countless more that need to be taken,” they went on. “We want to do better. We are committed to examining our individual and collective impact and making the necessary changes to practice anti-racism. We will continue to educate ourselves, have hard conversations and search the parts of our hearts that need pruning—to grow into better humans, better neighbors.”