This current push in the Black Lives Matter movement has had a ripple effect across the entertainment industry. From streaming services pulling racist films and tv shows, to Björk’s changing label name One Little Indian to One Little Independent. The latest act to reckon with change is cult country trio Lady Antebellum.
Lady Antebellum have issued a statement, announcing that they will change their name to Lady A, after reflecting on the slavery connotations with the word “antebellum.”
“Dear Fans, as a band, we have strived for our music to be a refuge…inclusive of all,” the statement read.
“We’ve watched and listened more than ever these last few weeks, and our hearts have been stirred with conviction, our eyes opened wide to the injustices, inequality and biases Black women and men have always faced and continue to face everyday. Now, blindspots we didn’t even know existed have been revealed.
The band explained that “after much personal reflection, band discussion, prayer and many honest conversations with some of our closest Black friends and colleagues, we have decided to drop the word “antebellum” from our name and move forward as Lady A, the nickname our fans gave us almost from the start.”
The band, that formed in 2006 in Nashville, Tennesse mused, “we named our band after the southern ‘antebellum’ style home where we took our first photos. As musicians, it reminded us of all the music born in the south that influenced us … southern rock, blues, R&B, gospel and of course country.”
Lady A acknowledged that necessary due diligence needs to be taken in order to practice antiracism. They promised to “examining our individual and collective impact and making the necessary changes to practice antiracism.
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“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.”
In addition to changing their name, the band have committed to make a donation to the Equal Justice Initiative through LadyAID.
Check out ‘Need You Now’ by Lady A:
