From the Associated Press
Singer Keith: ABC Upset With Song
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A country song that warns terrorists, "You'll be sorry you messed with the U.S. of A," won't be part of a patriotic ABC television special on July 4, but accounts vary as to why. Toby Keith's re-sponse to the Sept. 11 attacks — titled "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)" — was too angry to open the special, ABC spokeswoman Cathie Levine said Friday. "He required that he be the opening act of the show, because he had concerts in Utah to get to," Levine said. "This show is meant to be a celebration of American strength and diversity. By his own definition it's an angry song, and that's not what our producers wanted to open the celebration." Keith has said that ABC anchorman Peter Jennings, the host of the show, personally cut him from the lineup. "Peter Jennings comes in and says that that song has lyric con-tent that does not belong on his television network," the 40-year-old said Wednesday while backstage at the CMT Flameworthy Video Music Awards. Levine said producers made the decision and Jennings didn't inter-vene. Scheduled performers on "In Search of America: A July 4th Musical Celebration" include Sheryl Crow, Brooks & Dunn, India.Arie, Gillian Welch, Tom Petty, Los Lobos and the Boston Pops. Country singer Hank Williams Jr. will open the show with his song, “America Will Survive.”
Singer Keith: ABC Upset With Song
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A country song that warns terrorists, "You'll be sorry you messed with the U.S. of A," won't be part of a patriotic ABC television special on July 4, but accounts vary as to why. Toby Keith's re-sponse to the Sept. 11 attacks — titled "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)" — was too angry to open the special, ABC spokeswoman Cathie Levine said Friday. "He required that he be the opening act of the show, because he had concerts in Utah to get to," Levine said. "This show is meant to be a celebration of American strength and diversity. By his own definition it's an angry song, and that's not what our producers wanted to open the celebration." Keith has said that ABC anchorman Peter Jennings, the host of the show, personally cut him from the lineup. "Peter Jennings comes in and says that that song has lyric con-tent that does not belong on his television network," the 40-year-old said Wednesday while backstage at the CMT Flameworthy Video Music Awards. Levine said producers made the decision and Jennings didn't inter-vene. Scheduled performers on "In Search of America: A July 4th Musical Celebration" include Sheryl Crow, Brooks & Dunn, India.Arie, Gillian Welch, Tom Petty, Los Lobos and the Boston Pops. Country singer Hank Williams Jr. will open the show with his song, “America Will Survive.”