Posted on 12/22/2016 1:32:50 PM PST by drewh
“If anyone does do it, I hope that the check that they get is in the nine figures. Because it’s probably the last check they’re ever going to get,” Simon Renshaw tells TheWrap
The Dixie Chicks’ manager says the title of one of their songs sums up why Donald Trump’s inauguration team can’t book A-list talent: Hollywood isn’t ready to make nice with the president-elect.
Trump’s inaugural committee is still struggling to lock in A-list talent for his big festivities, according to Hollywood insiders, and even offering ambassadorships to anyone who can wrangle top singers.
“If anyone does do it, I hope that the check that they get is in the nine figures. Because it’s probably the last check they’re ever going to get,” Dixie Chicks manager Simon Renshaw told TheWrap.
Eric McCormack Would Perform at Trump's Inauguration in Exchange for 'a Lobotomy'
Renshaw said the Dixie Chicks’ “Not Ready to Make Nice” should be the anthem of anyone asked to perform.
“In my mind that’s the theme song to the Donald Trump presidency,” Renshaw said. “If anyone wants to know what we’re singing, that’s it. It’s what we should all be singing.”
He said he knows of no top artist who would be willing to take the gig.
“No one is prepared to normalize what is going on in the country right now,” said Renshaw, whose clients include “American Idol” alum Haley Reinhart and who has represented Clay Aiken and Paulina Rubio in the past.
Also Read: Insiders: Trump Team Dangled Ambassadorships to Lure A-List Inauguration Singers (Exclusive)
In a statement to TheWrap, Trump’s team denied offering any ambassadorships and said top-tier acts are “eager” to perform.
“There is no truth to this insinuation,” said committee spokesman Boris Epshteyn. “First-class entertainers are eager to participate in the inaugural events. The inauguration as a whole will be an exciting and uniting celebration of freedom and democracy. We will be releasing further details at the appropriate time.”
Despite his obvious desire for Hollywood approval, Trump may only now be realizing how unpopular he is with many in the entertainment industry, Renshaw said.
“People are just shaking their heads in incredulity,” Renshaw said. “It’s mind-blowing.”
The Dixie Chicks famously drew attention and criticism near the start of the U.S. invasion of Iraq when singer Natalie Maines said in 2003: “Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.”
“Not Ready to Make Nice,” relased June 2006 in response to the backlash, is the band’s biggest hit to date.
Also Read: Trump Team Scrambles for A-List Inaugural Performers: 'They Are Willing to Pay Anything' (Exclusive)
Thus far, the only artist publicly set to perform at Trump’s inauguration in January is 16-year-old former “America’s Got Talent” runner-up Jackie Evancho. The list of artists who have publicly refused to perform include Garth Brooks, Idina Menzel, The Chainsmokers and Elton John.
When Kanye West met with Trump this week, John Legend, who has collaborated with the rapper, said he was “pretty disappointed with Kanye that he says he would have voted for Trump.”
That’s the kind of peer pressure other artists can also expect, said Renshaw.
“Sort of, ‘What on earth were you thinking,’ is the common perception,” he said.
Also Read: Ice-T Says Trump's Team Called Him to 'Perform at the Inauguration'
He cited two artists of the caliber the Trump team is seeking, saying they would never kowtow to him like his fellow Republicans are.
“Someone like Katy Perry or a Justin Timberlake actually has a morality and it would never allow them to behave in the way that politicians are behaving around the office of the president-elect right now,” Renshaw said.
But he insisted the situation isn’t as dire as it appears, noting there is still one place where Trump could easily find all kinds of “eager” talent.
“His team’s got it all wrong. I think what they should be after for the inauguration is the Moscow State Circus,” Renshaw said.
Dixie Chicks Manager: Trump Inauguration Can't Book Performers Because Hollywood's 'Not Ready to Make Nice'
Performers including Garth Brooks, Celine Dion and The Chainsmokers have made other plans for January 20
Donald Trump is so unpopular with Hollywood that two talent wranglers told TheWrap they were offered ambassadorships in exchange for booking top singers. Here are some artists who said they wouldn't perform for the world.
They would have treated ANY REPUBLICAN like this...
Dixie Chicks, are they even a group anymore?
We can respond in kind to Hollyweird.
Despite his obvious desire for Hollywood approval, Trump may only now be realizing how unpopular he is with many in the entertainment industry, Renshaw said.
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Whatta big crock!
It is my experience that musicians (and other theatrical performers) will perform for anyone who will pay them, and do so gladly.
I very much doubt the Dixie Chicks are on DJT’s list of potential entertainers, so this dumb statement doesn’t cost them anything.
I seem to recall that a very famous homosexual musician performed for one of Rush Limbaugh’s weddings, and didn’t make any kind of stink about it.
Wasn’t Garth Brooks an Obama supporter?
Hollywood is:
insular
circumscribed
isolated
parochial
petty
bigoted
closed
confined
contracted
cut off
detached
inward-looking
limited
narrow
prejudiced
provincial
restricted
secluded
separate
separated
sequestered
They probably sing now at Hairy Harry’s Bar & Grill...
Joe’s Liquor and Bail Bonds...etc
Dixie Chicks...
Didn’t they used to be sort of successful until they angered 99% of their fan base?
This guy doesn't get out much with normal people.
Yes he should. And have some wealthy talented entertainment people start building another avenue for conservative entertainers and entertainment. Tie it into the Branson Area or Pigeon Forge or some other Red State area. Music, movies and TV. Point to the Blacklisting as the reason why there needs to be competition.
Didn’t they accuse FReeRepublic of hurting their “business”?
I’m still not getting tired of winning.
I bet he could get KISS to play at the inauguration. LOL ... that’d shock the hell outa those libs!!!
Hollywood apparently does not understand that they are biting the hand that feeds them.
Where do they think they are going?
Who? The Dixie C***s?
Screw them!
He who laughs last laughs best, Hollywood.
And Trump is the best laugher I know.
Are these the same Hollywood moguls that get child performers to perform, and pass them around amount themselves? Maybe the FBI should make this a priority.
THE Dixie Chicks’ biggest detractor, FreeRepublic.com founder Jim Robinson, declined to appear in their documentary, “Shut Up and Sing.” Now Ken Sunshine, who reps the George Bush-bashing Chicks, calls him “a coward. A real man would put his money where his mouth is, but this Robinson guy, he’d rather hide behind his keyboard than have a real discussion about his ideas . . . he’s just a chicken[bleep] fraud.” Robinson’s rep, Kristinn Taylor, confirmed he ducked the interview: “He told me to go ahead and do it.”
they Can’t Understand Nothing Trump
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