The Poison singer is the fifth act to ditch the lineup for the big summer event, which will celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday.

Bret Michaels drops out of Freedom 250 concert over ‘threats and safety concerns’: ‘This isn’t about politics’

The Poison singer is the fifth act to ditch the lineup for the big summer event, which will celebrate the United States' 250th birthday.

By Jason Lamphier

Jason Lamphier is a senior editor at who covers news and music. Before joining EW, he was an editor at The New York Observer, Out, and Interview.

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May 29, 2026 11:22 a.m. ET

Bret Michaels performing in Tempe, Ariz., in February. Credit:

John Medina/Getty

- Poison singer Bret Michaels announced that he has dropped out of this summer's controversial Freedom 250 concert over "threats and safety concerns."

- "This isn't about politics," the heavy-metal rocker said. "It's about staying true to what I've always believed in."

- Michaels is the fifth act to pull out of the Washington, D.C., event, which will celebrate the United States' 250th birthday.**

Bret Michaels has made it clear that he's looking for nothin' but a good time — hence, he'll no longer perform at the controversial Freedom 250 concert event in June.

The Poison singer is the latest act to drop out of the event, which will celebrate the United States' 250th birthday. Early Friday morning, Michaels announced his plans to exit the 16-day bash, which will take place on the National Lawn in Washington, D.C., citing safety concerns.

"When this opportunity was originally presented to my team, it was described as a celebration of our country through music and a chance to honor our veterans, active military, first responders, teachers, and hardworking Americans from all walks of life," Michaels wrote in a statement on Instagram.

"As the son of a veteran, and coming from a family that has proudly served, that is something I have always been honored to support," Michaels wrote.

"As many of you know," he continued, "I've spent my entire career bringing people together through music, positivity, and good vibes. My shows have never been about politics. They're about giving people a place to come together, have a great time, and forget about life's stresses for a few hours."

Michaels wrote, "Unfortunately, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of. Concerns have also been raised regarding the safety of my fans, band, crew, family, and myself, including threats that are completely unfounded and unforgivable. Because of that, I have made the difficult decision to step away from this performance."

'The Celebrity Apprentice' host Donald Trump with former contestant Bret Michaels.

Stephen Lovekin/Getty

While the concert event, called the Great American State Fair, is part of a public/private initiative established by President Donald Trump to fete the country's birthday, Michaels insisted that his decision was not politically motivated.

"This isn't about politics," he said. "It's about staying true to what I've always believed in. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. That's one of the freedoms our veterans fought for and something I've always respected. But as a father, friend, and bandmate, I have to take threats and safety concerns seriously."

He added, "I believe in our country, in the freedoms we're afforded, and in the idea that for over 250 years we have gone through both highs and lows together and remained resilient. Music is a universal language that unites us, not divides us."

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Michaels, who won Trump's reality competition *The Celebrity Apprentice* in 2010, is now the fifth musical act out of nine to step away from the Freedom 250 concert series this week. He joins Morris Day and the Time, the Commodores, Young MC, and Martina McBride. Vanilla Ice and Milli Vanilli's Fab Morvan remain on the lineup, while C&C Music Factory's Freedom Williams seems unsure if he'll still perform. Rapper Flo Rida has stayed mum.

McBride announced on Thursday that she would no longer play at the Great American State Fair, claiming she'd been misinformed about it.

"I was presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event, but that turned out to be misleading," McBride said in a statement.

"I saw it as just a bigger version of so many state fairs I have performed at over the years, celebrating community and what makes each state special. Sounds fun, right? Wholesome even. Yesterday things started changing and what we were told is, in fact, not what is happening."

When reached for comment, Freedom 250 spokesperson Rachel Reisner told **, "Freedom 250 is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) dedicated to uniting Americans around the nation's 250th anniversary. Freedom 250 is focused on our signature celebrations and events that honor our history and engage all Americans — welcoming all who share our goal of commemorating this milestone in a way that uplifts and unites America."

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The description of Freedom 250 on its site reads, in part, "Working together with the White House Task Force 250, federal agencies, and the Commission, Freedom 250 serves as the official public-private partnership that connects, aligns, and amplifies national and local efforts to deliver the defining presidential moments of this anniversary year."

Critics have claimed that Trump founded Freedom 250 to control the U.S.'s patriotic events this year.

The Freedom 250 event will run from June 25 through July 10 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Admission is free.

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