Inauguration Performance Made Toby Keith ‘Stronger’

Toby Keith received plenty of criticism for his decision to play at a Donald Trump presidential inaugural event. While other artists backed out of their performances or flat-out refused to take the stage, Keith accepted and stuck by his decision in the face of detractors.

In a statement released to Entertainment Weekly, Keith said, “I don’t apologize for performing for our country or military.”

It appears his blunt and patriotic attitude has not changed one bit. “In the end, it just makes you stronger,” Keith said, according to The Boot, at the 2017 Country Radio Seminar in Nashville, Tennessee. “If you don’t succumb to that kind of pressure, you’ll always come out stronger: Your fans will love you more, your friends will love you more, and at the end of the day, you just get another notch on your gun belt.”

Keith continued, “I know a bunch of people were committed. I know a bunch of people — I’m not naming names — but there’s a bunch of people that I didn’t think would have considered it who were committed, and they backed out due to pressure.”

Keith headlined the Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration on Jan. 19. Other performers included rock band 3 Doors Down and country duo Big & Rich.

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At the time when artists were chosen to perform at the inaugural events, many openly refused — without ever receiving public invitations. Those who did accept faced backlash and calls for boycotts, including 3 Doors Down.

Related: Toby Keith Won’t ‘Apologize’ for Inauguration Performance

One singer who accepted an invitation, Chrisette Michelle, was even blacklisted by director Spike Lee for her decision.

The director said he was considering using one of Michelle’s songs for an upcoming album, but then dropped her from the running for political reasons.

“I Wuz Sorry To Read That ‘Sistuh Girl’ Is Singin’ At DT’s Inauguration (And To Use His Fav Word-SAD). I Wuz Thinkin’ ’bout Using Chrisette’s Song- ‘BLACK GIRL MAGIC’ In My Netflix Series ‘SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT’…. NOT ANYMORE. And Dat’s Da Truth, Ruth,” the director wrote on Instagram.