Charley Crockett believes he and other traveling musicians are some of the most qualified people to comment on the state of our nation. And I have to say, agree with him… to an extent. When you are a faithful road dog like Charley Crockett, who has spent most of his life as a nomad, you see a lot of the country as you move from city to city. In Charley’s case, he spent a number of years busking in cities before he upgraded to seeing the country via sprinter van and now… tour bus. He is one of those artists who has seen and done it all. From the streets of New York to working as a ranch hand on various farms, including on a marijuana farm in Mendocino County, California, or learning the blues in the French Quarter of New Orleans, he’s experienced more of America than most ever will. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Charley Crockett (@charleycrockett) And according to Charley, that kind of life experience best qualifies people like himself, touring musicians, to comment on the current state of our nation, whether political, cultural or otherwise, but as you may know, or perhaps even believe, celebrities are often told to “shut up and sing.” Of course, there are country artists who outwardly show their political alliance, like Jason Aldean, Travis Tritt and John Rich. And then you have the likes of Jason Isbell, Willie Nelson, Tim McGraw and Maren Morris (is she still country?) on the other side of the aisle. In this video, Charley makes and eloquent and compelling argument for why “shut up and sing” doesn’t have much merit. And while political and cultural opinions are (or at least should be) a very nuanced conversation, Crockett points out how some of the country’s least-traveled people seem to have the most dogmatic viewpoints. Charley says: “The thing about it is, man. And I thought about this a lot. You know, a lot of people in country music or just in general, in America, a very divided society, will look at performers like us and say, ‘We don’t want to hear about your opinion on America. You just need to shut up and sing.’  The irony is that I’m meeting every kind of American and have been my entire adult life. I shake every kind of American’s hands—all the rich folks, all the poor folks, all the people of every color, every economic background, all the genders in between, everything. We are actually, in some ways, more qualified than anybody to comment on culture. And it is ironic how often people tell us that it’s not our place to speak on society. Yet somebody who has seen very little, traveled almost none, and is unwilling to look at viewpoints other than their own is telling a well-traveled man that he’s not in any position to have an opinion about the affairs of this world.” @charleycrockettAmerica.♬ original sound – Charley Crockett Well said… Of course, art should be reflective of the culture we’re living in at the moment, and the most talented and compelling artists can lay out their opinions in their music in a way that makes you think. Crockett is doing just that with his lyrics, and we have seen him call out certain issues in the past, like the machine of the music industry with his single “Hey Mr. Nashville.” But I’d venture to guess that the most music fans don’t like paying money to be lectured by the performer, and I think that’s where a lot of the “shut up and sing” frustration comes from. Of course, lots of folks are yelling “shut up and sing” until their side of the aisle starts talking… However, in many instances, you’re not getting a carefully crafted, or well-thought out commentary on politics or culture from the stage or X account, you’re just getting the latest talking points from MSNBC or Fox News to rile up the fans. And then other times, you get the most of out of touch celebrities in America telling everyday people how hard their lives are… like when Justin Timberlake said “24-hour parenting was not human” during the pandemic. Overall, Charley certainly makes a compelling case for why traveling the country and meeting people from all walks of life will give you a unique perspective on American life, one that shouldn’t be silenced whatsoever. Music is certainly one of the most powerful tools in the arsenal when it comes to bridging cultural divides and bringing people together… you just hope that artists can use it responsibly. Any idiot can yell into a microphone… Many commenters agreed with Crockett, and for some, it simply boils down to “I pay money for a concert, I want to hear music,” which I can’t exactly argue with, but that may mean you’re gonna have to some concerts out. Check out a few responses: “What is crazy about that is that country music and its artists were the original speakers of America.” “Well said. Appreciate you speaking on this angle so well.” “Buck Owens did it his way, said what he said. Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, and Tom T. Hall said it like it is.” “You’re in society. Many top stars are very removed. That’s the issue.” “Art has always reflected life, culture, and politics.” “Love this take.” Charley Crockett is a man of the people, and he’ll continue sharing his tales and observations about his travels and the nation through his lyrics. Fire up “America” before you leave. The post Charley Crockett Makes A Compelling Argument Against “Shut Up & Sing” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

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