June 12, 2020
Lady Antebellum change name amid slavery protests
Lady Antebellum are changing their name to Lady A, with members saying they are 'regretful and embarrassed' for not taking into consideration the word's association with slavery.The band, made up of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood, made the announcement Thursday on their social media.
The 'antebellum south' refers to the pre-Civil War period in the Southern United States between 1830-1860 when slavery was practiced.It was known as a time of economic growth in the region, largely due to its heavy reliance on slaves.
The band, who has used the name since 2006, said they felt compelled to make the change after the past few weeks opened their eyes to 'blindspots we didn't even know existed'.
'After much personal reflection, band discussion, prayer and many honest conversations with some of our closest black friends and colleagues, we have decided to drop the word "antebellum" from our name and move forward as Lady A, the nickname our fans gave us almost from the start,' they said.
'When we set out together almost 14 years ago, we named our band after the Southern 'Antebellum' style home where we took our first photos.
'But we are regretful and embarrassed to say that we did not take into account the associations that weigh down this word referring to the period of history before the Civil War, which includes slavery.'
'We are deeply sorry for the hurt this has caused and for anyone who has felt unsafe, unseen, or unvalued.'
Last year Confederate Railroad were dropped from festivals at short notice, because their name caused offence.
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