Former President Donald Trump’s campaign is in full swing, but a song played at his rally in Michigan on Thursday has angered many, especially his critics online.
During Trump’s rally in Potterville, Michigan, many were stunned when Dolly Parton’s song “Jolene” began playing, including former professional basketball player Rex Chapman, who quickly tweeted about the song to let his more than 1.2 million followers know.
“Trump used Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’ at his Michigan rally today. We’re leaving at dawn,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
His tweet quickly received mixed reactions, with many criticizing the Republican presidential candidate for allegedly using the singer’s song without his permission.
“Hopefully Dolly sends a cease and desist order to Donald soon,” one person wrote.
“Trump has always believed that he doesn’t need to ask for permission for anything and can trample on anyone’s intellectual property rights, personal autonomy and he has never violated any law that he thinks applies to him,” another person commented.
“Yeah, that was the last straw… Misuse of Dolly Parton song,” another commented.
Others questioned the song choice because the message in Parton’s song did not match what he was campaigning for.
“Honest question – why is that a campaign song?” one person wrote.
“Lol, that’s a weird choice. A song about begging a woman not to steal her man? Like… Why?” another asked.
However, some people also sided with Trump and claimed that there was nothing wrong with playing “Jolene” at his rallies.
“Nothing wrong,” one Trump supporter commented under Champman’s tweet.
“Part of the BMI catalog… he paid to access this catalog for his campaign. Don’t suffer anymore, it’s completely legal,” another supporter explained.
The news comes after Swedish pop group ABBA asked the presidential candidate to stop using their songs at his campaign rallies.
“ABBA recently discovered the unauthorized use of their music and videos at a Trump event through videos that appeared online,” the group said in a statement to The Associated Press. “As a result, ABBA and its representatives promptly requested that the content be removed and taken down. No request was received; therefore, no permission or license was granted.”
However, a Trump campaign spokesperson clarified to the outlet that they had obtained the license to play ABBA songs at rallies through a deal with BMI and ASCAP.
BMI or Broadcast Music Inc. is a performing rights organization that collects general licensing fees from businesses that play any songs in its catalog. ASCAP or the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers provides a similar service to businesses so they can use licensed music.
In addition to ABBA, artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Rihanna, Pharrell, Phil Collins, Guns N’ Roses, Panic! At the Disco and many others have also protested Trump’s use of their songs at his rallies.
Donald Trump, Dolly Parton Card