Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: People are upset after a country star canceled a show at the last minute.
No, I’m not talking about Morgan Wallen pulling the plug on his show in Mississippi after the openers had already taken the stage.
This time I’m talking about Carly Pearce, who was set to play a free concert in Jeffersonville, Indiana for the city’s Jammin’ In Jeff concert series on Saturday.
But at the last minute, Carly and her team announced that the show had been canceled, due to the potential for severe weather.
“Hey y’all. I was so looking forward to my Jammin in Jeff performance tonight in Jeffersonville. As I’m sure many of you have already seen, there are inclement and severe weather forecasts for the area developing.
The safety of my fans, my band and crew is always my number one priority. As a result, it’s become clear that performing tonight will not be possible. Please stay safe and I can’t wait to see you all again soon.”
But apparently city officials weren’t happy with the decision by Carly and her team, releasing a statement of their own saying that they asked Carly to perform early to avoid any threat of weather, and that the city was disappointed in Carly’s decision:
“Carly Pearce has just informed city officials that she has cancelled her performance at tonight’s Jeff Goes Country due to her concerns of severe weather potentially developing later this evening.
Unfortunately, Carly Pearce refused the city’s request for her to take the stage early as way to avoid any threat of severe weather and more importantly, so the show could safely happen. The city is disappointed in Carly Pearce’s decision.”
According to WHAS, the city then asked Carly to return the $75,000 that she was paid for the performance, but her team refused to refund the city, citing a clause in her contract that allowed for cancellations due to “an act of God.”
The city also says they spent $20,000 to host Carly and her team of songwriters, along with expenses related to security for the event such as police and fire.
But Carly’s team told WHAS that it was actually in consultation with those police and city officials that the decision was made to cancel the show:
“The overwhelming consensus and suggestion from officials – including local law enforcement and city staff – was to cancel out of an abundance of caution and concern for safety of everyone involved or attending.
This was a collective safety decision made by all parties to cancel, and never was there any request made to Carly to go on early, as the weather was still a possible threat.
Also want to note that the weather forecast included lightning, which was a particularly important variable here as the stage itself is on a barge in the river.
Additionally, there has not been anything about future shows discussed with Carly or her team at all at this time.”
I guess we’ll have to wait and see if Carly returns to Jeffersonville any time soon to make up the date – or if she’d even be welcomed back at this point.
