The country group formerly known as Lady Antebellum will keep its new name, Lady A, despite being called out by a blues singer who has been using that same name for more than 20 years, the band’s publicist Tyne Parrish confirmed to USA TODAY Tuesday.
Lady Antebellum announced last week that it would change its name to Lady A in an effort to distance themselves from a term with ties to slavery, a move that initially didn’t sit well with Seattle-based singer Anita White, who goes by the stage name Lady A.
But it seems the musicians have come to an agreement on the name change dispute.
In the band’s first social media post since announcing the decision, members Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood shared that they “connected privately” on Monday with the singer.
“Transparent, honest, and authentic conversations were had,” read the post, also shared by White. “We are excited to share we are moving forward with positive solutions and common ground. The hurt is turning into hope. More to come.”
White told USA TODAY that the band reached out to her to have “open and honest conversations” and Scott apologized.
“I accept that apology, now we are turning hurt into hope,” she added.
The singer Lady A, who is Black, blasted the country group in an Instagram post Friday, saying: “How can you say Black Lives Matter and put your knee on the neck of another Black artist? I’m not mad..I am however not giving up my name, my brand I worked hard for. #GodWillFightMyBattle #TheRealLadyA #LadyABluesSoulFunkGospelArtist #TheTruthIsLoud”
She told Rolling Stone no one from the group — featuring members Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood — reached out to her prior to revealing the name change.
“This is my life,” she told the magazine. “Lady A is my brand, I’ve used it for over 20 years, and I’m proud of what I’ve done. This is too much right now.”
The country group behind hits “Need You Now” and ”Bartender” announced the name change on Thursday, saying it was renouncing antebellum, a term used particularly to describe existing before the American Civil War.
In a statement posted to social media, the band said that when Lady A formed 14 years ago, the group didn’t consider the pre-Civil War “associations that weigh down this word,” including ties to slavery.
The move comes in the wake of a renewed Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed by a white Minneapolis police officer.
“We are deeply sorry for the hurt this has caused and for anyone who has felt unsafe, unseen or unvalued,” the band’s statement said. “Causing pain was never our hearts’ intention, but it doesn’t change the fact that indeed, it did just that. So today, we speak up and make a change.”
Contributing: Matthew Leimkuehler, Nashville Tennessean and Gary Dinges, USA TODAY.
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