Rising country artist Carly Tefft claims a Cape Cod venue canceled her scheduled performances following her national anthem rendition at a Donald Trump rally in April. Tefft shared her experience on the Howie Carr Show, explaining that the owner of Harvest Gallery, a Dennis, Massachusetts restaurant, contacted her five days after the rally. Despite having performed there multiple times, the owner reportedly informed Tefft that future appearances were canceled due to potential "controversy" and concerns about customer reactions.
Tefft recounted the owner's words, indicating he felt his customer base would feel "threatened" by her association with Trump. The owner allegedly compared featuring Tefft's name on the music schedule to displaying inappropriate artwork. He reportedly questioned Tefft about her political affiliations, and despite her response that she primarily supports God and viewed the anthem performance as a unifying opportunity, the owner proceeded with the cancellation.
Tefft expressed that this was her first experience being professionally penalized for her actions. While banned from performing, she was reportedly still welcome as a patron at the establishment. Following the incident, Tefft shared a video of her song "Freedom in This Country" on Twitter, seemingly in response to the cancellation.
Tefft initially posted about her Trump rally performance on Instagram in April, expressing gratitude for the opportunity. She acknowledged the potential for divisive reactions but emphasized her hope for unity. Reflecting on the cancellation, Tefft voiced concerns about the broader implications of such actions, particularly for future generations.
Neither Tefft nor Harvest Gallery have responded to requests for comment.
