Country music group Lady Antebellum announced last week that they were changing their name to Lady A, apologizing for using the name for 14 years because of its connotations to slavery in the South.
However, the group was seemingly unaware that, for the past 20 years, a black artist named Anita White had been performing under the name Lady A, who blasted the country group in a Rolling Stone interview, stating that, ‘It shouldn’t have taken George Floyd to die for them to realize that their name had a slave reference to it.’
The country group revealed on Monday that they had connected with the original Lady A through video conferencing, adding they’re ‘moving forward’ with a solution to their situation, which may even lead to a new song collaboration.
Connected: The country group revealed on Monday that they had connected with the original Lady A through video conferencing, adding they’re ‘moving forward’ with a solution to their situation, which may even lead to a new song collaboration
‘Today, we connected privately with the artist Lady A,’ the country group began, which is comprised of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood.
‘Transparent, honest, and authentic conversations were had. We are excited to share we are moving forward with positive solutions and common ground,’ the group added.
‘The hurt is turning into hope. More to come,’ they concluded, while including hashtags #LadyABluesSoulFunkGospelArtist #TheTruthIsLoud and tagging @ladya_bluesdiva @dexter_allen_entertainment and @oliveriiijohn.
Privately: ‘Today, we connected privately with the artist Lady A,’ the country group began, which is comprised of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood
They also shared a photo of the video conferencing meeting with the group, the original Lady A, Allen and John all smiling.
The original Lady A shared the same photo and message, but added something else in her Instagram story.
She shared an Instagram story post from black country artist Michael Ricks, who posted a photo of the Rolling Stone article where White spoke about about Lady Antebellum taking a name she had been using for 20 years.
Instagram Story: The original Lady A shared the same photo and message, but added something else in her Instagram story
He also added, ‘Do a song together? In the spirit of racial reconciliation?’ while also adding, ‘Be the next Lil Nas X and Billy Ray,’ referring to their massive hit remix Old Town Road.
White didn’t elaborate any further, so it isn’t clear if a song collaboration is happening or not.
The 61-year-old White has been performing in the Pacific Northwest for over 20 years, and she has released four solo albums with the name.
Original Lady A: The 61-year-old White has been performing in the Pacific Northwest for over 20 years, and she has released four solo albums with the name
She also told Seattle’s WWLTV that she was planning on releasing her fifth album, Lady A: Live from New Orleans, on her birthday, July 18.
She has released BlueZ in the Key of Mey in 2010, followed by How Did I Get Here in 2013, Loved, Blessed and Blues in 2016 and Doin’ Fine in 2018.
According to the Seattle Public Library, she also hosts blues and gospel radio shows in the area.
New album: She also told Seattle’s WWLTV that she was planning on releasing her fifth album, Lady A: Live from New Orleans, on her birthday, July 18