Country Band that Changed Name from “Lady Antebellum” to “Lady A” Now Suing Black Artist That Originally Used Title

Richard Moorhead   |  

Jul 8, 2020

A country music band that changed their name from ‘Lady Antebellum’ to ‘Lady A’ in the wake of the George Floyd race riots is now suing the singer who originally used the title, who is black.

The band had announced it’d change its name in the wake of criticism from liberals, who took offense at the word ‘Antebellum-‘ a phrase sometimes used in historical writings to describe the American South before the Civil War. The group instead opted to call itself “Lady A,” a name, as it turns out, was already in use by Seattle-area blues and folk singer Anita White.

The dispute between Lady Antebellum and White has been identified as a striking example of liberal hypocrisy and self-aggrandizement, with the band making a supposedly virtuous stance and sacrifice by changing their name, utterly ignoring that they were usurping on a musical name already used by a black artist.

In a new development highlighting the Nashville act’s bad faith, the band is now suing White, claiming that they’ve always had the name she’s used as a legal trademark and refusing any claim of monetary damages from the name change on the part of White.

“Today we are sad to share that our sincere hope to join together with Anita White in unity and common purpose has ended,” the group said in a statement. “She and her team have demanded a $10 million payment, so reluctantly we have come to the conclusion that we need to ask a court to affirm our right to continue to use the name Lady A, a trademark we have held for many years.”

If Lady Antebellum proves successful in getting the government to recognize their copyright claim to ‘Lady A,’ the artist that originally used the name will have no choice but to surrender it to the more commercially known and influential musical act.

Observers of the situation immediately slammed the country music group for its disrespect for the title’s existing user.