The story behind Patsy Cline’s ‘last photograph’
2017 CMT Music Awards - Show - Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., 07/06/2017 - Lady Antebellum and Earth, Wind and Fire perform "You Look Good" and "September." Photo by Harrison McClary/Reuters.
Singer says lawsuit over Lady A name is ‘white privilege’
Singer Anita White, who was sued by a country group over the use of the name Lady A, says the group is using their white privilege against her.
The band, who had previously been known as Lady Antebellum, filed a lawsuit in federal court on Wednesday seeking a ruling that their use of the trademark “Lady A” does not infringe on White’s use of the same name. The band is not seeking monetary damages.
The Grammy-winning band made up of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood, who are all white, changed their name last month saying they are regretful and embarrassed for not taking into consideration the word’s associations with slavery.
White, who is Black, told Rolling Stone magazine in an article posted Friday that she felt like she was being erased. White said she had been performing as Lady A for more than 20 years.
“They claim to be allies and that they wanted to change their name out of the racist connotation, and then they sue a Black woman for the new name,” White told the publication.
White said in negotiations with the band over the use of the name, she requested $10 million, half of which she would use to rebrand herself and the other half she would donate to charities of her choice, including those associated with Black Lives Matter.
“I have to rebrand myself. I don’t want to have to share a name with you. And you shouldn’t be allowed to just get a slap on the wrist,” White said. “I wanted my name. All I ever wanted was to keep my name in the blues genre doing what I did. I should not have to bend to (the band’s) will because they’ve got money,” she said.
The lawsuit said that the country group filed for a trademark for the name “Lady A” back in 2010.
Support Canvas
Sustain our coverage of culture, arts and literature.
Most Popular
MerleFest celebrates music from the Appalachian region and boosts the local economy
New exhibit chronicles work of late painter Barkley Hendricks and his use of the camera
Five years after taking its last bow, Ringling Bros. is back – this time, without animals
Young playwrights use the theater to confront the trauma of gun violence
Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra wins Eurovision with a show of support for a nation gripped by war
‘Faces Of COVID’ memorializes Americans who have died during the pandemic
Detention of WNBA star Brittney Griner in Russia extended another month, lawyer says
‘Philip Guston Now’ portrays art of controversial and confrontational painter
A Brief But Spectacular take on the power of documentary filmmaking
Top Stories
Watch
MerleFest celebrates music from the Appalachian region and boosts the local economy
MerleFest has been a mainstay on the music circuit since 1988. People flock to the foothills of the Blue Ridge…
Watch
New exhibit chronicles work of late painter Barkley Hendricks and his use of the camera
Barkley L. Hendricks was a contemporary American painter who made pioneering contributions to Black portraiture and conceptualism. Special correspondent Jared…
Five years after taking its last bow, Ringling Bros. is back – this time, without animals
"The Greatest Show on Earth" is making a comeback -- without animal acts -- five years after shutting down its…
Watch
Young playwrights use the theater to confront the trauma of gun violence
In 2021, more than 1,500 children and teenagers in the United States were killed by gunfire. Activists across the country…
Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra wins Eurovision with a show of support for a nation gripped by war
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the victory, Ukraine's third since its 2003 Eurovision debut, and said "we will do our…
Watch
‘Faces Of COVID’ memorializes Americans who have died during the pandemic
Each day the Twitter thread "Faces Of COVID" posts the names, images and a short remembrance of Americans who have…
Detention of WNBA star Brittney Griner in Russia extended another month, lawyer says
The lawyer for WNBA star Brittney Griner says her pre-trial detention in Russia has been extended by one month.
Watch
‘Philip Guston Now’ portrays art of controversial and confrontational painter
Two years ago, four museums were set to present a retrospective of painter Philip Guston. But then, in one of…
Watch
A Brief But Spectacular take on the power of documentary filmmaking
As wildfires continue to rage in the western United States, we look at how these increasingly common events are affecting…
Watch
Beyond the Canvas: Art is all around us
In the season three premiere of Beyond the Canvas, we feature five creators who prove that art is not just…
Celebrity chef Mario Batali acquitted of sexual misconduct allegations
Celebrity chef Mario Batali has been cleared of sexual misconduct following a criminal trial in Boston.
Coalition of librarians, teachers and publishers forms to fight book bans
The American Library Association, the American Federation of Teachers and more than a dozen other organizations have formed a coalition…
Atlanta rapper Young Thug arrested on gang charges
The rapper Young Thug is in Atlanta's Fulton County Jail, accused of co-founding a criminal street gang.
Warhol’s portrait of Marilyn Monroe sells for $195 million, most for any U.S. artist
Andy Warhol's "Shot Sage Blue Marilyn" has sold for $195 million, making the iconic portrait of actress Marilyn Monroe the…
‘Jeopardy’ savors a run of super champions after host stumbles
Three of the five players with the longest winning streaks in the show's history have competed during the past seven…
Most Popular
The story behind Patsy Cline’s ‘last photograph’
MerleFest celebrates music from the Appalachian region and boosts the local economy
New exhibit chronicles work of late painter Barkley Hendricks and his use of the camera
Five years after taking its last bow, Ringling Bros. is back – this time, without animals
Young playwrights use the theater to confront the trauma of gun violence
Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra wins Eurovision with a show of support for a nation gripped by war
‘Faces Of COVID’ memorializes Americans who have died during the pandemic
Detention of WNBA star Brittney Griner in Russia extended another month, lawyer says
‘Philip Guston Now’ portrays art of controversial and confrontational painter
A Brief But Spectacular take on the power of documentary filmmaking