The popular country music group Lady Antebellum is changing its name to Lady A due to the word antebellum’s association with slavery.

The group made up of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood, said in a statement on Twitter & Instagram that they are regretful and embarrassed for not taking into consideration the word’s associations with slavery.

“As a band, we have strived for our music to be a refuge…inclusive of all. We’ve watched and listened more than ever these last few weeks, and our hearts have been stirred with conviction, our eyes opened wide to the injustices, inequality and biases Black women and men have always faced and continue to face everyday. Now, blindspots we didn’t even know existed have been revealed,”

The band said they chose the original name for their band after the antebellum-style home where they shot their first band photos, and it reminded them of Southern styles of music that influenced them back in 2006. The group said they will now go by the nickname of Lady A, something they have used for a long time.

The band said that they looked to make the change after a period of "personal reflection, band discussion, prayer and many honest conversations with some of our closest black friends and colleagues." The Grammy winning band has vowed that their name change is just the first of many steps they will take in a commitment to "practice antiracism."

The entertainment industry is seeing many changes and adjustments occurring in response to the Black Lives Matter movement and the call to equality and justice. From music, television and film this could be start of more changes to come with the rise in awareness and accountability.

 

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