Even Country Stars Aren’t Immune From Political Activism, Send Letter To Congress Over Aid Program

Some of the biggest names in country music jointly called on the U.S. Congress to continue funding the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in an open letter.

Brad Paisley, Maren Morris, Sheryl Crow, Amy Grant, Darius Rucker, LeAnn Rimes and members of Little Big Town are among the long list of country music singers who have signed an open letter drafted by ONE Campaign and the 2030 Collaborative and published Saturday in The Nashville Tennessean. At least 20 famous country musicians have lent their superstar power to the campaign calling on Congress to help bring an end to the global HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 31: Maren Morris performs onstage during the 2025 MusiCares Persons of the Year Honoring The Grateful Dead on January 31, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

“America, did you know that you have led the world in saving the lives of 26 million people from HIV/AIDS around the world?” the opening of the letter said.

“That’s thanks to a program called PEPFAR.”

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 17: (L-R) Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn perform onstage during Brooks & Dunn and Whiskey Jam’s Celebration of Reboot II at Skydeck on Broadway on October 17, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

The bipartisan program was started in 2003 under former President George W. Bush and has been widely credited for significantly reducing deaths from HIV/AIDS worldwide, according to Billboard. The program has secured medications for over 20 million people across the globe.

Today, 20 million people are on antiretroviral medications, keeping HIV infection and AIDS death rates at their lowest in 20 years. But all that can change in the blink of an eye.

Join us by sending a letter to Congress in support of @PEPFAR.https://t.co/0tYIaBlxYZ

— ONE in America (@ONEinAmerica) March 31, 2025

The country music stars are among many who are concerned that the current political climate will put an abrupt end to the program.

“If Congress decides to cut funding for PEPFAR, people will not receive their medication. The virus will rebound. Infections will multiply. Millions will die,” the artists wrote in the open letter.

“And, the epidemic will grow exponentially worldwide, including a potential explosion in our own backyards.”

Former Republican Senate Majority Leader Dr. Bill Frist of Tennessee played a key role in passing PEPFAR legislation and issued a statement regarding the current state of affairs.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 24: LeAnn Rimes performs at Stern Grove on July 24, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images)

“PEPFAR is the ultimate example of American exceptionalism and compassion,” he said, according to Billboard.

“If we back away from this historic, bipartisan commitment to those less fortunate, we are ceding ground to China… and we are turning our back on a successful diplomatic strategy that has fostered unlikely allies, stabilized nations, and strengthened our place in the world.” (RELATED: Country Music Hall Of Fame Announces Two Mega Stars, Legendary Producer As New Inductees)

BERLIN, GERMANY – MARCH 3: American singer Brad Paisley performs live on stage during C2C Festival Day 02 at Verti Music Hall on March 3, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Gina Wetzler/Redferns) Getty Images

Brandy Clark, Brittney Spencer, Cam, Cassadee Pope, Drew and Ellie Holcomb, Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush of Sugarland, Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn and Mickey Guyton have also signed the letter in support of protecting PEPFAR.