Within days, several country radio stations began quietly removing Swift’s old hits from their playlists. At the same time, industry leaders made it clear that Swift’s presence at future country music award shows would be “unlikely” moving forward.

For the country music industry, the issue isn’t just Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris—it’s the idea that she’s ventured too far into political waters. Several high-profile country stars, many of whom had shared stages with Swift in the early days of her career, voiced their frustrations publicly.

“I respect Taylor’s right to her opinion, but she’s a musician, not a politician,” said one country artist, who requested anonymity. “She should focus on what she does best—entertaining people. When you mix politics with entertainment, you’re going to lose people, especially in country music.”

This sentiment seems to be shared by much of Nashville. Many in the industry have long held the belief that country music, while often touching on American pride and tradition, is ultimately about storytelling and entertainment—not political statements.

“Country music has always been about connecting with people on a personal level,” said another industry insider. “When you start getting into divisive political endorsements, you risk alienating fans who just want to listen to good music. That’s why so many are turning their backs on Taylor.”

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