Some of the biggest names in country music have jointly called on the US Congress to continue funding the Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in an open letter.
Brad Paisley, Mullen Morris, Sheryl Crowe, Amy Grant, Darius Rucker and Little Bigtown members are one of a long list of country music singers who signed one campaign and an open letter drafted in 2030 collaboration and 2030 collaboration. Published Saturday in Nashville Tennessee. At least 20 well-known country musicians have lent their superstars to a campaign calling on Congress to end the global HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030.
LOS ANGELES, CA – Jan. 31: Maren Morris will perform on stage in honour of the 2025 Musicales people celebrating the Grateful Dead on January 31, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images at Recording Academy)
“Did you know America, you led the world in saving 26 million lives from HIV/AIDS around the world?” said the letter opening.
“That’s thanks to a program called Pepfer.”
NASHVILLE, Tennessee – October 17: (LR) Brooks & Dunn and Ronnie Dunn will perform on stage at the Reboot II celebration of Brooks & Dunn and Whiskey Jam on Broadway SkyDeck in Nashville, Tennessee on October 17, 2024. (Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty image)
The bipartisan program was launched in 2003 under former President George W. Bush and has been widely praised for significantly reducing the deaths of the HIV/AIDS world. According to Billboard. The program secures medicines for over 20 million people around the world.
Today, 20 million people take antiretroviral drugs, maintaining HIV infection and AIDS mortality rates at the lowest in 20 years. But it can all change in the blink of an eye.
Please send a letter to Congress and participate in supporting it. @pepfar.https://t.co/0tyiablxyz
– One of America (@oneinamerica) March 31, 2025
The country music star is among many who are concerned that the current political situation will suddenly end the program.
“If Congress decides to cut Pepfer’s funds, people will not receive the drug. The virus will recover. The infection will increase.
“And the trend grows exponentially across the world, including potential explosions in our own backyard.”
Dr. Bill Frist, a former Republican Senator majority leader in Tennessee, played a key role in passing the Pepfer Act and issued a statement on the current situation.
San Francisco, CA – July 24: Leann Rimes will perform at Stern Grove on July 24, 2022 in San Francisco, CA. (Photo: Steve Jennings/Getty Images)
“Pepfer is the ultimate example of American exceptionalism and compassion,” he said.
“If we leave this historic, bipartisan commitment to the underprivileged, we are making concessions to China…and we are turning our backs on successful diplomatic strategies that have nurtured allies, stabilized our nation and strengthened our global position.” (Related: Country Music Hall of Fame announces two megastars, legendary producers as new members)
Berlin, Germany – March 3: American singer Brad Paisley will perform live on stage on the C2C Festival on March 3, 2024 at Verti Music Hall in Berlin, Germany. (Photo: Gina Wetzler/Redferns) Getty Images
Brandi Clark, Britney Spencer, Cam, Cathady Pope, Drew and Ellie Holcomb, Jennifer Nettles, Christian Bush of Sugarland, Kicks Brooks and Mickey Guyton of Brooks & Dan signed letters in support of Pepfer’s protection.
