Richard Raycraft · CBC News

· Posted: May 28, 2026 12:19 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours ago

Americans will soon sing Happy Birthday to celebrate 250 years of independence, and the official celebrations include a lineup of one-hit wonders to help revellers belt out some '90s tunes in Washington D.C.

Attendees of Freedom 250’s Great American State Fair will stop, collaborate and listen to Vanilla Ice, everybody will dance now to C+C Music Factory at the I Love the 90’s! concert on June 26.

But they definitely won’t bust a move, as rapper Young MC, initially slated to perform, said he’s pulling out over the celebration’s alleged partisan nature.

“I HAVE INFORMED MY AGENTS THAT I WILL NOT BE PERFORMING AT THE FREEDOM 250 EVENT,” he said in a Facebook post. 

“The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event. And despite the claims by the organizers that the event is non-partisan, SPIN magazine describes it as Trump-backed. I hope to perform in D.C. in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged.”

On Thursday afternoon, members of Milli Vanilli told the Associated Press that they are not performing at the show as was previously announced.

“My sister and I were shocked to see our name, ‘Milli Vanilli’, as one of the performers,” band member Jodie Rocco wrote in an email to the wire service.

Freedom 250 says on its website that the event is about “Celebrating the Triumph of the American Spirit.” But other events and commemorations surrounding the 250th birthday of the United States have attracted criticism for glorifying U.S. President Donald Trump. These include efforts to put Trump's face on commemorative coins, his signature on bills and his face on a special passport.

A UFC fight card featuring an octagon on the White House South Lawn on Trump's birthday (June 14) has also attracted attention and criticism.

Stars of yesteryear

Vanilla Ice, best known for his 1990 hit Ice Ice Baby, struggled to find success after his debut single. C+C Music Factory released their first single, Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now), later that year to international chart-topping success.

German pop duo Milli Vanilli became a sensation with their 1989 debut album Girl You Know It's True, but a lip-syncing scandal ended their success. Rob Pilatus died in 1998, leaving Fab Morvan the sole surviving member.

WATCH | Is 'America 250' becoming Trump 250?:

Several other musical acts are scheduled to play throughout the fair, which takes place June 25-July 10.

But multiple withdrawals mean it’s unclear who all will end up performing. 

Freedom 250 had announced Morris Day, best known as lead singer of funk band The Time, as part of the lineup. But Day said on Instagram that he wouldn’t be performing, “contrary to rumour.”

“It’s A No For Me,” Day posted.

In a post on his Instagram, Morris Day denied he and his funk rock band "The Time" will be playing at Freedom 250's Great American State Fair. (themorrisday/Instagram)

In a profanity-filled video posted to Instagram, C+C Music Factory member Freedom Williams said he was initially unsure about performing but decided to commit to the concert to spite those who were upset about his rumoured involvement.

“The day I let you motherf--ckers tell me what to do is the day I die,” said Williams, who added he does not support Trump.

Country singer Martina McBride, the Commodores and Bret Michaels, lead singer of Poison, withdrew late Thursday from their scheduled performances.

McBride said she "was assured this was a nonpartisan event," but on Wednesday, "things started changing and what we were told is, in fact, not what is happening."

Said Michaels on Instagram: "Unfortunately, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of."