Leonard Cohen’s estate fails in bid to stop Donald Trump playing ‘Hallelujah’ at Freedom 250 rally
The estate of Leonard Cohen has issued a statement condemning Donald Trump for his proposed use of ‘Hallelujah’ at the Great American State Fair.
Taking to Instagram on June 24th, Cohen’s official account published the following message from his estate, which began, “The Leonard Cohen Estate has learned that the song ‘Hallelujah’ is to be performed at a Donald Trump rally on June 24.”
The statement continued, “This use is not authorized, and the Estate does not support or approve of this or any similar usage.”
However, despite the estate intervening to prevent ‘Hallelujah’ from being played at the Great American State Fair, which is part of the Freedom 250 celebrations, footage from the event shows that it was played anyway.
Per Billboard, Long Island opera singer Christopher Macchio teamed up with the Marine Band’s Master Gunnery Sgt Kevin Bennear for the rendition of ‘Hallelujah’.
Previously, in 2020, Cohen’s estate reacted angrily after Tori Kelly’s cover version of ‘Hallelujah’ was played twice at the Republican National Convention after Trump gave a speech.
At the time, they said “we are exploring our legal options”, before adding, “We are surprised and dismayed that the RNC would proceed knowing that the Cohen Estate had specifically declined the RNC’s use request.”
They also labelled it as a “rather brazen attempt to politicize and exploit in such an egregious manner ‘Hallelujah,’ one of the most important songs in the Cohen song catalogue.”
The Great American State Fair has been marred in controversy due to its connections to the White House and the Trump administration, with artists such as Bret Michaels, Morris Day, Young MC, the Commodores, Martina McBride and Milli Vanilli withdrawing from the 16-day event.
In his explanation, Michaels said, “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.”
Subsequently, Trump filled the void left by a lack of musical guests and took to the stage to deliver a rally on June 24th.
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