Nashville Christmas Parade (WZTV)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A little rain didn’t stop people from turning out for Nashville’s 65th annual Christmas parade Saturday morning.
Despite a little controversy over the grand marshal, the parade was a success.
But, festivities aside, Kid Rock was on a lot of people’s minds.
Friday evening, parade organizers decided to boot him from being the grand marshal, partly because of him calling Joy Behar a b**** on Fox & Friends.
“He’s a grown man, he knows what he should say on national television and what he shouldn’t say on national television,” Said James Shaw Jr.
Shaw Jr. replaced Kid Rock as grand marshal, saying it is a huge honor. Kid Rock reportedly watched the parade from his honky-tonk on Broadway, as he wants the parade to be about the kids.
Organizers wanted to honor him for stopping a mass shooting at a Waffle House in Antioch earlier this year.
But here’s the thing, so many people in Nashville love Kid Rock.
“I think the spirit of the parade was diminished today because of this,” said Crystal Lynn, who came from Hurricane Mills to support him. “David Briley needs to be out of office, Kid Rock needs to be mayor!”
On Friday, Mayor David Briley said he wouldn’t come to the parade if Kid Rock were the grand marshal, but now he says that’s old news.
“Whatever controversy there was, we’ve moved past it. People can come out, enjoy the parade, and get in the holiday spirits,” Briley said.
Tootsie’s also had a very different message on Saturday.
On Friday, owners were threatening to sue the city and parade organizers if Kid Rock were replaced, and wanted their $250,000 back if he were.
This was the response Saturday to any questions asked about the controversy:
“We want to make it about the parade, the city of Nashville, Christmas, the children, and the hospital, and we’re in full support of all of them. That’s what today is all about,” said attorney Bryan Lewis.
Kid Rock also posted a picture of him and his granddaughter on Instagram trying to move away from the controversy.
