John Rich Responds to Garth Brooks' Decision to Serve Bud Light at His New Bar

In the midst of the ongoing boycott against Bud Light, country music star John Rich shared his thoughts on fellow musician Garth Brooks’ decision to serve “every brand of beer” at his soon-to-open establishment in downtown Nashville.

Fox News Digital had the opportunity to interview the Big & Rich singer at Rich’s Redneck Riviera bar on Friday.

Rich praised Brooks’ approach to music, stating, “Garth Brooks has always been the guy that said, ‘everybody come to my show.’ It’s something that we love about Garth. You know, he makes his music for everybody. And that really is what music is about. You’re making your music for everybody. Beer’s for everybody, too.”

However, Rich also offered some cautious advice, suggesting that Brooks might discover a limited demand for Bud Light in his bar. “Garth can do that. Garth might find out not many people are going to order it,” he explained. “And at the end of the day, you have to put things in your establishment that people are going to purchase if you’re going to run a successful business. So, he might find that out.”

Rich believes that Brooks’ motivation behind this decision stems from a desire to bridge the divide in the country. “I think he probably sees the pain and division that’s going on in the country and wants to try to help that,” Rich shared. “If I know Garth at all, and I know him a little, that’s probably the impetus behind a statement like that. So, good for him. I wish him the best.”

@johnrich reacts to @garthbrooks‘ decision to sell ‘every brand of beer’ amid Bud Light drama.

Stocking the beer is one thing; people actually wanting to buy it is totally different!
https://t.co/oRz05hufbk #FoxNews

— TrueAmerican (@InalienableVET) June 10, 2023

The Bud Light controversy has sparked a debate among musicians, with both Brooks and Rich taking a stance on the issue.

The dispute arose after the beer giant sent transgender TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney a personalized pack of beer featuring the influencer’s likeness as part of an ad for the company’s March Madness contest.

Can Bud Light ever recover from this debacle?

Brooks’ new establishment, Friends In Low Places Bar & Honky Tonk, is still under construction in downtown Nashville.

Once open, the venue plans to offer “every brand of beer,” according to the country music icon. Brooks emphasized that his goal is to create a welcoming space where patrons feel safe and where camaraderie thrives.

He stated, “Our thing is this: If you [are let] into this house, love one another. If you’re an a–hole, there are plenty of other places on lower Broadway.”

Garth Brooks is opening a bar in Nashville called “Friends In Low Places Bar & Honky Tonk” and he said that he will proudly sell Bud Light there, telling anyone who doesn’t like it that they are an “a**hole” and can go somewhere else….Well he’s right go to Kid Rocks bar instead! pic.twitter.com/qjr4v4snxa

— ShotGunBonnie (@ShotGun_Bonnie) June 9, 2023

As regular readers know, John Rich had previously expressed his decision to discontinue stocking Bud Light at his own Redneck Riviera bar. “The customers aren’t going to order it,” he stated. “I’m not going to stock it. We’ve only got limited area. I’ve got a limited bar. I’ve got to put beer and whiskey and vodkas up here that people want to purchase and they want to support… And brother, I can tell you right now, it’s a vicious attitude toward Bud Light.”

The controversy has taken a toll on Bud Light’s sales, with the brand experiencing another week of declining U.S. sales.

NielsenIQ data provided by Bump Williams Consulting revealed a 23.9% decrease in Bud Light sales on a dollar basis compared to the same period last year.

Over the past four weeks leading up to May 27, the Anheuser-Busch-owned brand has seen a sales decline of 24.5%, according to the data.

Bump Williams, CEO of Bump Williams Consulting, warned that if Bud Light continues to sustain a 20% sales decline in the weeks leading up to July 4, retailers may be compelled to allocate shelf space to other brands.

The repercussions of this controversy could have lasting effects on Bud Light’s market presence.

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