Rolling Stone called the decision “reckless,” adding: “Musicians are supposed to be tortured artists who secretly want mansions. Oliver Anthony’s whole ‘singing for free’ thing is confusing the brand.”
Despite rejecting the check, Anthony is preparing what insiders call a “soul-shaking” setlist. Songs reportedly include:
“Rich Men North of Richmond” — with an extra verse about Charlie Kirk standing up to Ivy League students.
A heartfelt cover of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.”
A new original track titled “Brother Charlie,” featuring the refrain: “From the campus halls to the desert skies, his fight for freedom never dies.”
And, in what is being hyped as a showstopper, a duet of “God Bless America” with Kid Rock, complete with fireworks shaped like bald eagles.
Charlie’s widow, Erika Kirk, released a statement praising Anthony’s decision: “Oliver’s choice to honor Charlie without a paycheck shows the depth of his character. This isn’t about money — it’s about legacy, and the spirit of a man who believed in America louder than most.”
She added that the million dollars originally earmarked for Anthony’s performance will now go toward funding the new Charlie Kirk Institute for Courageous Speech on Liberal Campuses.
Not everyone is impressed. MSNBC anchors joked that Anthony was “leaving money on the table that could’ve funded actual infrastructure,” while The New York Times ran a headline reading: “Oliver Anthony Chooses Brotherhood Over Capitalism, Accidentally Channels Bernie Sanders.”
Still, conservative commentators came to Anthony’s defense. Tucker Carlson called him “a prophet with a banjo” and suggested that rejecting a million dollars proved Anthony had transcended the “woke corporate stranglehold” on music.
Anthony’s fans, many of whom still play his songs from lawn chairs in the backs of pickup trucks, were ecstatic. “That’s my man,” one supporter said outside the Phoenix convention center where the memorial will be held. “He’s got more integrity in his beard than Hollywood’s got in all of Beverly Hills.”
Another added, “I don’t care if he ever charges for another concert. If Oliver says Charlie Kirk was his brother, then by God, he’s our brother too.”
Anthony’s choice may spark a new trend in celebrity performances. Insiders say Ted Nugent is now considering playing future events for nothing more than a lifetime supply of camouflage cargo shorts, while Lee Greenwood has offered to sing “God Bless the USA” at every conservative wedding, free of charge, until 2030.
But Anthony himself seems uninterested in starting a movement. Asked by a reporter why he turned down such a massive paycheck, he simply said: “You can’t cash a check in heaven. But you can sing a song for a friend.”
Then, in a moment of unplanned poetry, he strummed his guitar and hummed a few bars of what sounded like his next viral track.
As anticipation builds for the memorial service, one thing is clear: Anthony’s refusal has cemented him not just as a musician, but as a symbol of authenticity in a world where every note is often followed by a dollar sign.
For some, that authenticity means more than any paycheck. As one memorial organizer put it: “Oliver turned down a million bucks to play for his friend. That’s something money can’t buy — but it’s exactly what Charlie would’ve wanted.”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(696x190:698x192)/Oliver-Anthony-performs-at-Tootsies-Orchid-Lounge-Annual-Birthday-Bash-103124-773971c0844f413491beb2dcec070c2c.jpg)
