In recognition of Blackout Tuesday on June 2, Nash Country Daily is pausing the commentary to bring you messages of unity directly from the country music community.

All photos will appear without color.

Dan + Shay via Instagram

“So, we have been intentionally quiet on social media, to reset the palate, and prepare for the release of new music. This is something we have always done, and it allows us to properly deliver our best, most focused efforts to our fans, who have given us a platform to do what we love. This time around, we missed the live stream opportunities of quarantine, and other unique virtual events that were motivated by such a trying time in world history. We felt it was important, for the safety of our families and others, to take social distancing seriously, so we did, and still do. Our hearts go out to those affected directly and indirectly by Covid-19.

“It has been quite difficult to remove ourselves from social media for the last few months, and we intended to stay inactive for a little bit longer, as we put the finishing touches on what we think is our best work yet, but this past week’s events in Minneapolis changed that. When the news story began to break, so did our hearts. In fact, they shattered. For the family of George Floyd, and for the black community as a whole. This is not the first time this has happened, but by God, please let it be the last. It is truly devastating to think that someone could carry so much hate. We, as humans, must come together to make a change. Racism and discrimination because of someone’s skin color is simply wrong. Politics and all other bullsh** aside, we all have a giant responsibility to eliminate this issue, which has plagued our country for far too long. We understand that our social media net may not be as wide as others, but we post this in hopes that we inspire someone, to speak up too. And at the end of the day, we can type novels, share stories, and promote activism on the internet, but this starts in the home. We must educate our children, and instill values of love and equality. We are all born innocent, and racism is something that is learned. Let’s work together, now, to make a change, Please use your voice.”