Country music star Zach Bryan signaled his support for Palestinians at the stadium where rapper Macklemore was recently banned for his efforts to do the same.
According to photos and videos shared on social media, Grammy winner Bryan wore a black T-shirt that read “Free Palestine” and “Call to Heaven” during his concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Friday.
Members of the support group wore similar shirts; including drummer Nate Head, whose jersey pays tribute to 5-year-old Hind Rajab, who was killed along with five members of his family in a 2024 attack by Israeli forces in Gaza.
Bryan’s concert Friday was the first of two at Gillette Stadium, owned by billionaire Robert Kraft. The musician’s public display of support for the Palestinians comes weeks after Kraft called on pop star Ed Sheeran to remove Macklemore from his tour, citing concerns about his pro-Palestinian messages.
Last month, Sheeran and his touring crew faced pressure to remove former opening act Macklemore from the rest of the tour. The Grammy-winning “Same Love” musician faced backlash from a number of Jewish advocacy groups for his performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Days after the New Jersey shows, Messina Touring fired the rapper, a vocal advocate of the Palestinian cause. “Shape of You” singer Sheeran denied playing a role in Macklemore’s departure, but confirmed in a statement that he spoke with Kraft, which was among the stadium owners who expressed concerns about Macklemore’s further involvement.
The remaining supporting acts for Sheeran’s tour, including Grammy winner Finneas (and Billie Eilish’s brother) and folk band Beoga (Sheeran’s support band), left Sheeran’s Loop tour in solidarity. Sheeran continued his tour, but hit another hurdle last weekend when his shows at Gillette Stadium were canceled “due to severe weather warnings” in the area.
Following this situation, Macklemore announced his Free Palestine tour, which will kick off with three shows in Dublin, Paris and London at the end of this month. Macklemore said he would be joined by artists who “take the stage and use their stages to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people.”
The rapper announced Wednesday that “all three shows sold out immediately.” He also said that full concert schedules and US tour stops will be announced at a later announcement.
In his announcement, Macklemore said all proceeds from the tour would go to a handful of charities that supported Palestinians during Israel’s war in Gaza. Macklemore previously announced that he would donate the entire $1 million he earned from Sheeran’s tour to pro-Palestinian charities.
Bryan’s With Heaven on Tour will return to Gillette Stadium on Saturday. The “I Remember Everything” and “Pink Skies” singer will wrap up her tour on Oct. 10 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala.
The 30-year-old country star and U.S. Navy veteran is no stranger to reflecting his political views in his music and performances. In 2025, Bryan released “Bad News,” a song criticizing federal immigration enforcement operations across the country.
Bryan’s pro-Palestinian stage act contributes to a visible shift among mainstream artists who are speaking openly about their support for Palestinians during Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza. Melissa Barrera, Rachel Zegler, Irish rap trio Kneecap and rap-punk band Bob Vylan were among the artists who faced professional backlash for their criticism of Israel.
In April 2025, Cornell University removed Kehlani from its principal performance at the school after President Michael Kotlikoff accused the singer of espousing “anti-Semitic, anti-Israel sentiments in performances, videos, and on social media.”
But in recent months, artists and entertainers, including Mark Ruffalo and Israeli “NAZA” filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor (co-directors of the Oscar-winning film “No Other Land”), continue to face backlash for criticizing Israel.