cmas 2017

Sturgill Simpson Spent the CMA Awards Busking Outside the Arena Raising Money for the ACLU

Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Firefly

Like many country-music stars, Sturgill Simpson went to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday night. Unlike many of his peers, however, he didn’t actually attend the CMA Awards. Instead, he spent a good 45 minutes outside the venue busking with his acoustic guitar, in possession of a sign that read, “‘Struggling’ country singer … Anything helps (all donations go to the ACLU).” He also had another sign that explained that he wasn’t taking requests, but he was taking questions. Not much was off-topic for the singer, who answered queries from fans via Facebook Live. He talked about everything from Donald Trump (“He’s a fascist fucking pig”) to his preference of Kanye West over Drake. He also didn’t seem too upset that he wasn’t nominated for any of the CMA awards this year — he says he didn’t enter his name for consideration (so he wasn’t snubbed this time). In the end he declared, “We made $13 for the ACLU tonight, so it was all worth it.” Watch the video below.

Watch Sturgill Simpson Busk Outside the CMA Awards