Little Big Town Voice Support for Tim McGraw’s Sandy Hook Promise Benefit Show

When Tim McGraw agreed to perform a benefit concert for Sandy Hook Promise, a non-profit organization that seeks to prevent gun violence and is led by family members affected by the tragic Sandy Hook school shooting, he certainly didn't imagine the controversy it would cause. Opener Billy Currington dropped out after conservative website Breitbart.com posted a story titled “Country Singers Tim McGraw, Billy Currington Headlining Gun Control Fundraiser," but Little Big Town are defending the show and its headlining act.

"We love you, Tim," LBT's Karen Fairchild tells Rolling Stone Country. "You do the right thing, and that's what you're doing because it's about a child and about a family. I just wish people would put the agenda and the hate down."

Sandy Hook Promise's website says that they aim to "protect children from gun violence so no other parent experiences the loss of their child by engaging and empowering parents and communities with targeted prevention programs in the areas of mental wellness early-identification and intervention, social and emotional development and firearm safety and security.”

"It is depressing that people have that much time and energy to invest, when they could be doing better things, like educating their child and loving people in the world instead of attacking someone who's trying to do something good, like Tim McGraw," adds band member Phillip Sweet. "Why would you want to attack that?"

Little Big Town know a thing or two about controversy. After releasing their latest single, "Girl Crush," the newly crowned ACM Awards Vocal Group of the Year were shocked -- and disappointed -- when some reports said that radio stations were not playing the song based on negative feedback from listeners who were misunderstanding the lyrics. Whether the radio boycott was real or not, it sparked a conversation about if country radio is ready for songs about same-sex relationships.

"I think most of the people are there. I really do," Fairchild says. "And, of course, we are. We have tons of people in our life that are gay, very important people in our life, so for us, it's not an issue. But I think there is a conservative part of the demographic of country music, and they can have their opinion. That's what this country is all about. Maybe they aren't ready, I don't know. It makes me sad that people have the time on their hands to hate."

The song still managed to climb into the Top 5, and if nothing else, the controversy at least motivated the four singers to advocate for a cause they believe in.

"I think this whole thing might have brought some light to the fact that maybe they're not so ready and maybe we should try to get there," Sweet notes.

Download "Girl Crush" on iTunes.

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