# In the Wake of the 2026 Midterms, Can We Reframe the Patriotic Song?

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-the-wake-of-the-2026-midterms-can-we-reframe-the-patriotic-song/
- Published: 2026-11-05T19:07:14+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T19:21:15+00:00
- Original publisher: Rolling Stone
- Original article: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/patriotic-songs-midterm-elections-brandy-clark-1235653364/
- Topics: Americas, Elections, Entertainment, Music, Politics, World

## Key points

- Brandy Clark’s new song presents patriotism as inclusive.
- Artists challenge the partisan use of patriotic symbols.
- “American Roots” seeks common ground across disagreement.

## Summary

Brandy Clark’s “American Roots” asks who gets to claim the American flag and the idea of patriotism, presenting both as belonging to everyone, including immigrants. After Democratic gains in the 2026 midterms, the article considers whether country and roots artists can reshape patriotic music, which has often been tied to exclusionary politics.

Clark says the song aims to create common ground between people who may disagree, with its central image that land belongs no more to one person than another. Iraq war veteran Michael Trotter Jr. and Sheryl Crow also criticise the use of patriotism as a partisan label, while a recent Newport Folk Festival performance of “America the Beautiful” was introduced as an effort to “take back” the song.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.