The 2026 midterms have reignited a conversation about the patriotic song reframed—a push by country and roots artists to reclaim national symbols from exclusionary politics. Brandy Clark’s new single “American Roots” is at the center of that effort, along with voices like Mickey Guyton, the War and Treaty, and a viral festival moment led by Joan Baez.
A Flag for Everyone
When Clark filmed the lyric video for “American Roots,” her makeup artist suggested painting her face and hands in red, white, and blue. She hesitated, she said, because she is closely identified with the rainbow flag. But she went ahead. In her view, the flag belongs to all Americans, including those in her family who served in the military—her father among them. “MAGA does not own the flag,” she told Rolling Stone. The song, from her album The Bird due in January, imagines an inclusive America where immigrants belong.
Clark’s approach is deliberate and gentle. She describes “American Roots” as a conversation between two people who may not agree, an attempt to find common ground by tracing family trees. The bridge carries the key line: once you set foot on that shore, the land is no more hers than it is yours. Her hope is that listeners who reject the statement will still hear enough of themselves in the song to keep listening.
A History of Co-option
The struggle over patriotic music is not new. After 9/11, jingoistic songs often passed as patriotism and became radio staples. In the Trump era, the flag has increasingly been used as a symbol of exclusion, according to critics. The War and Treaty’s Michael Trotter Jr., an Iraq war combat veteran, told Rolling Stone he is proud of his service but ashamed that some people hide behind the word “patriotism.” Sheryl Crow, speaking on Nashville Now, said the terms “patriotic” and “patriot” have become weapons to create sides, even though she considers herself patriotic and a middle-of-the-road pragmatist.
Midterms Change the Landscape
The November elections, which saw Democrats take both the House and Senate, delivered a rebuke to Trump’s policies in many races. Historic wins included the first Native American female governor, the first Black female governor, the first Muslim senator, and the first openly gay male senator. For many, that political shift makes the dream of a more inclusive patriotism feel more achievable. Whether it will embolden more artists to reclaim patriotic anthems remains to be seen, but songs like “American Roots” suggest the tide is turning.
At the Newport Folk Festival, Joan Baez, Mavis Staples, Nathaniel Rateliff, Brandi Carlile, and others closed the event with “America the Beautiful.” Baez introduced it by saying the song was being taken back. The clip circulated widely this week, underscoring that the debate over who gets to define patriotism is playing out on stages as well as at the ballot box.
