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1h ago

Cohen Estate Says 'Hallelujah' Was Not Authorized as Song Is Performed at Freedom 250 Rally

The estate's statement underscores how objections by artists and estates can fail to prevent political uses of widely covered songs.

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Leonard Cohen, Saenger, Songwriter, Dichter, Kanada, 2013, Auftritt, 17.07.2013, O2 World, Berlin, Deutschland Leonard Cohen, Singer, Songwriter, Poet, Canada, performs on July 17, 2013, at O2 World, Berlin, Germany
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Overview

  • The Leonard Cohen Estate posted on the singer’s social media that the planned use of 'Hallelujah' at the Freedom 250 rally was not authorized and that the estate did not support the usage.
  • Despite that objection, video and press reports show Christopher Macchio and Master Gunnery Sgt. Kevin Bennear performed 'Hallelujah' on the National Mall in the hour before the president spoke on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
  • A number of commercial artists had already withdrawn from the Great American State Fair concert series after organizers’ ties to President Trump came to light, leaving military bands and a smaller roster of singers to fill the program.
  • The episode echoes a 2020 case when Cohen’s estate said it declined the RNC’s request yet the song was played, and experts point out that 'Hallelujah' has hundreds of covers which makes complete control over public performance difficult.
  • President Trump is continuing to promote 250th-anniversary events including a planned July 4 rally with large military band participation, which suggests further clashes over music choice and artist objections could follow.