Beyoncé, Celine Dion, Rihanna: Stars who have denied Donald Trump the right to use their music

In a bold stand against political appropriation, several prominent musicians have made it clear: Donald Trump is not welcome to use their tunes. From rock legends to pop icons, these artists are putting their foot down, ensuring their music won’t be a backdrop for Trump's rallies or campaigns. Dive into the world of stars who’ve taken a firm stance, saying "No" to the former president's use of their music.

While many artists have protested their music being used at Trump rallies, Beyoncé’s team took decisive action when a Trump campaign spokesperson used her song 'Freedom' in a video. The clip, which paired the track from Lemonade with footage of Trump getting off an airplane, was seen as particularly provocative since 'Freedom' is associated with Kamala Harris's campaign. Despite granting permission to the Harris campaign, Beyoncé’s team made it clear they did not authorize the Trump campaign’s use. Her label swiftly issued a cease-and-desist notice.

Céline Dion wasn’t pleased when Donald Trump used her iconic song “My Heart Will Go On” at a recent rally. Taking to social media, she expressed her dismay, questioning the use of her hit track. Her team swiftly condemned the “unauthorized” use, emphasizing Dion’s lack of endorsement.

Additionally, the family of James Horner, who composed the song, voiced their displeasure, stating that neither they nor Horner's values support Trump's campaign. They stressed that Horner’s music should not be exploited for such purposes.

After Trump played Rihanna's 2007 hit "Don't Stop the Music" at a rally in Chattanooga, her team swiftly issued a cease-and-desist letter. The letter stated that Rihanna had not authorized the use of her music at Trump's political events, calling the usage "improper" and threatening legal action.

Phil Collins wasn't pleased when Trump used his 1981 hit "In the Air Tonight" during the 2020 election. Collins issued a cease-and-desist letter, criticizing Trump for using the song "as a satirical reference to Covid-19" amid an Iowa case surge. The letter expressed Collins' "serious concerns" about potential harm to his reputation.

In 2020, The Rolling Stones playfully referenced their own lyrics when they demanded Trump stop using their music: “This could be the last time Trump uses any Jagger-Richards songs in his campaigns,” their rep quipped. Trump had been featuring “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” at rallies, prompting the band to threaten legal action.

Neil Young’s clash with Donald Trump began in 2015 when Trump used “Rockin’ in the Free World” to announce his presidential run. Young voiced his displeasure as the song continued to appear at Trump rallies. In 2020, he attempted to sue Trump for unauthorized use of his music but later withdrew the complaint.

When R.E.M.'s "It's the End of the World as We Know It" (And I Feel Fine) was used by Trump in his 2015 campaign, Michael Stipe had a strong reaction. He issued a blunt statement, telling the Trump campaign to “go fuck yourselves” and demanding they stop using the song, labeling the campaign as a “moronic charade.”

When Donald Trump used Sinead O’Connor’s 'Nothing Compares 2 U' at his rallies, her estate swiftly intervened. They declared that O’Connor would have been deeply offended by such use, calling Trump a “biblical devil” and demanding that he and his team stop using her music immediately.