Kid Rock joined Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight” to speak out against the possible demolition of a Civil War-era home near Franklin.
Beechwood Hall is a historic property. It was owned by country music legends Hank Williams, Jr., and Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.
During the interview, Kid Rock said he’s “sick of seeing history torn to the ground.”
“Whether it be in the form of monuments, statues and now something so important here in Nashville… where does it end?” he asked rhetorically.
For its part, the owners of the property, hedge fund manager Larry Keele, says he has no plans to demolish the home, which sits on 268 acres of land.
“Contrary to misinformation that is being published, no historical items have been placed in any burn pile and there is no scheduled demolition,” he reportedly said.
He also said the property was in a “deteriorated state,” suggesting that it might need to be renovated.
The Heritage Foundation, a conservative nonprofit, is involved in the battle to preserve the home.
The organization put out a lengthy statement regarding the property on November 17.
There is an ongoing effort to preserve a historic Williamson County property called Beechwood Hall. The property gained notoriety due to being formerly owned by Hank Williams, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.
Many in the community are rallying to show their passion for this place and encourage its preservation due to the home’s deterioration over the last four decades. The Heritage Foundation agrees with the goal of these efforts, but the manner in which some choose to show their concern is where we disagree. Unfortunately, some have based their narrative on assumptions, and outdated or inaccurate information.
We believe the best approach to saving this or any other historic property is to work in a collaborative and positive manner with any owner of a historic property, create a comprehensive preservation plan, and bring resources and solutions to the table for discussion. This has been our approach with Beechwood Hall’s owners.
The Heritage Foundation says it has “recently been to the site,” and notes that historical preservation is “difficult, complex, and time-consuming for all involved.”
Keele is working with the Heritage Foundation, he confirmed.
“My wife and I very much understand and appreciate the importance of local history and preserving our beautiful historic landscapes. To date, we have already placed over 350 acres of land in Williamson County in The Land Trust for Tennessee. We know we can’t please everyone, but it is our sincere hope that the majority of the interested parties can respect the process we are in with the Heritage Foundation and allow us to do a full assessment of Beechwood Hall over the coming months,” he said.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Kid Rock” by Fox News.
If you can defend this home WITHOUT promoting slavery, racism, or militarism, then perhaps it is okay to renovate. But if the motivation behind its renovation is to promote racism and militarism, then I oppose renovation.