Lady A and Anita White Settle Legal Battle Over ‘Lady A’ Name Change
The legal dispute between country trio Lady A, the group formerly known as Lady Antebellum, and blues singer Anita White,…
Lady A; Photo Courtesy CMT, Getty Images
The legal dispute between country trio Lady A, the group formerly known as Lady Antebellum, and blues singer Anita White, who performs as Lady A, has been settled.
According to court documents obtained by Billboard, Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood and White filed a joint motion on Monday (Jan. 31) to dismiss all claims and counterclaims against each other permanently.
“The Band dismiss all claims in this action against White with prejudice,” the court document reads. ”White dismisses with prejudice all counterclaims against the Band in this action.”
Details surrounding the settlement were not revealed, including if money was exchanged or if either party must forfeit the use of the name Lady A. However, it was made known that each party shall cover its own legal costs, including all expenses and attorney’s fees.
The GRAMMY-winning country trio changed its name from Lady Antebellum to Lady A in the summer of 2020 due to the racial connotations of the term “antebellum.”
The group explained that the change was sparked by the “injustices, inequality and biases Black women and men have always faced and continue to face every day.” They went on to apologize for any “hurt this has caused” to anyone and promised to make a donation to the Equal Justice Initiative through their long-standing charitable organization Lady Aid.
Following the announcement, Anita “Lady A” White spoke with Rolling Stone about the trio’s name change, revealing that she was blindsided by the news.
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“This is my life,” she said at the time. “Lady A is my brand, I’ve used it for over 20 years, and I’m proud of what I’ve done…. They’re using the name because of a Black Lives Matter incident that, for them, is just a moment in time…. It shouldn’t have taken George Floyd to die for them to realize that their name had a slave reference to it.”
Several days later, Lady A and White met via Zoom for a conversation that, according to social media, seemed to go really well. According to Lady A’s statement, they even wrote a song together and hoped to collaborate in the future.
“We had [a] meeting today, and we’re looking forward to a beneficial outcome for both parties. We’re making progress,” the solo artist Lady A told Billboard via email on June 15.
The suit states that the trio and solo singer discussed peacefully coexisting and that the trio would “support White’s musical career” in the future.
After those conversations took place, the band’s legal team drafted an agreement, which White was reportedly not happy with.
“Their camp is trying to erase me…. Trust is important, and I no longer trust them,” the singer later told Newsday.
In July of 2020, White reportedly demanded a $10 million payment from the band to allow them to continue to use their trademarked name Lady A. At this time, the trio filed a lawsuit against White. They were not seeking any monetary damages, however, they said that they “simply wish that the parties continue to coexist.”
White later filed a countersuit against Scott, Kelley and Haywood, accusing them of trademark infringement and claiming that the name change had been “undertaken with willful disregard for Ms. White’s rights.”
“The effect of the name change on Ms. White’s ability to distinguish her music in the marketplace was overwhelming,” White said at the time. “Internet and social media searches for “Lady A,” which had readily returned results for her music, were now dominated by references to Lady Antebellum. Ms. White’s LADY A brand had been usurped and set on the path to erasure.”
To view the court documents, click HERE.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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