UPDATE, 6 p.m. Saturday:
East Texas country music singer Neal McCoy announced Saturday that his scheduled TV appearance on Fox & Friends Sunday morning has been postponed.
In a video on his Facebook page Saturday afternoon, McCoy said breaking news surrounding the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro is the reason his slot was canceled on the weekend news show. McCoy did not say when the Fox appearance would be rescheduled.
McCoy was already in New York awaiting the TV appearance. It was unclear if breaking news Saturday would affect any of his other events, interviews or appearances this week related to the 10th anniversary of his daily Pledge of Allegiance recitation.
McCoy will keep followers updated via his Facebook page, “Neal McCoy Multi-Platinum Country Artist.”
“We are gonna try and dig around to see if we can come up with some other things while we are here,” McCoy posted on Facebook Saturday evening. “We’ll let you know if we do. Please help us let other folks know that we will not be on Fox and Friends in the morning.”
See original story below, published Saturday morning:
Every day for 10 years, country music star and Longview resident Neal McCoy has said the Pledge of Allegiance with the help of his fans.
He’s set to mark the 10th anniversary of his patriotic habit with TV appearances and a trip to the White House.
On Jan. 7, 2016, McCoy said he was tired of seeing intense political brawls on TV. He posted the Pledge of Allegiance on his Facebook page, and later that year, he began livestreaming his daily recitation of the pledge, giving his fans a chance to join in.
That has grown into something fans around the country love and participate in regularly. Daily, people on social media tune in to hear what the singer is up to and see what kind of unique glasses he might be wearing as he says the pledge.
Friday marked the 3,648th day in a row of saying the Pledge of Allegiance. McCoy often says it at his ranch near East Mountain or at various venues while on tour.
For the next few days, however, he’ll be saying the pledge from the East Coast to prepare for TV interviews and a White House trip.
Here’s what to know:
TV appearances
McCoy will appear at 7:50 a.m. Sunday on Fox & Friends. He also said he expects to appear on NewsMax on Tuesday during the noon to 1 p.m. slot.
At other points during the week, he’ll appear on One America News Network and other shows as well. McCoy said Friday that he isn’t sure when those appearances will be, but he will keep followers up-to-date via his Facebook page, “Neal McCoy Multi-Platinum Country Artist.”
As they watch him on TV, McCoy said his followers can “just expect the same crazy me. Of course, I’m not going to be too ignorant because being too ignorant, that’s how you don’t get invited back to those shows.”
White House appearance
McCoy will say the Pledge of Allegiance at the White House about 10 a.m. on Jan. 7, he said. He’ll keep followers updated on his Facebook page about that as well.
McCoy coordinated the White House appearance with the help of publicist Kirt Webster, he told the News-Journal. McCoy said he hopes the appearance will encourage people to follow him on Facebook and take part in the pledge. He now has more than 1 million followers on Facebook.
McCoy said he’d like to say the pledge in front of one of the new, large flag poles that President Donald Trump ordered to be installed this year.
“That would be fun, and it would in a way bring a lot of excitement for our followers,” McCoy said. “It gives them something to talk about and brag about and say, ‘Hey, we helped him get there.’”
Limited edition flags
As part of the 10th anniversary of his daily pledge recitation, McCoy has partnered with Allied Flag to produce a limited-edition flag celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. Flags will be shipped in customized boxes with McCoy’s likeness beginning Jan. 7. People who purchase the flags directly from McCoy’s website will receive autographed boxes. To purchase flags, visit the store on his website, www.nealmccoy.com/.
Why he does it
Saying the Pledge of Allegiance isn’t meant to be political, McCoy said. Regardless of a person’s political leanings, he hopes people will show respect to the flag and the country.
McCoy was raised on American values. His father, Pete, served in the Army Corps of Engineers in the Philippines where he met Virginia, Neal’s mother. Virginia raised her children to love God and country, McCoy said. From a young age, the fact that people in other countries have tougher lives and less freedom was impressed upon them.
“We grew up understanding that we get to live the way we do because we’re in the United States of America,” McCoy said.
He said he enjoys saying the Pledge of Allegiance not only to show patriotism, but to help people connect with one another. A number of people who are ill, elderly or in nursing homes tune in to his livestreams, and they’ve commented that watching the livestream is some of the only interaction they have with other people on a given day.
“They’ll say, ‘It means the world to us to get a chance to see you every morning. We know we’re going to see you. We know you’re going to be smiling. We know you’re going to bring us the pledge of allegiance. And that just gives us something to look forward to every day,’” McCoy said.
He doesn’t plan to quit, either.
“I never had a goal, but this 10-year anniversary milestone is a pretty big one, in my eyes,” he said.
