A number of artists have pulled out of a concert at the National Rifle Association's national convention in Houston this weekend following Tuesday's mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

A number of artists have pulled out of a concert at the National Rifle Association's national convention in Houston this weekend following Tuesday's mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

"American Pie" singer-songwriter Don McLean was the first to withdraw, saying it would be hurtful for him to perform at the event.

"In light of the recent events in Texas, I have decided it would be disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform for the NRA at their convention in Houston this week," McLean said in a statement.

He continued, "I'm sure all the folks planning to attend this event are shocked and sickened by these events as well. After all, we are all Americans. I share the sorrow for this terrible, cruel loss with the rest of the nation."

McLean was subsequently joined by Lee Greenwood, T. Graham Brown, Danielle Peck, Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart in pulling out of the "Grand Ole Night of Freedom" concert.

"As a father, I join the rest of America in being absolutely heartbroken by the horrific event that transpired this week in Texas," Greenwood said in a statement.

"I was scheduled to perform at NRA's private event on Saturday with my band," he added. "After thoughtful consideration, we have decided to cancel the appearance out of respect for those mourning the loss of those innocent children and teachers in Uvalde."

Gatlin said he agrees with most of the positions held by the NRA but has come to believe background checks would be a "step in the right direction toward trying to prevent the kind of tragedy we saw this week in Uvalde."

"I'm a 2nd Amendment guy, but the 2nd Amendment should not apply to everyone. It's that simple," Gatlin said.

At least 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School were killed Tuesday, when an 18-year-old gunman opened fire.

The incident, which marks the country's deadliest school shooting since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012, is the country's third-deadliest school shooting in history.

(Photo: NRA)

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Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf presented the Polar Music Prize to Iggy Pop at a gala ceremony held at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden, on Tuesday, May 24.

Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf presented the Polar Music Prize to Iggy Pop at a gala ceremony held at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden, on Tuesday, May 24.

"Recognition is a hard mistress," Pop said in his acceptance speech. Referring to his Swedish connections, the punk legend added, "Ada Osterberg, a Swedish émigré to the U.S., adopted my father James.[Ada] was a Red Cross nurse and raised my dad during the great depression. These were great people, real people."

"I am neither great nor real. At this point, I am a myth," he continued. "Happily, music is a form of myth. All beauty derives from believing in myth. But every so often, you gotta get real - like balls. That's how I got here. So when you think about music, when you think about this prize and if you remember me, think about the balls."

Parisian classical musical collective Ensemble Intercontemporain, Iggy Pop's joint 2022 Laureate, and Diane Warren, the winner of the award in 2020, were also presented the Polar Music Prize.

The 2020 award ceremony was twice postponed due to the pandemic.

The Polar Music Prize, founded by ABBA's Stig "Stikkan" Anderson, is an annual award given to one popular music artist and one classical artist.

Pop, whose original name is James Newell Osterberg, Jr., won the award in pop music category.

(Photo: Rob Baker Ashton)

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Yes drummer Alan White has died at the age of 72, his family confirmed in a statement posted on his Facebook page.

Yes drummer Alan White has died at the age of 72, his family confirmed in a statement posted on his Facebook page.

"Alan White, our beloved husband, dad, and grandpa, passed away at the age of 72 at his Seattle-area home on May 26, 2022, after a brief illness," White's family said.

They added, "Throughout his life and six-decade career, Alan was many things to many people: a certified rock star to fans around the world; band mate to a select few, and gentleman and friend to all who met him."

White, who joined Yes in 1972 and was the longest-tenured member of the band, also performed with John Lennon, George Harrison, Ginger Baker's Air Force and Joe Cocker.

"It is with deep sadness that YES announce Alan White, their much-loved drummer and friend of 50 years, has passed away, aged 72, after a short illness," the band wrote on Twitter.

Yes recently announced that White had pulled out of the band's upcoming tour in celebration of the 50th anniversary of their Close To The Edge album due to health issues.

White will be replaced by his friend Jay Schellen, who has subbed for the drummer several times in the past.

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