Luke Bryan Admits Confederate Flag Is "Symbol of Racism"

In an interview with Billboard magazine, Bryan, a Georgia native, opened up about the Confederate flag, saying that its meaning has changed over the years. And, despite his country roots, Bryan thinks that the racist connotations of the flag is enough to condemn it.

"We're sitting here on the day the Supreme Court ruled on gay marriages," he said, noting the changes that have taken place in his 40 years before getting in to the meaning of the Confederate flag.

"Where I grew up, I never understood the Confederate flag to be a negative thing. But if the Ku Klux Klan is going to walk around and turn the Confederate flag into their deal," he said shaking his head. "It's become a symbol of racism to a majority of people. And we live in a country where we have to listen to people's opinions and work it out."

Bryan also opened up about his family. After his sister and her husband tragically died just a few years apart, Bryan and his college sweetheart wife Caroline Boyer are raising his two nieces and nephew. "You don't want to sound like you love having them so much that you're glad it's the situation," he said. "But we're honored to be doing what we feel was the right thing."

Bryan's new album Kill the Lights will be released on Aug. 7.

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