TORONTO — Canadian country singer Josh Ross is drawing jeers for an online video in which he can be seen carrying a U.S. flag onstage and calling the country the "best" in the world.
Footage of the Burlington, Ont., native shows comments he made at the Tailgate N' Tallboys music festival on June 13 in Bloomington, Ind., just weeks before he's set to perform Ottawa's Canada Day celebrations.
In the video, Ross, who lives in Nashville, takes a moment to tell the audience he's from Canada.
He says he has relocated to "the best ... country in the world" before leading the crowd in a chant of "U.S.A! U.S.A!"
The clip posted on TikTok drew criticism from some commenters who said his pro-American stance ran against the "Elbows Up" movement and the ongoing political conflict with U.S. president Donald Trump.
Representatives for Ross did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The "Drunk Right Now (Na Na Na)" singer is booked as one of the performers for Ottawa's Canada Day celebrations organized by Heritage Canada.
Earlier this year at the Juno Awards, Ross seemed to take a political middle ground that was out of step with many of his fellow Canadians at the overtly patriotic show.
While accepting the win for country album of the year, he said he was proud of being Canadian, but suggested it was on his fellow citizens to find common ground with the U.S.
"I think it's time to get back to our Canadian roots and remember that friends are better than enemies," he said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2025.
David Friend, The Canadian Press
