John Rich Turns TVA Land Battle Into Protest Song With Trump’s Support
Country star John Rich is taking his fight with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) straight to the stage — and to President Donald Trump.
The 51-year-old singer says the TVA, a federally owned corporation that manages power and flood control, was planning to seize land in his home county of Cheatham, Tennessee, to build a natural gas plant with massive lithium battery storage.
According to Rich, the project would have torn up 6,000 acres of farmland, impacted five school districts, and even threatened the local water supply.
Rich told Fox News Digital that the TVA operates outside the reach of governors, senators, and even the general public, answering only to the president. He claims the agency has a long history of taking land through eminent domain, and said things hit home when he saw video of TVA officials confronting an 88-year-old woman in his county. That moment inspired his new protest anthem, “The Devil & the TVA.”
Local residents felt powerless — many couldn’t afford attorneys after the TVA allegedly sued over 100 families to gain access to their properties. But Rich used his platform to post interviews with affected neighbors online, which caught the attention of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. Rollins, he said, stepped in and ultimately helped block the project.
Rich also credits Trump’s administration for listening and acting quickly. He says he even texted with the president, who began firing TVA board members after learning about the issue. “They had given up hope. They’re like, ‘There’s no way you beat the TVA,’” Rich said. “Now, they’re planning a parade.”
For Rich, the victory is about proving that “people power” is real. “We the people power is an actual thing,” he said, encouraging everyday Americans to know they can stand up against billion-dollar entities and win.
With his new single, Rich is channeling that message into music — and turning a local fight into a national rallying cry.
