Jason Isbell will not be playing at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on Wednesday.
The country star canceled his Houston-area show with the 400 Unit band after what appears to be a conflict with the venue over COVID-19 safety protocols.
Isbell’s record label, Southeastern Records, tweeted a statement confirming the cancellations Tuesday evening, stating the venue would not comply with the artists’ updated safety precautions asking venues to require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for entry.
Soon after, Houston FOX 26 morning anchor Sally MacDonald offered a rebuttal to Southeastern Records’ claims.
MacDonald replied with a graphic from Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion stating the issue that led to the cancellation was timing, rather than an unwillingness on part of the venue to introduce additional safety measures.
Isbell denied MacDonald and the venue’s version of events, stating that the owner of Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion refused to try to implement additional safety standards.
Houston Twitter users were quick to note a certain link between MacDonald and the venue—namely, that Sally MacDonald is the daughter of Jerry MacDonald, President and CEO of Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.
Isbell himself pointed out the rather glaring conflict of interest.
As of this writing, Isbell’s concert schedule continues to reshuffle plans in the face of rising Delta variant infections across the country. His Fort Worth show has made a switch to Billy Bob’s Texas honky tonk in the Fort Worth Stockyards.