Cassadee Pope is leaving country music for rock after being ‘shamed’ for calling out transphobia and racism

Cassadee Pope is leaving her cowboy boots behind.

The 34-year-old singer is leaving the country music genre to focus on pop-rock tunes.

“I realize every genre has problematic people in it,” Pope noted in a recent interview with Rolling Stone that was published on Thursday.

“The Voice” alum continued: “I’m not saying there’s not a frontman in a band who hasn’t been accused of something in rock music. But I guess rock is in my bones more. You’re not completely ostracized and shamed for speaking out.”

In recent years, Pope has blasted other country music artists for their controversial statements.

Back in 2021, she called out crooner Morgan Wallen for being racist and uttering the N-word in a video.

She said at the time in an Instagram post: “I am completely disgusted by Morgan Wallen’s words. To be that flippant and nonchalant while hurling the most offensive racial slur you could utter… some people just have ZERO sensitivity.”

The “Frame by Frame” songstress recalled her words, telling the music publication she regretted speaking out.

“I look back on it and I’m like, ‘You’re so annoying,’” she sighed. “I was just another angry white person who just learned about racism. If that were to have happened today, I would have had a different response.”

However, Pope stated that while she was “proud” for voicing her opinion, she realized that getting pushback from fans made her feel icky inside.

The former Hey Monday vocalist divulged that therapy has helped get her head on straight regarding her music and artistry.

“I had no feeling of regret. I just kept my head down and kept going,” Pope said. “It’s only been the past few months that I’ve let my guard down in therapy and said, ‘Wait, I actually wasn’t OK.’ But I think that kind of comes with the territory of including activism in your life. You’re not going to please everyone.”

The Florida native has roots deep in pop-rock, being the former lead of the band Hey Monday and releasing her self-titled power pop EP in 2012.

Pope has also beefed with country star Jason Aldean and his wife, Brittany Aldean, at one point.

The “My Kinda Party” crooner, 46, and Brittany, 35, were accused of being transphobic in 2022 when the latter posted on Instagram: “I’d really like to thank my parents for not changing my gender when I went through my tomboy phase. I love this girly life.”

Pope and her friend Maren Morris both slammed the couple, taking to X (formerly known as Twitter) to criticize the pair.

Pope tweeted: “You’d think celebs with beauty brands would see the positives in including LGBTQ+ people in their messaging. But instead here we are, hearing someone compare their ‘tomboy phase’ to someone wanting to transition. Real nice.”

Morris, 33, replied to her pal, writing: “It’s so easy to, like, not be a scumbag human? Sell your clip-ins and zip it, Insurrection Barbie.”