Don McLean pulls out of NRA concert following Texas school shooting

The American Pie singer was due to perform at a country music concert for the annual NRA meeting on Saturday.

However, following the horrific massacre of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday by a lone gunman, McLean issued a statement saying he would no longer take part in the NRA event.

"In light of the recent events in Texas, I have decided it would be disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform for the NRA at their convention in Houston this week," McLean says in a statement.

"I’m sure all the folks planning to attend this event are shocked and sickened by these events as well. After all, we are all Americans."

Singers Lee Greenwood, Larry Gatlin, Restless Heart frontman Larry Stewart, newcomer Jacob Bryant and T. Graham Brown are also on the line-up for the NRA's Grand Ole Night of Freedom concert on Saturday.

Greenwood, Gatlin and Brown have since confirmed they'll play for the crowd in Houston.

Speakers at the event will include Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Texas Senator Ted Cruz and former President Donald Trump.

Don McLean will bring his 50th Anniversary American Pie Tour to Dublin’s 3Arena on Friday, October 7.

His classic hit American Pie has been named as one of the top five songs of the 20th Century by the Recording Industry of America.

Don McLean has had a rollercoaster career and credits his 1997 performance of American Pie at Garth Brooks’ Central Park concert (attended by over 500,000 people) as the beginning of his third career comeback.

Brooks was joined on stage by two surprise guest stars, Billy Joel and McLean, who brought down the house with an acoustic rendition of American Pie.

According to McLean, his first "comeback" had been the release of his hit song, Vincent, and the second, the North American release and massive success of Crying.