Country star John Rich slams Nashville mayor as 'de Blasio of the South' over COVID controversy

Country star John Rich took issue with Nashville, Tenn., Mayor John Cooper, a Democrat, on Thursday, after the local FOX affiliate discovered the politician's office may have kept coronavirus data from the public because the figures were so low.

The station reported a health department official asked "this isn't going to be publicly released, right? Just info for Mayor’s Office?" -- while the mayor's adviser, Benjamin Eagles, reportedly replied: "correct, not for public consumption."

Rich told "The Ingraham Angle" that the coronavirus-related restrictions on bars and restaurants in the city have been a "disaster" for both the economy and the livelihoods of employees and owners.

"It is gutted," he said. "Mayor John Cooper has betrayed our town. He has betrayed Music City. He is the Judas to this town. He is now the '[New York City Mayor Bill] de Blasio of the South'."

Rich, one half of the famous country duo Big & Rich, said Cooper essentially lied to his constituents for months.