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Right before Trace Adkins left for a string of USO concerts in Japan, he performed on NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center special which aired Wednesday (Nov. 28). And while he was singing to help celebrate the lighting of the famous Christmas tree in New York City, some people were dismayed when they noticed he was wearing an earpiece decorated with the Confederate flag. After they voiced their criticisms via Twitter, Adkins posted a statement on his website, saying that he objects to oppression of any kind. "To me, the battle flag represents remembrance of my Southern lineage," he wrote. "I am a descendant of Confederate soldiers who followed that flag into battle. I advocate for the preservation of America's battlefields and honest conversation about our country's history. To those who view the flag as a symbol of racism, that was not my message, and I did not intend offense."