Axl Rose, Grace Jones Block Music from Melania Film Over Political Concerns

Marc Beckman, who produced the Melania documentary, confirmed that several major artists refused to license their work for the project. The film chronicles the First Lady during the twenty days leading up to her husband's second presidential inauguration in January.

Permission battles plagued the production from the start. Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood and director Paul Thomas Anderson requested removal of their Phantom Thread score—a request Beckman declined. But the licensing headaches extended well beyond that dispute.

Speaking to Variety, Beckman outlined the rejections. Guns N' Roses members couldn't reach consensus. "There was a beautiful song we wanted to use, and one of the guys—I don't want to name, it's not fair—said, 'You got it. Go.' And the other one was basically like, 'There's just no way,'" Beckman explained. Since all band members needed to sign off, the track never made the cut.

Grace Jones declined as well. "She apparently couldn't get over the political hurdle, notwithstanding the fact that the film is not a political film," Beckman said. "It's disappointing when people put politics so far ahead."

Prince's estate also blocked usage. A lawyer managing the late artist's catalog told producers that "Prince would never want his song associated with Donald Trump." Beckman pushed back, insisting the documentary centers on Melania, not politics. The lawyer held firm.

History explains these rejections. Axl Rose publicly criticized Trump in 2016, asking if the then-candidate "ever stops whining?" The singer later accused the Trump campaign of exploiting "loopholes" to use music without performer consent at rallies. In 2020, Rose returned to social media with a post seemingly mocking Trump's MAGA messaging.

Prince's estate issued a cease-and-desist in 2018 when Trump's campaign played "Purple Rain" at rallies, then reinforced that position the following year. Grace Jones herself went on record in 2017, telling Trump to "grow up" and criticizing his stance on various issues including immigration and climate policy.

The soundtrack ultimately features work from Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, Boney M, and James Brown. Mick Jagger "gave us his blessing," Beckman noted, though Rolling Stones representatives couldn't directly confirm the approval.

Amazon acquired global streaming rights for $40 million—the highest price ever paid for a documentary—outbidding Disney's $14 million offer. The film opened at number 29 on the UK box office, earning just under £33,000 in its first week. Stateside, early audiences were predominantly Republican (49 percent), female (72 percent), and Democratic representation barely registered at two percent.

Critical reception proved harsh. Rotten Tomatoes ratings sit at 11 percent, while some outlets questioned the legitimacy of reported box office figures, with accusations of inflated numbers circulating online.