WARMINGTON: Chantal Kreviazuk taking heat for O Canada but not from Don Cherry

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When it comes to joining the chorus trying to drown out singer Chantal Kreviazuk after her much-criticized version of O Canada to kick off the final of the Four Nations Face-Off, you can count Don Cherry out.

“I think people shouldn’t fault her,” Grapes said Friday. “She did her best. She was only trying to stand up for Canada.”

As reported widely Friday, the Winnipeg singer changed the words in the anthem to reflect Canadians displeasure with U.S. President Donald Trump’s talk of Canada becoming the 51st state.

The award-winning singer changed the anthem from “in all of us command” to “that only us command,” which drew the scorn of many.

But not Grapes – she’s not in his dog house.

“I have the back of somebody who has the back of Canada,” said the man voted as the CBC’s 7th greatest Canadian.

While he thinks Trump is “joking” about annexing Canada, Cherry admits “it does tick me off” that he keeps saying it.

So, he credits Kreviazuk for taking a stand.

For her part, Kreviazuk apologized for being out of key and explained her rationale. But Cherry, who has been cancelled for stands he has taken, doesn’t think she needs to apologize at all.

“The Boston Garden is a tough place to play and a tough place to sing,” he said. “It’s loud in there. I thought with the pressure she was under she did just fine.”

When it comes to those wanting to cancel people like her or Wayne Gretzky, Cherry said he thinks people should leave them alone.

“They are great Canadians,” he maintained.