At Chad Johnson Orthodontics, your smile is our passion. Our orthodontists provide you with the best care possible in Charlotte, all from a stress-free, comfortable setting. We know how much of a difference a beautiful smile can make, which is why we are so passionate about giving our clients a smile they love forever.
Having served metro Charlotte for years, we know that no two patients have the same orthodontic needs. That's why we offer a variety of treatment options to correct each patient's unique concerns, along with payment plans that make braces affordable for every family. You can rest easy knowing that our team specializes in the latest innovations in the field of orthodontics. This allows us to treat our patients in the most efficient, affordable, and aesthetically pleasing ways possible.
A few of our orthodontic treatment options in Charlotte include:
If you're looking for an orthodontist in Charlotte, NC, who is professional, trustworthy, and compassionate, look no further than Chad Johnson Orthodontics. Your pathway to a beautiful smile starts by choosing the treatment options best for your lifestyle.
Over the last few years, Invisalign has become one of the most effective and popular orthodontic treatments in North Carolina. If you're looking for a comfortable, convenient, and discreet way to realign your teeth, Invisalign should be at the top of your list.
Invisalign is a treatment used by the best orthodontists in Charlotte. It straightens patients' teeth without the metal components of traditional braces. Invisalign works by using a variety of custom trays that cover your teeth. These trays gently pull your teeth into proper alignment over time. Each custom tray brings your teeth closer to their final position, resulting in a beautiful smile. Unlike braces, treatment times typically don't exceed two years. Once treatment is complete, you may need a retainer to maintain your new, healthy teeth alignment.
Since they are clear, most patients find Invisalign less noticeable than traditional braces. Unlike metal braces, you can remove Invisalign trays while eating. That way, you don't have to worry about damaging your investment with certain foods like chewing gum. And unlike metal braces, Invisalign options are popular with people of all ages, from teens to adults.
Invisalign works well for patients who have:
For most patients, Invisalign involves a streamlined, three-step process:
With so many innovating teeth straightening options in North Carolina, it can be hard to settle on the best treatment choice for your needs. At Chad Johnson Orthodontics, one of our most asked questions usually involves which treatment is better: traditional braces or Invisalign? Since every patient has different goals and needs, that question isn't always easy to answer.
A younger patient with slightly crooked teeth might benefit from the discreet features of Invisalign. Conversely, an older patient with a severe underbite might benefit more from the reliability of traditional braces.
Keep in mind the following points, which will give you a great knowledge base for orthodontic consultation:
Treatment Length: Invisalign treatment can last from six months to two years. Treatment times for traditional braces usually last from one to three years. Each time frame can vary depending on the severity of the patient's teeth problems.
Orthodontic Visits: With Invisalign, patients visit their Invisalign dentist in Charlotte, NC, every three months. Patients can expect to visit every month or every other month when choosing metal braces.
Cleaning: Regular brushing and flossing is recommended for Invisalign patients. A specialized floss threading tool and regular brushing and flossing are recommended for patients with traditional braces.
Benefits: Invisalign is comfortable and discreet. Because trays are removable, there are no food restrictions involved. Traditional braces offer consistent progress, are effective for severe cases, have great reliability, and can be the best choice for patients who are sticking to a strict budget. Ready to learn more about Invisalign from Chad Johnson Orthodontics? Our knowledgeable customer service team is ready and waiting to answer your questions. When you're ready to move forward, we'll get you scheduled for your first consultation. Before you know it, you'll be fitted for Invisalign and on your way to earning a gorgeous smile.
Are you craving a beautiful smile but feel like the time has passed for metal braces? You wouldn't be the first adult to ask that question, and you won't be the last. However, the truth is that roughly 25% of our orthodontic patients are adults, not children. At Chad Johnson Orthodontics, you're never too old for braces!
We want you to know that a stunning, healthy smile is attainable no matter how many birthdays you've had. Our orthodontist in Charlotte, NC, offers braces that are perfect for busy working adults. If you decide that adult braces are the way to go, you have plenty of options to consider.
From traditional metal braces that offer reliable results to more popular Invisalign treatments, a new smile is more attainable than you might imagine. During your initial visit at Chad Johnson Orthodontics, your doctor will review all of your treatment options and help you choose a plan best suited to your needs.
Just about everybody understands that a straighter smile is more appealing aesthetically than having unhealthy teeth. However, not everyone knows that properly aligned teeth actually improve your overall oral health. Here are just a few reasons why so many adults in Charlotte are changing the way they think about using adult braces:
Better Oral Health: When you have bad oral hygiene, there are a number of concerning health risks to consider. Misaligned teeth can cause bacteria to build up. Over time, harmful bacteria wreak havoc on your teeth, creating problems like tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease. Thankfully, orthodontic treatments are available that can help avoid severe tooth decay, gum recession, and bone loss. You can even reduce and prevent irregular tooth enamel loss stemming from TMD and TMJ.
More Confidence: If you're feeling self-conscious about how your teeth look, you're the only one. Millions of Americans aren't happy with their oral aesthetics. Luckily, adult braces help restore confidence and can give you a smile you're proud to show off. Studies show that when you like the way your teeth look, you'll be more likely to smile. This simple act reduces stress, makes you feel happier, and can even improve your mental health. Plus, it makes people around you feel great too!
Enjoy More Foods: If you have never had serious oral issues, you might not know that eating can be painful with misaligned teeth. Adult braces can straighten your teeth and correct under and overbites for patients with severely crooked or crowded teeth. When you don't have to worry about painful chewing or biting, life is better, and you can enjoy the experience of eating any delicious meal you'd like.
Less Bad Breath: Few things are nastier than someone talking to you with bad breath. We've all been there, but it is never any less embarrassing when someone tries to subtlety offer you a mint. What most folks don't know is that misaligned teeth and bad breath go hand-in-hand. When your teeth are overcrowded or crooked, bacteria find their way between your teeth where toothbrushes can't reach. Over time, that bacteria builds up, and your breath begins to smell. When left unchecked, these bacteria can cause serious oral health problems.
Improved Speech: Having crooked teeth can make you feel self-conscious about your appearance. Unfortunately, they can also affect your day-to-day speech. If you're having problems pronouncing words because your teeth are severely misaligned, adult braces can legitimately change your life. This fact is especially true for working professionals who take part in Zoom calls, speak publicly, or work over the phone. If this sounds like you, speak to our trusted Invisalign orthodontist in Charlotte, NC, about discreet ways to improve your speech and oral health at the same time.
Your child's early and teen years are a great time to consider braces. According to The American Association of Orthodontists, the best time for a child to have their first orthodontic treatment is by seven. With early orthodontic treatment, you have the chance to find and correct oral issues before they become more serious. Doing so gives your child a leg-up on other kids their age while saving you time and money in the long run.
The primary goal of early orthodontic treatments is to:
Depending on how your child's teeth develop, they may need additional orthodontic care after their permanent teeth have formed.
A few common orthodontic problems that may require treatment for children include:
The best way to learn whether your child will need early treatment is to consult with your orthodontist in Charlotte, NC. Dr. Johnson, Dr. Martin C. Avey, Dr. Alexandra D. Best, and Dr. Neal Patel are all highly trained to spot subtle problems, even in children under ten. During your child's initial consultation, you can expect one of three outcomes:
If early orthodontic treatment is needed, we will create a personalized treatment plan for your child so you know exactly what lies ahead.
Our orthodontic practice in Charlotte does things a little differently than others. Our doctors want to get to know you, your family, and your oral health goals. With more than 30 years of combined experience, we know that each smile our doctors help create is as unique as the person it belongs to.
That's why our practice offers several orthodontic solutions customized to your individual orthodontic needs. If you're a new patient, we know you probably have important questions that need answers. That's why new patients always receive a complimentary orthodontic consultation, so you can learn about the best treatment options for your budget and lifestyle.
At the end of the day, our goal is to make access to orthodontic treatment as available, effective, and easy as possible. Come experience why so many children, teens, and adults trust Chad Johnson Orthodontics with their oral health needs. We'd love to get to know you and your smile better today!
Photo Courtesy of Siemens EnergyCHARLOTTE, N.C. (Feb. 13, 2024) – Siemens Energy, one of the world's leading energy technology companies, has selected Charlotte for its advanced manufacturing facility to produce large power transformers. The company will invest $149,859,000 and bring 475 new jobs to Charlotte.“Manufacturing large power transformers in the United States will strengthen and expand our electrical grid to incorporate more renewable energy and meet growing ene...
Photo Courtesy of Siemens Energy
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Feb. 13, 2024) – Siemens Energy, one of the world's leading energy technology companies, has selected Charlotte for its advanced manufacturing facility to produce large power transformers. The company will invest $149,859,000 and bring 475 new jobs to Charlotte.
“Manufacturing large power transformers in the United States will strengthen and expand our electrical grid to incorporate more renewable energy and meet growing energy demand,” said Tim Holt, Member of the Executive Board of Siemens Energy. “We are excited to do that in Charlotte, North Carolina where our existing factory and incredible team is answering the call of our customers and policymakers to help protect our nation’s energy and national security.”
Siemens Energy has been a global leader in energy technology for over 150 years. Today, Siemens Energy has a team of around 97,000 employees located in 90 countries. Operating across the whole energy landscape, from conventional to renewable power, Siemens Energy has been operating in the United States for more than 100 years and currently has 21 manufacturing and service facilities and upwards of 10,000 employees in the country.
"Siemens Energy is bringing even more great energy manufacturing jobs to the Charlotte community, and this latest expansion demonstrates once again their confidence in our state and its outstanding workforce,” said Governor Cooper. “Bringing production of these high voltage transformers onshore not only creates American jobs but makes our electric grid more resilient and ready for the transition to clean energy.”
With an energy hub already located in Charlotte. Siemens Energy is now expanding its operations to include an advanced manufacturing facility that will be used to produce large power transformers. The U.S. Department of Energy recently highlighted the need for a strong domestic manufacturing base for national security concerns.
“We are excited to have Siemens Energy choose Charlotte for its advanced manufacturing facility,” said Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles. “Siemens Energy has been a valued corporate partner in our community for many years, and this added investment will create jobs, drive economic growth in our city, and contribute to our nation's well-being."
Siemens Energy plans to expand at its current facility located off Westinghouse Boulevard. This expansion creates a wide variety of job opportunities, including logistics, mechanics, assembly, maintenance, engineering, project management, supervisor, etc., with an average yearly salary of $82,052.
“Mecklenburg County is the largest manufacturing employment center in North Carolina, and investments like this are bolstering our position as a home for the future of energy technology and advanced manufacturing in the United States,” said Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners Chair George Dunlap. “We are thrilled by Siemens Energy’s expansion, which will multiply jobs across our community and support the County as it provides high-quality services to residents.”
This project was a collaborative effort between the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, the North Carolina General Assembly, Duke Energy, and the North Carolina Railroad.
Over the past twelve months, the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County have collaborated on economic development projects including the relocations and expansions of Solve Industrial Motion Group, alpitronic Americas LLC, and TTX. With today’s announcement of Siemens Energy, the city and county have helped bring more than $427 million in capital investment and 1,075 new jobs.
If you were to get the chance to ask Lauren Daigle to pick a favorite moment or song in the show she’s put together for her Kaleidoscope Tour — which stopped in Charlotte on Thursday night — you might need to prepare yourself for a pretty long-winded answer.While setting up funkily soulful single “New,” one of the 12 songs off her 2023 self-titled album that she crammed into a 22-song set, she cheerily announced: “This song is one of my favorites in the set.”After crooning a mash...
If you were to get the chance to ask Lauren Daigle to pick a favorite moment or song in the show she’s put together for her Kaleidoscope Tour — which stopped in Charlotte on Thursday night — you might need to prepare yourself for a pretty long-winded answer.
While setting up funkily soulful single “New,” one of the 12 songs off her 2023 self-titled album that she crammed into a 22-song set, she cheerily announced: “This song is one of my favorites in the set.”
After crooning a mash-up of ballads “He’s Never Gunna Change” and “Be Okay”: “This is one of my favorite parts of the set, because everything just gets a little still.”
Right before singing her self-worth anthem “Valuable”: “It’s one of my favorites on the record.”
As she settled onto a stool with her band and backing singers for a ‘round-the-campfire miniset on a ministage on the Spectrum Center floor: “This is one of my favorite parts of the night, because it’s like the singer-songwriter moment” ... and then she proceeded to start with the wistful “21 Days,” calling it “one of my favorites” ... before following it up with ode-to-God “Everything” — “one of my favorite favorite(s).”
Pointing out all of this is by no means a criticism. Certainly, if you’re a singer building a setlist for an arena show, you should be packing it with stuff you LOVE.
It’s just, the 32-year-old Daigle — who millions of Christian-music fans would no doubt call one of their favorite singers — tossed out the word so many times on Thursday night that I couldn’t help but get obsessed with thinking about what my favorite part of her show was.
And it turns out I have several different answers, too.
My favorite analogy came as part of her explanation for why she named her tour “Kaleidoscope” (a word that connects to both the song “Kaleidoscope Jesus” and to her nostalgia for the collection of kaleidoscopes she played with at her Aunt Tracy’s house as a kid). “When you look inside of a kaleidoscope, you put it up to the light, and it has all of these fragments, right? There’s all these different colors and shapes and sizes, and some of them have sharp edges and they’re a little rough around the edges, some of them are really, really smooth. But when you put it up to the light, there’s this beautiful image that comes through. ... And the second you turn it, it’s something different.”
It’s like the fans who come to her shows, she said. “You bring your stories, some of them are fragmented, some of you are trying to figure out how to put your heart back into your chest ... some of you have it all figured out and life is perfect. Some of you feel like you’re living the greatest joy right now, and some of you feel like you’re living the greatest sorrow.
“But ... when we take those stories and we put them up to the light, and we say, ‘God, what are you gonna do through this? How am I gonna see you? What beautiful picture are you gonna pull out of this story?’ ... We get a moment to behold Him coming and meeting with us and revealing who we are and who he is — and there’s something so powerful about that.”
(Relatedly, my favorite oopsie of Daigle’s? When she started her answer to the “Why is it named ‘Kaleidoscope’?” question with a joke and a minor gaffe: “I always tell everybody, ‘Because I wanted a really hard spelling word,’” before proceeding to — presumably accidentally — omit the “s” when spelling it out.)
My favorite allusion to some of the criticism she’s received in Christian circles about her shifting into crossover territory came while she introduced “21 Days”: “They say, ‘You can’t write love songs and God songs. It doesn’t work.’ Well, then you just combine ’em.”
My favorite admonishment: “If you’re walking a Christianity that is unkind, you need to check yourself,” Daigle told the crowd during a long sermon about negativity, trust, faithfulness and God’s purpose that she wedged into the middle of a soothing cover of Chris Tomlin’s “Good Good Father.”
And my favorite song she sang was one of her newer selections, the beautifully emotive “Thank God I Do” (a ballad that, despite having the word God in the title, is graceful in its subtlety and translates perfectly fine for the secular listener).
Which brings me to my not-so-favorite part.
I mean, what I respond to most when it comes to Lauren Daigle — and what I suspect many other fans do, too — is, well, HER. Her sensational stage presence, her effortless effervescence, her apparent authenticity and, of course, the undeniably powerful instrument that is her voice. HER, and her alone.
When she sang “Thank God I Do,” it was essentially just her and a keyboardist. Her voice and a guy playing the piano. Whether you love her as a fan of Christian music or love her as a fan of the mainstream, there’s no doubt either way that hearing her like this is divine.
That said, I must admit to being disappointed that the majority of her current show includes so much production: three backing singers, three men on brass instruments, a DJ/synth guy, a drummer, a percussionist, a bassist, a guitarist, loosely choreographed dancing, lots of movement, tons of color.
I get it. It’s an arena show with a catwalk and nearly 10,000 people. She’s graduated from her Winter Jam days, and her Outcry Tour days, and from playing in smaller-scale places like Ovens and Bojangles.
There’s obviously going to be some expectation that she needs to step things up.
This isn’t to say that a couple of songs didn’t benefit from the big-band, whoop-it-up, party-time treatment. (I’ll throw out jaunty opener “These Are the Days” and the rousing, Adele-ish “Still Rolling Stones” as examples.) I want those who were there to think about this seriously, though: Would you have complained if the show had just been Daigle and her voice, with maybe about half the number of people on stage with her at most?
I almost feel bad about saying anything negative, because her aura and her message and her music is so endearingly hopeful and positive. But I’m also inspired by her authenticity, and I wouldn’t be being my authentic self if I didn’t tell the truth about how the show made me feel.
It’s like one of those kaleidoscopes Daigle talked about: It had all these different colors and shapes and sizes, and some of them were really, really smooth, while others were rough around the edges. In certain lights, this beautiful image came through.
Maybe when we turn it — i.e., when she comes back to Charlotte next time — it’s something a little bit different.
Perhaps a little bit more of just HER.
1. “These Are The Days”
2. “Waiting”
3. “New”
4. “Look Up Child”
5. “Trust in You”
6. “He’s Never Gunna Change”
7. “Be Okay”
8. “Valuable”
9. “Hold On to Me”
10. “Kaleidoscope Jesus”
11. “Rescue”
12. “Salvation Mountain”
13. “Thank God I Do”
14. “21 Days”
15. “Everything”
16. “Good Good Father”
17. “Love Me Still”
18. “How Can It Be”
19. “O’ Lord”
20. “Turbulent Skies”
21. “Still Rolling Stones”
21. “You Say”
READ MOREThe newest season of “Love is Blind” set in Charlotte has been released. Here’s everything you need to know about the hometown singles.Expand AllCharlotte is once again in the national spotlight in the newest season of “Love is Blind” on Netflix, and so are its date night hot spots.In the hit reality dating show, ...
The newest season of “Love is Blind” set in Charlotte has been released. Here’s everything you need to know about the hometown singles.
Charlotte is once again in the national spotlight in the newest season of “Love is Blind” on Netflix, and so are its date night hot spots.
In the hit reality dating show, 30 men and women from around the Queen City took part in the dating experiment of getting engaged all before meeting in person.
Their four-week journey started out in the infamous pods, but a few couples made connections that lasted behind closed doors back to their real lives in Charlotte.
[READ NEXT: TikToker goes viral after claiming ‘Love is Blind’ contestant is her boyfriend.]
So where were some of the dating spots where they navigated new relationships around the city? Here’s a list of the local places you may recognize in the new season of the show. Some of the places shown in the show are still under embargo, so check back next week to see more Charlotte restaurants and bars that were featured.
(We want to warn you, there are a few spoilers ahead if you haven’t caught up on the latest episodes.)
Location: 316 Main St, Pineville, NC 28134
Episode 8: Jess and Laura meet up for the first time after the experiment to catch up on how things have been with other contestants.
Margaux’s Wine, Pizza & Market, which opened in 2021, is located right in the heart of downtown Pineville. The local restaurant offers old world wines, St-Louis-style pizza, specialty foods, gifts items and more.
Location: 8514 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210
Episode 9: Amy and Johnny took private dance lessons to learn bachata ahead of their wedding.
QC Dance Studio doesn’t just specialize in bachata lessons. The all-inclusive dance studio offers classes focused on a variety of dance styles for all ages, including ballroom, ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop and more.
Location: 3032 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205
Episode 9: Clay introduces AD to his mom and sister for the first time.
The Goodyear House is a mill house-turned-restaurant nestled in NoDa. Made with locally sourced ingredients, the local restaurant’s menu is a bit casual but upscale with some “cheffy touches” the team previously told CharlotteFive. Dishes include smoked cashew mac, charred broccolini, and shrimp and grits with chorizo and salsa.
Location: 4125 Yancey Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217
Episode 9: Chelsea and Jimmy meet up with two of his close friends.
Queen Park Social is a popular social club in South End where you can eat, drink and play games. The local hot spot also has bowling, arcade games and life-sized board games around the bar and outdoor patio.
The first nine episodes of this season of “Love is Blind” are out now on Netflix. Look out for new episodes released each Wednesday.
What do you think of the new Charlotte season of “Love is Blind” so far? Let me know your thoughts on how the local group of singles is navigating Netflix’s dating experiment at charlottefive@charlottefive.com.
This story was originally published February 21, 2024, 5:00 AM.
It’s almost time to celebrate Cinco de Mayo — and once again, several Charlotte-area restaurants and businesses will be hosting special events in honor of the holiday.The May 5 holiday marks an annual celebration of Mexican American culture. While Cinco de Mayo falls on a Sunday this year, multiple spots around town are kicking off their celebrations a little early with drink specials and taco deals.Here’s a guide to Cinco de Mayo events happening around Charlotte:Location: ...
It’s almost time to celebrate Cinco de Mayo — and once again, several Charlotte-area restaurants and businesses will be hosting special events in honor of the holiday.
The May 5 holiday marks an annual celebration of Mexican American culture. While Cinco de Mayo falls on a Sunday this year, multiple spots around town are kicking off their celebrations a little early with drink specials and taco deals.
Here’s a guide to Cinco de Mayo events happening around Charlotte:
Location: 1518 Montford Dr, Charlotte, NC 28209
Date: May 4-5
Time: Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 a.m.
In honor of Cinco de Mayo, Angry Ale’s will be offering several drink and food specials this holiday weekend. Stop by the restaurant Saturday or Sunday to enjoy discounted beers, margaritas and tacos.
Location: Camp North End, 300 Camp Rd, Charlotte, NC 28206
Date: May 4
Time: 3-10 p.m.
Canteen is bringing back its annual Cinco de Mayo celebration at Camp North End. The free event will feature authentic Mexican food, live performances, vendors and more.
Location: Symphony Park, 4400 Sharon Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211
Date: May 5
Time: 12-6 p.m.
Spend Cinco de Mayo with an afternoon of performances, arts and crafts and more at Symphony Park. Check out the free festival and enjoy local bands playing Mariachi music, Latin Reggae, Mexican Cumbia and Electronic-Banda fusion music.
Location: 101 N. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28202
Date: May 2-5
Time: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
This weekend, several spots at Monarch Market will be hosting Cinco de Mayo celebrations and specials. Lanai will be hosting Cantina Popup with a mariachi band, a Latin DJ and Mexican-inspired cocktails. You can also grab a bite to eat with special discounts at Rolled AF and Brooklyn Dumpling Shop.
Location: 1115 N. Brevard St., Charlotte, NC 28206
Date: May 4-5
Time: All day
Optimist Hall is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with a party at El Thrifty. The restaurant’s “Extravaganza” will include margarita and beer specials, live music and DJs, street food stations and giveaways.
Elsewhere in at the food hall, you’ll find drink specials at Billy Sunday and the Spindle Bar, too.
Location: 6401 Carnegie Blvd #8a, Charlotte, NC 28211
Date: Now-May 5
Time: Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
All week long, Paco’s Tacos & Tequila is offering daily drink deals on specialty cocktails ahead of Cinco de Mayo. The local restaurant is also offering special party packs of chips and dip, tacos, fajitas or enchiladas for those who want to have a taste of Paco’s Tacos at home.
Location: 309 W 4th St, Charlotte NC 28202
Date: May 5
Time: Noon-2 a.m.
On Sunday, the newly opened Palace on 4th lounge will celebrate Cinco de Mayo with $3 Coronas and $10 margaritas while DJ Bezzie Beats spins tunes.
Location: Multiple
Date: May 5
Time: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sister restaurants Que Fresa and Que Onda are bringing the fiesta to all of its locations across Charlotte with margarita specials, giveaways and live DJs. There will also be a special menu of dishes exclusively for Cinco de Mayo.
Location: 3500 Dewitt Ln, Charlotte, NC 28217
Date: May 1-5
Time: Thursday, May 2, 11 a.m.-midnight; Friday, May 3, 11-1 a.m.; Saturday, May 4, 10 a.m.-1 a.m.; Sunday, May 5, 10 a.m.-midnight
State of Confusion is keeping the Cinco de Mayo celebration going all week. As part of its Cinco Dias de Mayo event, State of Confusion will be offering birria tacos, $10 micheladas and margaritas, beer specials and more.
Location: 2151 Hawkins St, Charlotte, NC 28203
Date: May 5
Time: 2-8 p.m.
Sycamore Brewing is hosting a Cinco de Mayo party with $3 tacos, half-price margaritas and more. The South End brewery will also have a live performance from artist Austin Smith.
Location: 3700 South Blvd, Ste. 100, Charlotte, NC 28217
Date: May 5
Time: 12-10 p.m.
Taco Boy’s Cinco de Mayo festival won’t just be a time to party with good food and live music, but also a chance to give back. The South End restaurant will have drink specials, a live DJ and more, with a portion of proceeds going toward Embrace all Latino Voices, a local nonprofit organization which supports and empowers the Latin community in Charlotte.
This story was originally published May 2, 2024, 5:30 AM.
Former President Donald Trump's sale of Lee Greenwood’s controversial Bible has hit another level of controversy as a North Carolina pastor went viral for putting it on blast.Charlotte, N.C. Pastor Loran Livingston condemned ...
Former President Donald Trump's sale of Lee Greenwood’s controversial Bible has hit another level of controversy as a North Carolina pastor went viral for putting it on blast.
Charlotte, N.C. Pastor Loran Livingston condemned Greenwood's "God Bless the USA Bible" in a live stream sermon for Central Church delivered on April 14. Clips of the sermon show Livingston at the pulpit talking about politics in church.
"Some of you bring politics into the Church," he said during his sermon. "You think that politics is spiritual stuff."
The original video of the church service has been screened tens of thousands of times, while clips of Livingston's segment on Trump's sale of Greenwood's Bible have been viewed millions of times after being shared on multiple social media platforms.
Greenwood's Bible has been controversial since he first started to try and get it published due to the political overtones to it. Here's what you need to know.
The "God Bless the USA" Bible is the brain child of Greenwood, a Nashville-area country musician whose hit song “God Bless the USA” inspired the Bible with a similar namesake. Greenwood has been an avid supporter of Trump for years.
The text includes the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, Pledge of Allegiance and the lyrics to the chorus to Greenwood’s “God Bless The USA.” It has been seen as a symbol of Christian nationalism by many critics.
Around the hour and nine minute mark, Livingston starts speaking about the intersection of politics and condemning Trump selling Greenwood's Bible. Watch the YouTube video of the church service below.
Livingston also warned the congregation and viewers that, "people that don't read [the Bible] and pray will get politics mixed up with church."
He preached that politics were something of "this world" and told people that politics didn't belong in church and that their mission is to serve God and that voting was a "civic privilege" not something that has to do with their relationship with God.
"When you don't read and pray, you say, 'Wow, there's a Bible out now that includes the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, isn't that wonderful?'" Livingston said. "No! It's disgusting, it's blasphemous, it's a ploy. Are you kidding me? Some of you are so encouraged by that?"
“All Americans need to have a Bible in their home and I have many. It’s my favorite book,” Trump said in a video posted to social media in March, encouraging supporters to purchase the “God Bless The USA Bible.” “Religion is so important and so missing, but it’s going to come back.”
His plug for it recycled language the former president has used to appeal to a conservative Christian base.
“Our founding fathers did a tremendous thing when they built America on Judeo-Christian values,” Trump said in his video on social media. “Now that foundation is under attack perhaps as never before.”
He's selling Greenwood's version of the Bible for $59.99.