Photo: Justin Timberlake performs during day two of BottleRock in Napa on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Benjamin Fanjoy/For the S.F. Chronicle

Gov. Gavin Newsom and first partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom joined a host of luminaries on the second day BottleRock Napa Valley, enjoying performances by artists including Benson Boone and 4 Non Blondes while mingling with high-profile figures such as Serena Williams, radio personality Gary “Baba Booey” Dell’Abate and baseball legend Ken Griffey Jr.

Backstage on Saturday, May 24, the California governor mingled with music industry heavyweights, including Live Nation Northern California President Jodi Goodman, BottleRock partner Dave Graham and Marsha Vlasic, longtime talent manager for Neil Young. 

Newsom commended Young for fearlessly criticizing President Donald Trump’s administration and voicing support for Bruce Springsteen during the musician’s recent clash with the president.

“Neil Young has shown incredible integrity,” Newsom said, praising his advocacy.

In a brief interview with the Chronicle at the festival, Newsom underscored the critical need to champion the arts amid federal cuts to cultural institutions under the current administration. 

“This is an incredibly important moment in U.S. history,” he said. “It’s about free expression and being accountable. We can’t afford to be timid.”

Earlier this month, Newsom announced an $11.95 billion state budget shortfall, attributed to tariffs, a decline in tourism and broader economic uncertainty. This deficit led to a proposal to cut $11.5 million in funding for small nonprofit arts organizations across California.

The proposal follows a recent wave of terminations from the National Endowment for the Arts, which sent form letters to arts organizations across the country stating that their projects “fall outside” Trump’s priorities.