Paramore, not surprisingly, is balking at the idea of singularly getting an honor from the Tennessee legislature celebrating the band’s Grammy accomplishments, after the GOP-led House snubbed fellow winner Allison Russell for a similar resolution.
“The blatant racism of our state leadership is embarrassing and cruel,” singer Hayley Williams as part of a lengthy statement. “Myself, as well as Paramore, will continue to encourage young people to show up to vote with equality in mind.”
The actions of the Tennessee legislature made headlines and drew the attention of music fans nationwide after the two artists got different receptions, with many wondering aloud if the impetus behind the different treatment was evident just in the side-by-side photos of the two artists.
The band’s statement to media, first published Friday by the Tennessean, began: “This week, Rep. Justin Jones put forth resolutions to honor my band, Paramore, and another local-to-Nashville artist, Allison Russell, on our recent Grammy wins (as far as I can tell these resolutions have no legal weight to them. They’re like a big high five or when the whole restaurant joins in to sing you “Happy Birthday”).”
Paramore’s statement continued, “House Republicans only let the measure that acknowledged Paramore’s win pass. They blocked Allison’s. For those that don’t know, Allison Russell is an incredibly talented musician and songwriter. Her music spans genres with strong ties to the Folk/Americana scenes. You might have seen her on the Grammy stage performing with the great Joni Mitchell.
“Oh, she is also Black. She’s a brilliant Black woman.”
After decrying the different treatment as “embarrassing and cruel” and “blatant racism,” Paramore’s statement concluded: “I’d like to say thank you to Brother Jones for your steadfast commitment to your community. And thank you to Allison Russell for using your voice and artistry to band people together, not tear them apart. ConGRATS on your incredible Grammy night. On behalf of Paramore, Happy Black History Month.”
It was House Republican Caucus Chair Jeremy Faison who balked at the Russell resolution, in what the Tennesseandescribed as “a procedural move that kicked Jones’ resolution off the night’s consent calendar and back to committee, where objected consent items often die.”
This was not Faison’s first time blocking a proclamation for a nationally renowned Tennessee musician who identifies as LGBTQ. In 2021, he made national headlines when he blocked a proclamation honoring Brothers Osborne singer TJ Osborne, who had recently come out as gay, even though the resolution had unanimously passed the state Senate.
Faison has not explained why he tabled Russell’s honor while letting Paramore’s pass. The proclamation for Russell focused on her artistry and did not bring up her activism.
Russell is one of the most acclaimed singer-songwriters to rise up in the roots scene in recent years, starting with her solo debut “Outside Child,” which was named the best album of the year by PvNew. Her Grammy win for best American roots performance for the song “Eve Was Black,” from her second solo release, “The Returner,” represented her first win after eight nominations. Russell has often sung alongside her friend Brandi Carlile and joined Joni Mitchell in a series of recent “Joni Jams.”
In the heavily partisan House, where Republicans enjoy a supermajority, it would seem plausible that GOP leaders might hold it against Russell that she had aligned with the so-called “Tennessee Three” on gun laws as well as protesting the legislature’s anti-drag laws last year. Yet Williams has also similarly been an activist siding with Democrats on these matters. The Paramore singer performed alongside Russell at last spring’s “Love Rising” benefit at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, in support of LGBTQ+ issues after the anti-drag legislation passed.
Jones, who introduced the resolutions honoring both Paramore and Russell, is one of the “Tennessee Three.” He and Rep. Justin Pearson were both expelled from the House last April in a GOP-led vote over their “decorum”-breaking protests of gun laws, following the mass shooting at Nashville’s Convenant School. They were both reelected in popular votes following the expulsion. The third figure that Republicans attempted to oust, Rep. Gloria Johnson, the only one of the three who is white, held onto her seat by one vote, with some observers wondering if race was a factor in the other two being booted while Johnson was not.
