Nashville, Tennessee – Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones (D) brought two resolutions to the floor of the lower chamber on Monday, both of them congratulating Nashville-area musicians on winning their first Grammy awards the week before.
One was for Paramore, a Tennessee-based emo-pop band that had won Grammys for best rock album and best alternative music performance. The other was for Allison Russell, a folk musician who had won the Grammy for best American roots performance.
The resolutions were so perfunctory that they were placed on the chamber’s consent calendar, a grouping of noncontroversial bills that representatives pass en masse. However, an objection was raised by Rep. Jeremy Faison (R) against the resolution honoring Russell, but not the one honoring Paramore. Jones and Paramore members called out the objection as being rooted in racism.
Russell, a Black musician and activist, has been an outspoken critic of Tennessee’s Republican lawmakers in recent years. Her objection to her recognition recalled a previous controversy in the legislature when Jones and two other representatives faced expulsion over their participation in a gun-control demonstration.
Faison, a member of the Republican leadership, stated that questions raised by the caucus made it appropriate to press pause on Russell’s resolution. However, he did not respond to requests for further comment on the matter.
Although the resolution focused on Russell’s Grammy win, her music is tied into her political activism. In addition, other artists have rallied around Russell, with Paramore even rejecting any acknowledgment or honor from the Tennessee House until Russell is given the same honor.
At the end of Monday’s session, Jones, the representative who introduced the resolutions, tried to address his colleagues about Russell’s recognition being blocked, emphasizing the importance of honoring those who are making Black history every day. However, his efforts were interrupted by the House Speaker.
The controversy highlights the intersection between music, activism, and politics, and the ongoing issues surrounding racial equality and recognition in Tennessee’s political landscape.