Hayley Williams is calling out Republicans in the Tennessee House of Representatives after a lawmaker blocked a resolution honoring Allison Russell‘s Grammy win while allowing a similar resolution honoring Paramore to pass.
In a Friday (Feb. 16) statement to local newspaper The Tennesseean, the frontwoman wrote, “Allison Russell is an incredibly talented musician and songwriter” whose 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,” she continued.
Williams went on to address what she sees as the crux of the issue: racism, particularly on the part of House Republican Caucus Chair Jeremy Faison. His Feb. 12 objection to the decree honoring Russell’s 2024 best American roots performance win pushed the resolution back to committee, a move seen as “a death knell for resolutions, though it technically could be brought back to the House for another vote,” explains The Tennesseean. Meanwhile, Faison had no qualms with passing a resolution celebrating Paramore’s best rock album and best alternative music performance wins.
“Oh, she is also Black,” wrote the “Still Into You” singer of Russell. “She’s a brilliant Black woman. The blatant racism of our state leadership is embarrassing and cruel.”
Paramore and Russell took home their respective awards at the Grammys ceremony on Feb. 4. The resolutions honoring both acts were put forth by Democratic Rep. Justin Jones, whom Williams personally thanked for his “steadfast commitment to [his] community” in her statement.
“Thank you to Allison Russell for using your voice and artistry to band people together, not tear them apart,” she concluded, congratulating the “Nightflyer” singer on her Grammy success. The Good Dye Young founder also shared a link to her statement on Instagram Stories and wrote, “Paramore will not accept any acknowledgement or honor from the TN House until Allison Russell is given the same recognition.”
Russell also previously responded after Jones slammed Faison on X for nixing the resolution. “That the TN GOP blocked it, I take as a compliment,” she wrote at the time. “Their bigotry, sadly, is on relentless display. We have a chance this year to make a real change in TN.”