A federal judge in Tennessee has blocked the state’s anti-drag law from going into effect for 14 days. Photo: United States District Court, Western District of Tennessee.
22.03.2023 - 22:47 / etcanada.com
Maren Morris isn’t backing down.
On Monday night, Maren Morris performed at Nashville’s Love Rising benefit concert raising money for LGBTQ organizations in Tennessee, pushing back on the state’s legislative attacks on the queer community.
READ MORE: Maren Morris Apologizes To ‘Ru Paul’s Drag Race’ Contestants For Country Music’s Homophobia: ‘I’m So Sorry’
Morris performed onstage with drag queen Alexia Noelle Paris, in a direct rebuke to the state’s recently passed ban on drag shows near schools, and restrictions against “adult cabaret performance” in public or in the presence of children.
Directly addressing the bans, the country star and mother to a 2-year-old son told the crowd, “And yes, I introduced my son to some drag queens today, so Tennessee, f**kin’ arrest me.”
READ MORE: Maren Morris Flexes Vocal Range While Singing Beyoncé’s ‘Drunk In Love’ In TikTok Challenge
“I brought my son here earlier today for soundcheck, and he’s turning 3 this week, and we got to go in the room where all the queens were getting ready and doing their makeup. And he freaked out when he went in there because it’s just magic what drag queens do,” Morris told Variety. “It’s just like a room of love. And we went back to my dressing room and my son is like, ‘I need the queens!’”
Also performing at the benefit concert were Hayley Williams, Hozier and Sheryl Crow.
A federal judge in Tennessee has blocked the state’s anti-drag law from going into effect for 14 days. Photo: United States District Court, Western District of Tennessee.
Speaking out. Brittany Aldean responded to a fan who asked for her opinion on the 2023 CMT Awards, which featured host Kelsea Ballerini performing with drag queens to spite increasing anti-trans legislation in America.
slain at the Nashville Covenant School shooting last Monday and recounted her own experience of being in a school shooting in Knoxville, Tennessee.“The community of sorrow over this and the 130 mass shootings in the U.S. this year alone stretches from coast to coast,” the 29-year-old singer said.“I wanted to personally stand up here and share this moment because on Aug.
Making a statement — or two. Kelsea Ballerini did more than just host the 2023 CMT Music Awards on Sunday, April 2.
Kelsea Ballerini made her feelings about the Tennessee drag ban known during her performance at the 2023 CMT Music Awards Sunday.
Kelsea Ballerini made her feelings about the Tennessee drag ban known during her performance at the 2023 CMT Music Awards Sunday.Ballerini, who also served as the night's co-host, transported the audience backyard barbecue in the '60s, where she was surrounded by a bevy of drag queens while belting out her hit, «If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too).»The group served as Ballerini's backup dancers, while the singer sang and strummed along on a pink guitar. After throwing her long, green coat to the side, Ballerini showed off a yellow two-piece, which she strutted her stuff in while the drag queens followed behind — all dressed in their best '60s-inspired wears.The performance ended with a flutter of confetti that was illuminated with rainbow stage lights, which made Ballerini's stance loud and clear.ET spoke to the drag queens — Kennedy Davenport, Manila Luzon, Jan Sport and Oliva Lux — that performed alongside the «Penthouse» singer, who shared the importance of taking the stage with Ballerini.«Just like all these amazing country music artists, we drag queens are also artists.
CMT Music Awards!This year, Lainey Wilson leads the charge with four noms, including Performance of the Year and Female Video of the Year, with three nominees tied for second place -- Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, and CMT Music Awards co-host Kane Brown.Across all categories, CMT is recognizing 21 first-time nominees, with Carrie Underwood, the most awarded artist in CMT history, also earning another nod this year. Hosted by Brown and Kelsea Ballerini -- also a nominee this year — the CMT Music Awards air at 8:00 p.m. ET on CBS Sunday from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas.
mass school shooting at The Covenant School earlier this week.Sheryl Crow was among the local resident artists who performed during the vigil as hundreds of people gathered to mourn the tragic loss of life.Crow, who has been a Nashville-area resident for more than 15 years, accompanied herself at a piano to sing «I Shall Believe,» a hymn-like track from her 1993 album, . «Come to me now, and lay your hands on me,» Crow sang. «Say it will be all right, and I shall believe.» She ended the song with the chorus of Dionne Warwick’s «What the World Needs Now (Is Love, Sweet Love).»Margo Price, an outspoken advocate for gun safety, also performed, singing an a cappella version of Bob Dylan’s «Tears of Rage.»Both Price and Crow spoke out on social media in the wake of Monday's fatal shooting, calling not just for gun safety but an end to the senseless violence that continues in this country.Also in attendance, was first lady Jill Biden, along with a host of local and state elected officials, police officers, and clergy members.Speaking to the crowd, Nashville Mayor John Cooper thanked mourners for gathering after what he called was the city's «worst day.»«Just two days ago was our city's worst day,» Cooper said. «And Deputy Mayor Heywood and Laura and I want to thank all of you for being here today.
Madonna has added a Nashville date to her upcoming 2023 ‘Celebration’ world tour, with proceeds benefiting trans rights organisations.The concert is due to take place on Friday, December 22 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, with Madonna adding a further seven dates to the US leg of the tour.Tickets for the newly announced dates go on sale at 10am local time this Friday, March 31. You can see full dates below and find tickets here.In a statement addressing recent anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, Madonna said: “The oppression of the LGBTQ+ is not only unacceptable and inhumane; it’s creating an unsafe environment; it makes America a dangerous place for our most vulnerable citizens, especially trans women of color.“Also, these so-called laws to protect our children are unfounded and pathetic.
Enough is enough! Country stars are calling out politicians after Nashville’s school shooting! Like most of us, they’ve had it with lenient gun laws — which are particularly weak in Tennessee. As we’re sure you’ve heard by now, ano
multiple reports.Following the news, many country music stars, some of whom live in the area, took to social media to pay tribute to the lives lost and call on politicians for gun law reform in the wake of yet another tragedy.Maren Morris shared a tweet reporting on the incident to her Instagram Story, writing simply, «Oh my god.»«No words… The Covenant School. Our children deserve better. Praying for all affected.
Hayley Williams of Paramore performed a cover of Deana Carter’s ‘Did I Shave My Legs For This?’ at Love Rising, a Nashville fundraiser for LGBTQIA+ organisations.The show saw Willams team up with singer-songwriter Becca Mancari on guitar to perform ‘Inordinary’ taken from her solo album ‘Flowers for Vases / descansos‘. She then welcomed her best friend and business partner Brian O’Connor who came out dressed in full drag ready to sing ‘Did I Shave My Legs For This?’.The event was created by members of Tennessee’s music community after responding to the series of bills Tennessee recently passed targeting the state’s LGBT population – attempting to pose restrictions on things like drag shows and transgender treatment and surgery for minors.“What they’re doing with this anti-drag bill… is actually just a distraction from all these other horrible things that they’re trying to pass here — it feels like we’re in a relationship with our city and our state that’s all give, no get,” Williams told the crowd.Last month, Williams spoke out to decry the legislation.
drag queens. “I brought my son here earlier today for soundcheck, and he’s turning three this week, and we got to go in the room where all the queens were getting ready and doing their makeup. And he freaked out when he went in there because it’s just magic what drag queens do,” Morris explained, according to Variety.“There’s wigs everywhere, and the smell of hairspray and wig glue; there’s glitter; everyone’s in a good mood,” Morris added. “It’s just like a room of love.
Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic A cast of mostly Nashville-based stars, including Maren Morris, Paramore’s Hayley Williams, Yola, Sheryl Crow and Jason Isbell — plus one key out-of-towner, the Irishman Hozier — joined up with a host of Tennessee drag artists Monday night in Nashville to protest recent state legislation aimed at cross-dressing performers, trans youth and same-sex marriage. The four-hour “Love Rising” benefit, which filled Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena with fans and LGBTQ+ community members and their allies, was also livestreamed to an international audience via the Veeps platform. No one received more of a hero’s welcome than Morris, who recently went out on a limb by standing up for trans youth and their families in a headline-making online debate with fellow country star Jason Aldean’s wife, Brittany Aldean, while most mainstream stars held their tongues. It was quickly evident that Morris has not turned into any shrinking violet as a result of the backlash she experienced from country fans on the right in the dust-up with the Aldeans, appearing on stage with a touch of androgyny in a look that combined legginess with formal black-tie. Morris performed her crossover hit “The Middle” while drag queen Alexia Noelle Paris accompanied her in an interpretive dance.
Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic “Love Rising” is looking to combat the deeply risible. Nashville-based musicians are coming together in a big way — a Bridgestone Arena-sized way — tonight for the show of that name, a benefit concert to raise awareness and funds for the LGBTQ community and its allies in the face of Tennessee legislation that is seen as targeting the rights of gay and trans people generally and drag performers specifically. The generously star-packed show is also being livestreamed internationally via the Veeps platform, with $14.99 tickets available here for a show that begins at 7:30 Nashville time, aka 8:30 ET/5:30 PT. The wide-ranging bill of rock, country, pop, indie and Americana performers includes Paramore’s Hayley Williams, Sheryl Crow, Maren Morris, Brothers Osborne, Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, Yola, Brittany Howard, Hozier, Adeem the Artist, Julien Baker, Joy Oladokun, Jake Wesley Rogers and Mya Byrne, along with co-organizer Allison Russell. Late additions to the show since it was first announced include a greater contingent of non-binary and, yes, drag artists from Tennessee on top of the nationally known names.
won an Academy Award for Best Actor during the 95th Oscars last Sunday. The “Catherine the Great” actress made the revelation while appearing on “The Kelly Clarkson” show while promoting her new film “Shazam: Fury of the Gods.” “I cried when Brendan Fraser got the award,” stated Mirren, 77. ” He’s such a lovely person.”“I’m sure you know what a beautiful man he is.
Marcus Mumford and Maren Morris have covered ‘Look at Us Now (Honeycomb)’, a song from new TV show Daisy Jones & The Six.The song is sung by stars Riley Keough and Sam Claflin in the Amazon Prime Video show, but it was co-written by Mumford and Grammy-winning producer Blake Mills.Mumford and Morris have now covered the song for Amazon Music, with Mumford explaining: “Blake and I wrote ‘Look at Us Now (Honeycomb)’ together – with a bit of help – about a year and a half ago for Daisy Jones & The Six.“This time around, we stripped the song right back down to acoustic guitar and a vocal – which is how it was written – and then kind of built it back up from there until we landed on an arrangement that we liked.“I’ve been a fan of Maren for a long time – both her solo music and her work with The Highwomen – and this duet needed a voice like hers. We’re just honestly so thankful she agreed to do it.”Morris added: “Shows depicting the reality of what it takes to become a band or what it’s really like touring can so often get it wrong.
Ellise Shafer For Marcus Mumford, getting involved with the original music for “Daisy Jones & the Six” was a matter of being in the right place at the right time. The Mumford & Sons frontman was working at L.A.’s Sound City Studios on his solo record with multi-instrumentalist and producer Blake Mills — who co-wrote and executive produced all 25 songs heard in the Prime Video series, which chronicles the rise and fall of a ’70s rock band — when Mills asked if he wanted to help write a tune for the show. “It was a slower day for my record and Blake was like, ‘Look, do you wanna try this thing for Daisy?'” Mumford tells Variety. “And I often think that… writing begets more writing. If you’re able to flex a similar muscle in a different way, then it can often help the writing you have in front of you as well.”