With election season fully underway in the U.S., stars in Tennessee are making sure their voices are heard — and urging others to share their voices, too.
On Wednesday (March 13), Allison Russell, Maren Morris and a cavalcade of other stars joined forces to release “Tennessee Rise,” a new political anthem in support of U.S. Senate candidate Gloria Johnson. The group — billed as the Tennessee Freedom Singers — also features names such as Brandi Carlile, Brittany Howard, Brittney Spencer, Amanda Shires, Emmylou Harris and many more singing in support of change for the state.
The soulful song sees the star-studded group protesting against children being “gunned down at school” and asserts that their home state is currently “waltzing in blood,” before calling on voters to “go and make yourself known.”
The roster of the Tennessee Freedom Singers also includes Beth Nielsen Chapman, Brooke Eden, Denitia, Devon Gilfillian, Elizabeth Cook, Erin Rae, Fancy Hagood, Jaimee Harris, Julie Williams, Kam Franklin, Katie Pruitt, Kyshona Armstrong, Langhorne Slim, Lilly Winwood, Lucie Silvas, Mary Gauthier, Meghan Linsey, Meghan McCormick, Mya Byrne, MORGXN, Paul McDonald, Phillip-Michael Scales, Ruby Amanfu, Sam Ashworth, Sara Van Buskirk, Shelly Colvin, Tre Burt and Wade Sapp.
According to a press release, the song was inspired by the Tennessee Three — the Democratic coalition of Tennessee Representatives Johnson, Justin Jones and Justin J. Pearson — who were subjected to an expulsion vote from the Tennessee House floor for participating in a protest advocating for gun control. The release goes on to say that Russell organized the collaboration to support Johnson’s run for Senate, “banding together some of Nashville’s best and brightest musicians for an essential fight for democracy.”
In a joint post with Johnson to promote the song on Instagram, Russell referred to the song as “a call to all who care about human rights, voting rights, equality, democracy & freedom in Tennessee.” She continued, adding that she hoped listeners in her home state understand the track’s core message. “It has never been more important to use our powerful voices & votes in Tennessee. Go and make yourself known! Register! Vote! Rise!”
Johnson launched her Senate campaign in September, where she hopes to win the Democratic primary on Aug. 1 and challenge incumbent senator Marsha Blackburn for her seat in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5. “Tennessee deserves better,” Johnson said upon announcing her candidacy. “Hardworking Tennessee families need someone who will fight for them and not just the billionaires and corporations and the wealthy and the well-connected.”
Check out the official music video for “Tennessee Rise” below:
