Paramore Slams Tennessee GOP for ‘Blatant Racism’ After Grammy Controversy
Paramore has declined a Tennessee resolution celebrating the band for their recent Grammy wins after the state’s GOP-led House of Representatives snubbed fellow winner Allison Russell.
Earlier this week, Tennessee’s House of Representatives considered ceremonial resolutions to honor Paramore, an all-white band who won Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album and Best Alternative Music Performance, and Russell, a Black country singer who won her first Grammy for Best American Roots Performance. Only the resolution honoring Paramore went through, with House Republican Jeremy Faison leading the effort to nix the one honoring Russell.
In a statement shared with The Tennessean on Friday, Paramore lead singer Hayley Williams wrote, “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.”