Tennessee
Tennessee House GOP Blocks Proclamation Honoring Grammy Winner Allison Russell, While Letting Similar Measure for Paramore Pass
When it comes to Tennessee’s recently Grammy-winning musical heroes, the state’s House Republicans are making it clear — they’re good with Paramore, but not so much Allison Russell, for reasons yet to be explained.
Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) brought resolutions before the body to honor the Grammy achievements of Paramore, who won for best rock album and best alternative music performance, and Russell, who picked up her first Grammy for best American roots performance for the song “Eve Was Black.”
Although both Russell and Paramore singer Hayley Williams have made their displeasure with the GOP-controlled legislature known in the past, only one of these two proclamations was blocked. The resolution honoring Paramore sailed through, but the complementary one celebrating Russell was effectively killed.
It was House Republican Caucus Chair Jeremy Faison who balked at the Russell resolution, in what the Tennessean described as “a procedural move that kicked Jones’ resolution off the night’s consent calendar and back to committee, where objected consent items often die.”
Russell thanked Jones for trying. “That you and (Rep. Gloria Johnson) presented this resolution is a high honour. That the TN GOP blocked it, I take as a compliment,” Russell wrote on her social media accounts. “Their bigotry, sadly, is on relentless display. We have a chance this year to make a real change in TN.”
The progressive website the Tennessee Holler posted video in which Jones stood up during an announcements portion of the session and attempted to speak up about the proclamation being blocked. He began by saying, “The announcement is to announce there are people in our midst who are making Black history, and I want to honor them during this Black History Month… I would like to announce that it’s concerning that this body chooses to denigrate —” At that point, the Republican chair of the House cut off Jones’ mic, according to the Tennessean, explaining that Jones’ comment did not count as an announcement.
Both Williams and Russell appeared at a “Love Rising” benefit at the Bridgestone Arena last year protesting the state’s then-newly enacted anti-drag laws, a show that also included stars like Hozier, Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires and Maren Morris.
Jones and Johnson are two of the three “Tennessee three” legislators whom Republicans attempted to banish from the House last year. Both of the representatives appeared at last fall’s Americana Honors & Awards in Nashville to give a special free-speech award to Russell. The Paramore singer, for her part, has also supported the outnumbered Democrats, including posing with Jones in a photo under which, in a caption, the legislator characterized Williams as a fellow fighter of fascism.
“Tonight my Republican colleagues blocked a resolution honoring Black American Roots artist Allison Russell for her first Grammy win,” Jones wrote on social media after his interrupted defense of the singer. “(Russell) has worked tirelessly to foster an inclusive Nashville through her music and continues to make Black History here in Tennessee.”
The wording of the proclamation that got nixed by the GOP did not mention anything about her politics or activism, nor the fact that she identifies as a queer woman. The resolution generally lauded Russell’s musicianship, mentioning her eight Grammy nominations to date as well as her fresh win, calling her “one of her generation’s finest folk artists… her sonic and cultural contributions will undoubtedly go on to inspire generations to come.”
The Tennessee Holler further posted video of an attempt to confront Rep. Faison after the session, asking the GOP chair, “Hey, Jeremy… what’s your problem with Allison Russell?” Faison did not turn to answer, and has thus far not explained why he blocked Russell’s proclamation while not objecting to Paramore’s.
It’s not Faison’s first time blocking a proclamation for a nationally renowned Tennessee musician who identifies as LGBTQ. In 2021, he made national headlines when he blocked a proclamation honoring Brothers Osborne singer TJ Osborne, who had recently come out as gay, even though the resolution had unanimously passed the state Senate.
The Tennessee legislature has come to be a focus of national attention — and considerable mockery — in recent years, with its Republican supermajority increasingly focused on a far-right emphasis on divisive social issues and protecting itself through gerrymandering, even before the attempted ousting of the “Tennessee three.” In a recent Politico piece, journalist Natalie Allison, who covered the Tennessee Capitol for three years as a Tennessean reporter, described the legislature as having been “defined by partisan vitriol, pique, scandal, racism and Olympic-level pettiness for years.”
ESPN projects Tennessee basketball’s Felix Okpara and Ja’Kobi Gillespie to be picked back to back in the second round of the NBA Draft on Wednesday night. ESPN’s updated mock draft has Okpara at No. 41 overall to the Miami Heat and Gillespie at No. 42 to the San Antonio Spurs.
Nate Ament was the No. 13 overall pick in the first round to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday. Tennessee, which has now had players picked in six straight NBA Drafts, could have three players drafted for just the second time in the modern era of the draft, since it went to two rounds in 1989.
Grant Williams was a first-round pick in 2019, ahead of Admiral Schofield and Jordan Bone being picked in the second round.
Where ESPN ranks Felix Okpara, Ja’Kobi Gillespie in NBA Draft
Entering the second round, ESPN has Okpara ranked as the 12th-best player available in the draft. Gillespie is ranked No. 14.
Duke guard Isaiah Evans is ESPN’s No. 1 prospect to start the second round, ahead of North Carolina center Henri Veesaar, Arkansas guard Meleek Thomas, Cincinnati forward Baba Miller, Louisville guard Ryan Conwell and German guard Jack Kayil.
Also ranked ahead of Okpara is BYU guard Richie Saunders, Houston guard Emanuel Sharp, Purdue guard Braden Smith, St. John’s forward Dillon Mitchell and Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile. Ranked between Okpara and Gillespie is Arizona guard Jaden Bradley.
Felix Okpara ‘played his way into the two-way contract mix’
Okpara averaged 8.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 26.9 minutes per game this season, starting 34 of 35 games. He shot 59.7% from the field, 61.1% on 2-point shots and 63.5% at the foul line.
He played two seasons at Ohio State before transferring to Tennessee and anchoring the Vols on defense, serving as the rim protector defensively and a rim runner on offense.
Okpara had the fourth-highest standing reach at the NBA Draft Combine in May at 9-foot-4. He was measured at 6-foot-10 without shoes, weighed 237.4 pounds and had a 7-2 wingspan.
“Okpara had a good predraft process,” ESPN wrote, “and played his way into the two-way contract mix as a dependable big man who chips in a little bit of value on both ends.”
Ja’Kobi Gillespie ‘profiles as a potential bench option’ in NBA
Gillespie averaged 18.4 points, 5.4 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 34.8 minutes per game while starting all 37 games in his one and only season at Tennessee.
The Greeneville, Tenn., native started his career with two seasons at Belmont, then transferred to Maryland before his homecoming with the Vols as a senior last season.
“After starting his college career at Belmont,” ESPN wrote on Wednesday, “Gillespie had good years at Maryland and Tennessee while playing his way into the NBA picture. He profiles as a potential bench option if his scoring ability can outweigh his size concerns.”
Nate Ament on Tuesday night became Tennessee basketball’s highest NBA Draft pick since Marcus Haislip in 2002 when Ament, the former one-and-done five-star freshman wing for the Vols, was the No. 13 overall pick in the first round when he was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks.
Haislip also was taken No. 13 by the Bucks.
Ament is the 13th first-round pick in Tennessee program history and the fifth under Rick Barnes. Dalton Knecht was the No. 17 overall pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2024, Grant Williams was the No. 22 overall pick to the Boston Celtics in 2019 and both Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer were first-round picks in 2021, with Johnson at No. 21 to the Los Angeles Clippers and Springer at No. 28 to the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Vols have had three players in program history picked in the top 10, but none since 1983.
Tennessee in the NBA Draft’s 1st Round
| Pick | Player | Draft Year | Team |
| No. 4 | Tom Boerwinkle | 1968 | Chicago Bulls |
| No. 7 | Bernard King | 1977 | New York Nets |
| No. 9 | Dale Ellis | 1983 | Dallas Mavericks |
| No. 11 | Ernie Grunfeld | 1977 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| No. 11 | Allan Houston | 1993 | Detroit Pistons |
| No. 13 | Marcus Haislip | 2002 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| No. 15 | Reggie Johnson | 1980 | San Antonio Spurs |
| No. 17 | Dalton Knecht | 2024 | LA Lakers |
| No. 19 | Tobias Harris | 2011 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| No. 21 | Keon Johnson | 2021 | LA Clippers |
| No. 22 | Grant Williams | 2019 | Boston Celtics |
| No. 28 | Jaden Springer | 2021 | Philadelphia 76ers |
Nate Ament was ranked as a top-10 prospect in the NBA Draft
Ament entered draft week ranked as both a top-10 prospect in the draft and a projected top-10 pick.
He moved up one spot in ESPN’s final NBA mock draft on Monday, going from No. 10 to the Milwaukee Bucks to No. 9 to the Dallas Mavericks. He was No. 9 overall on ESPN’s ranking of the best players available entering the draft.
“The Nets at No. 6 are seen as the high end,” Woo wrote, “but scenarios are also in play in which he falls into the second half of the lottery. Teams say he has been selective about scheduling workouts, declining to visit multiple teams in the top 10.
“The Mavericks and Bucks are two possible landing spots. If those teams go a different direction, he could slide.”
Nate Ament’s one-and-done season at Tennessee
Ament averaged 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 35 games during his lone season with the Vols. He started in all 35 games he played and averaged 29.7 minutes per game while shooting 39.9% from the field and 33.3% from the 3-point line.
He was the No. 3 overall player in the 2025 class in the On3 recruiting rankings and was the No. 2 small forward in the country and the No. 1 overall player in the state of Virginia.
Ament is the highest-ranked prospect that Rick Barnes has added during his tenure at Tennessee and is believed to one of the highest-ranked recruits to sign with the Vols, alongside Tobias Harris and Allan Houston.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Chattanooga baseball fans got a different kind of scouting report during a recent night at AT&T Field, where the Tennessee Aquarium teamed up with the Chattanooga Lookouts to connect sports with conservation.
The partnership, billed as Conservation Night, brought the Aquarium’s “Animal Athletes” program to the ballpark to teach fans about wildlife and the importance of keeping trash out of waterways.
The event included live animals, interactive games and hands-on activities that highlighted how animals use specialized skills in nature.
“We know that they are here and they are passionate about sports, so let’s get them passionate about nature as well,” said Shawn Brim, community program supervisor at the Tennessee Aquarium.
Visitors learned about animals including tiger salamanders and leopard geckos, while also taking part in challenges inspired by animal behavior.
Brim said the goal was to make conservation approachable by meeting people where they are.
“The primary goal of this event is to connect people with nature, plain and simple. Here we are connecting the sports world to the animal world, highlighting those animal athletes and those special skills in nature.”
Aquarium leaders say they hope a fun experience at a game can lead to lasting conservation habits.
“We’re looking to just spark that curiosity to hopefully spark that change down the road,” Brim said.
Brim said that change matters as environmental challenges continue to affect the Tennessee Valley, with pollution and microplastics among the major concerns for local waterways and wildlife.
“As plastics enter water streams, they end up in tiny pieces, and they do end up in the stomachs of freshwater animals like catfish and sturgeons,” Brim said.
Organizers emphasized that protecting rivers and ecosystems benefits more than wildlife, supporting cleaner water, healthier communities and a stronger quality of life across the region. They also said conservation efforts can start small.
“Figure out where you can have the most impact and where you can have a consistent impact from where you are,” Brim said.
Aquarium staff say they hope fans left with more than memories of the game, taking home a deeper appreciation for the animals and ecosystems that call Tennessee home.
-
Denver, CO1 minute agoDenver Broncos Foundation launches extension of ‘ALL IN. ALL COVERED.’ emphasizing youth football participation
-
Seattle, WA4 minutes ago
Iran and Egypt to play in Seattle ‘Pride Match’ despite earlier complaints | The Jerusalem Post
-
San Diego, CA9 minutes agoCon Rangers San Diego Comic-Con 2026 Exclusives
-
Milwaukee, WI16 minutes agoDid Milwaukee Get Enough in Return for Giannis?
-
Atlanta, GA19 minutes agoMinnesota’s golden gift to Atlanta just became Wolves’ worst nightmare
-
Minneapolis, MN24 minutes agoFOX 9 Good Day: June 24, 2026
-
Indianapolis, IN31 minutes ago3 Colts Stars Heralded as NFL’s Most Important
-
Pittsburg, PA34 minutes ago14+ things to do this weekend, from the Andy Warhol Bridge 100th Birthday Bash to OpenStreetPGH
