Country Stars React After TN House Blocks Bill Honoring TJ Osborne
The duo have reached out in the spirit of understanding, but not everyone wants to take the high road.
Months after Brothers Osborne frontman TJ Osborne came out as the only gay man signed to a major record label in country music, the Tennessee state government sought to honor his bravery. But after lawmakers recently blocked legislation applauding Osborne, country stars including TJ himself have reacted with disappointment.
Earlier this month, the Tennessee State Senate passed a resolution honoring Osborne by a vote of 30-0, noting the singer as “a trailblazer and a symbol of hope for those country music artists and fans alike who may have felt ostracized from a genre they hold dear.” But the message of inclusivity wasn’t appreciated in the state’s House of Representatives.
TN House Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison moved to send the legislation back down to the committee-hearing level — effectively killing it for the foreseeable future — and his Republican colleagues agreed. The resolution would not have had any tangible impact on the state, it should be noted, and was just intended as an affirmation of support for Osborne, as well as other gay men and women in the state.
“We have some concerns,” Faison said in a video posted to Twitter by The Tennessee Holler, summing those concerns up with, “It wasn’t heard in committee, and I feel like it needs to be.”
Other lawmakers then noted that the House votes on resolutions that have not been heard in committee all the time — and had already done so twice that day. “We’re talking about a country music singer y’all, come on,” said Memphis Democrat, Antonio Parkinson.
Since then, Brothers Osborne have reached out and asked Faison to lunch, saying on Twitter “We’ve lived in this state for over half of our lives. @JeremyFaison4TN honored Ben Shapiro who doesn’t even live here. Jeremy, let’s have lunch one day. On us. Would really like to know more about you as a person.”
Faison has accepted the invitation, while People reports that other stars like Maren Morris and Kacey Musgraves have re-iterated their support for Osborne, who they count as a close friend.
“Massively disappointed in TN House Republicans for blocking my friend @TJOsborne for being honored because HE’S GAY!?” Musgraves wrote in mock astonishment.
