Love Rising: Let Freedom Sing (And Dance)

March 20th, 2023 Bridgestone Arena - Nashville, TN

Hannah T. Insomnia Photographer

Love Rising was a joyous night filled with love and celebration. While it was a night filled with music, laughter, and dancing, there was still a solemn undertone. Musicians and fans came from all over the world to join Music City for Love Rising: a Benefit created to spread love, unite people, and protest the Transphobic laws supported by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.

Four-time grammy nominated singer Allison Russell and radio personality Hunter Kelly joined forces to start the Love Rising celebration. They gained support from several other artists and had the event organized quickly. Featuring a star-studded lineup of musicians, drag queens and kings, Love Rising would bring the crowds to Bridgestone Arena. The lineup consisted of musicians Hayley Williams, Hozier, Maren Morris, Sheryl Crow, Brittany Howard, Joy Oladokun, Yola, Jake Wesley Rogers, Mya Byrne, Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, Julien Baker, Shea Diamond, Wrabel, Adeem the Artist, Izzy Heltai, and Fancy Hagood.

The benefit also featured the Rainbow Coalition Band that played the entire night and rapidly switched between each artist's unique style and did it flawlessly. The lineup also consisted of a stunning group of drag queens and kings. While it was a celebration, everyone on stage made sure to tell their part in encouraging the audience to vote and to stand together in opposition against laws that do not support human rights. Nashville Mayor John Cooper even appeared to voice his support and declare March 20th as "Love Rising Day." Thousands of fans were in attendance at Bridgestone Arena, but fans not local to Nashville could also join the festivities over streaming service Veeps. All ticket proceeds contributed to non-profit organizations such as Tennessee Equality Project, Inclusion Tennessee, Out Memphis, and the Tennesee Pride Foundation in partnership with Looking Out Foundation. 

Jake Wesley Rogers started the night with his resilient song, "Pluto." While introducing his song, he reminisced on a story from his childhood, from when his teacher told him that Pluto was no longer recognized as a planet. "A few weeks after our test, our teacher informed us that Pluto was no longer invited. It's one of my earliest traumas because if you are an outsider, you know how that feels … Tonight, Nashville, we realize that oftentimes our insecurity is our superpower. Take all your fears and worries and let it explode in this arena and let in all the love that you are." The song included the line, "hate on me, you might as well hate the sun for shining just a little too much." He was shining in his rhinestone jumpsuit, setting the tone for an incredible night ahead.

Other musicians followed suit in performing songs relevant to the night's theme. Sheryl Crow performed her 1996 hit "Every Day is a Winding Road" and explained that the song keeps changing its meaning as time goes on. "This song is 30 years old," she said. "And it's strange how it just keeps rewriting its meaning all the time. Sometimes I do feel like a stranger in my own life. But I gotta explain to my little boys that some of us don't get to live like we want to live because it doesn't line up with somebody's political beliefs. And I tell them, every day is a winding road, baby." 

Other memorable moments include Joy Oladokun's mash-up of her song "Somehow" with Jimmy Eat World's "The Middle," Hozier performing his song "Nina Cried Power" with Allison Russell, Shea Diamond's incredibly moving speech before her song "I am Her," and Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires performing "Cover Me Up." 

Hayley Williams took the stage with Becca Mancari on guitar for an acoustic version of her song "Inordinary." Before the song, Williams expressed her love for Nashville and talked about how it had been a safe haven for her and her mother when they relocated there when she was 12. "We fled a pretty traumatic situation in my hometown in Mississippi," she explained. "And Tennessee was a refuge for us. It changed the course of my life; I met my bandmates the first year I got here." then, later, she said, "I have plenty to say about Nashville that might not be so positive. Still, I wanted to play this song because there are good people here that want to continue to make this a good place to live, and you are them. This is a fucking incredible place to be, and I get torn about that sometimes because of everything that goes on politically, locally, here because we cater to tourists more than we do our citizens in Nashville." After performing Inordinary, Williams brought out her best friend Brian O’Connor, who was dressed fabulously in drag, to join her for a rendition of Deana Carter's "Did I shave my legs for this?" She introduced the song by saying “If you’re a drag performer in this town — skilled, talented, creative, amazing. I can’t help but think that some of them wake up in the morning thinking, ‘Why did I shave my legs for this?” 

The support for Drag Artists was prevalent throughout the entire night. Perhaps the most quoted statement of the evening came from country music singer, Maren Morris, who has received backlash for her support for transgender people. Morris talked about how she had brought her 3 year old son to soundcheck to meet the drag queens that were performing in the show. “We got to go in the room where all the queens were getting ready and doing their make-up, and he freaked out when he went in there because it’s just magic, what drag queens do. There’s wigs everywhere, the smell of hairspray and wig glue. There’s glitter, everyone’s in a good mood, they’re so excited to be here tonight for the show. It’s just like a room of love.” Before introducing her song “Better than we found it,” Morris explained that the song was inspired by the 2020 murder of George Floyd, and that she had written the song for her son, to express hope that she could leave a better world for him. “I just want to leave this world for him a little bit better than the one we’re in right now.” she explained “and yes, I introduced my son to some drag queens today, so Tennessee fucking arrest me. This is not better than we found it.” She ended her time on stage by playing her hit song “The Middle” where she welcome drag performer Alexia Noelle to perform alongside her. 

The night ended with all of the performers of the night onstage, dancing and singing along to “I’m Every Woman” by Chaka Khan, and “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge. It was a wonderful evening that lifted sad spirits and brought hope that we will one day see a change. Don’t forget to register to vote in your state and vote in every election. No matter how small you may feel, your voice and your choices matter and deserve to be heard.