VIDEO: Tennessee State Rep Walks Back Carrie Underwood “Stick To Singing” Comment (Sort Of)

Tennessee State Representative Andy Holt found himself in some hot water with the media and public when he responded to Carrie Underwood’s strong opposition to the so-called “Ag Gag” bill that he co-sponsored by saying:

“I would say that Carrie Underwood will stick to singing, I’ll stick to lawmaking.”

He sort of walked back those comments in a new interview with WKRN.

WKRN, Nashville News, Nashville Weather and Sports

In the interview, Holt said:

“I think there’s a lot of folks who took that as me trying to say I don’t want comments from outsiders. I work for the people of the state Tennessee and Carrie Underwood, being an individual who lives in the state of Tennessee I work for her as well.”

He insists he just made an “off the cuff” remark that “he’ll stick by today,” and said he might invite Carrie to dinner to discuss the issue, also asserting he is on the same side as Carrie on issues of animal abuse. Carrie is currently on the road on the 2nd leg of her Blown Away tour.

To recap, at issue here is a bill sponsored in the Tennessee House by Andy Holt and in the Tennessee Senate by Dolores Gresham that has now passed both chambers of Tennessee legislature and now sits on the desk of Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam. As reported by The Associated Press, the bill would:

require anyone recording or taking photos of livestock abuse to turn images over to law enforcement within 48 hours.

Proponents of the bill have claimed this will force the prompt reporting of livestock abuse to the proper authorities and ensure that animals being abused will not suffer longer than they already have because those with proof of their mistreatment are holding back evidence. However, animal protection advocates like the ASPCA have objected to the bill, saying:

Superficially, the bill appears to be focused on preventing animal cruelty at agricultural facilities; in reality, the mandatory reporting provision that is the crux of SB 1248/HB 1191 would impose an arbitrary and short reporting deadline, precluding thorough investigations that could reveal a pattern of abuse. In addition, would-be whistleblowers could be dissuaded from turning over evidence after the prescribed period of time for fear of prosecution, and evidence that was turned over after the designated deadline could potentially be excluded from legal proceedings, thereby hindering prosecutions.

The bill has also come under fire for incompatibility with the First Amendment protection of freedom of the press and Tennessee’s Shield Law that protects reporters’ right to refuse to reveal confidential sources and information.

Additional questions were raised during the legislative debate and continue to be raised about the true motives of the bill’s sponsors. According to The Tennessean, Holt is an “industrial hog producer” while Gresham is a “partner in the West Tennessee livestock market.” Multiple media sources, including The Associated Press, The Tennessean, and The Chattanooga Free Press, have noted that last year, Holt and Gresham sponsored a bill (that didn’t make it to the House floor) “seeking to make it a crime to apply for a job with the intent of recording video or audio that could ’cause economic damage to the employer'” (quote from the Associated Press). That bill was a clear move to criminalize animal protection advocates who conduct undercover investigations at farms and factories and a reaction to the 2011 Humane Society Of The United States 7-week investigation that recorded “soring” at a trainer’s stable in Gresham’s district, leading to the conviction of trainer Jackie McConnell on abuse charges.

For her part, Carrie is holding her ground. On Monday she tweeted:


Last night, she also retweeted a supportive tweet from an agriculture major who expressed support for Carrie for standing up for her beliefs, and followed that with this tweet:

 

She also retweeted a quote tweeted by friend and Thousand Foot Krutch lead singer Trevor McNevan that reads:

“Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes.”
#momentoftruth http://instagram.com/p/Yeo5l6C4_d/

Governor Haslam has 10 days to sign, not sign, or veto the legislation. The only way this legislation would not become law would be if Haslam were to veto it (if he doesn’t sign it but doesn’t veto the legislation, it will become law).

About Deb B 432 Articles
Also known as Windmills, I cover country music news and live televised country events, in addition to recapping ABC's 'Nashville.' Additionally, I occasionally do long-form chart analysis that has been cited by Entertainment Weekly, Pitchfork, The Guardian, The New Republic, NPR, and more.