You can try to drive drag queens out of Tennessee, but you can't keep them out of the country music world. CMT Music Awards host Kelsea Ballerini performed with drag queens in Austin, Texas, on April 2 to protest drag across the United States, including her home state of Tennessee ban. Ballerini was joined by "RuPaul's Drag Race" alums Manila Luzon, Jan Sport, Oliva Lux and Kennedy Davenport to perform her new single "If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too)."
Ballerini and the Queens transport viewers back to the 1960s as they dress up in Sunday attire and host a colorful barbecue in front of a white picket fence. After putting down their pink guitars and taking off their green jackets, the group strutted onto the catwalk together, proudly showing off their looks. If the presence of the queens wasn't enough to make Ballerini's message clear, the show's ending with confetti falling under rainbow lights did.
In March, the Tennessee Senate introduced Senate Bill 3, which would ban "adult cabaret performances" in front of those under 18 in the state. The drag performances are part of the order, which has sparked a nationwide backlash from the LGBTQ+ community and allies. Many artists in country music and beyond, including Kacey Musgraves, have spoken out against the bill, and Madonna scheduled a Nashville show on her celebratory tour with special guest drag queen Bow Bo is protesting, with proceeds going to LGBTQ+ organizations in the state.
The bill was halted on March 31 when a federal judge ordered a temporary stay of the ban hours before it took effect, saying it was "constitutionally ambiguous." But the battle is not over yet, and Ballerini's protest seems particularly timely. After the show, the drag queens spoke to Entertainment Tonight about what it meant for them to join. “Just like all these amazing country music artists, we drag queens are artists,” Luzon said. “We should have a space to be ourselves, express ourselves, and create something beautiful for everyone to enjoy.”
Lux explained that when rehearsing the piece with Ballerini, she encouraged them to really make their presence felt on stage. "She said, take that space, you know, it's your time too, and amplify the fact that you're here," she said. "Even the song, If You Fall, I'll Fall - it's about celebrating being a community. I think that's what we did on stage tonight. I really hope this does too That’s what it feels like to outdo some people.”
