Carrie Underwood Responds to ‘Stick to Singing’ Blast From Tennessee State Representative
Carrie Underwood has responded to a suggestion made by Tennessee State Representative Andy Holt that she should stick to singing instead of politics and lawmaking. At issue is the Livestock Cruelty Prevention Act, known as the Ag-Gag Bill to critics like the country singer, the ASPCA and the Humane Society of the United States.
Underwood fired first on Thursday (April 18) when she tweeted her reaction to the passing of the bill in Tennessee. It would require anyone with recorded images of animal abuse to submit the unedited footage to officials within 48 hours of the event. "Shame on TN lawmakers for passing the Ag Gag bill," the singer said. "If (Tenn.) Gov. Bill Haslam signs this, he needs to expect me at his front door. Who's with me?
Underwood has been praised for speaking out by animal rights groups and by other country singers like Wynonna Judd. Holt fired back at her however, asking "Have you read the bill? I assume not. You are only going off your HSUS talking points. Use logic, not emotion."
He then told WSMV-TV that, "I would say that if Carrie Underwood will stick to singing, I'll stick to lawmaking."
I should stick to singing? Wow...sorry, I'm just a tax paying citizen concerned for the safety of my family. #NoAgGag wsmv.com/story/22027811…
— Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) April 20, 2013
Gov. Haslam has not signed the bill yet, so it remains to be seen if Underwood will follow up on her threat. The worry is abuse will not be reported in time for authorities to take action.
The superstar has made waves in recent years with comments on politics or society. Last year she announced her support of gay marriage, which left many fans applauding while many were upset.