Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
“Tennessee is a challenging place for me. I really have a hard time there.”
Singer Sheryl Crow, known for her liberal views, revealed that she reaches out to her local Republican representatives in Tennessee “every day” to advocate for the future. The 63-year-old artist shared her thoughts on relocating to the state, noting that her political beliefs often differ from those of many Tennesseans.
In a recent interview with Variety, Sheryl Crow reflected on pivotal moments in her life, sharing how she had to make significant changes. “We all have those moments where we have to pivot,” she said. Crow explained that after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, she decided to move to Tennessee in 2007. She also described how the end of her relationship with former professional cyclist Lance Armstrong, along with her cancer diagnosis, prompted her to reassess her life. “I thought I was going to be married and close to the kids who would be my stepchildren, and then everything changed,” she recalled. “I just looked at it and thought, ‘I want to put down roots; I want to have a family.’”
Crow noted that her decision to move to Tennessee was influenced by the proximity of her sisters and family members. She called it the beginning of “phase two” of her life.
While she expressed satisfaction with her move, Crow admitted that adjusting to life in Tennessee has been challenging. “Tennessee is a hard place for me. I mean, I struggle,” she shared. To stay engaged politically, she revealed that she contacts her local representatives, Andy Ogles and Marsha Blackburn, “every single morning” to advocate for the future. “We have to stand up and be vocal and fight for the future for our kids,” Crow emphasized.
Crow also mentioned her concerns about the political climate, saying, “I do think, ‘Are they laughing?’ But it’s like what Jimmy Carter said: As long as there’s legal bribery, we won’t ever have fair elections. So we have to keep raising our voices and showing up to these organized rallies.”
The “Soak Up the Sun” singer shared that she faced criticism after posting a video of her Tesla being towed. Reflecting on her past activism, she noted, “This feels different because when I spoke out against Walmart carrying guns in a 1996 song, not everyone was armed — and I definitely didn’t live in Tennessee, where everyone is armed.”
She then revealed a particularly unsettling experience: “There was a moment when I really felt afraid — a man got on my property, in my barn, and he was armed. It doesn’t feel safe when you’re dealing with people who are so committed.”
Regarding the video, Crow explained, “I can’t help it. I feel like I’m fighting for my kids. Also, that’s the way I was raised. There have been times when it hasn’t been easy, but I follow my Atticus Finch dad; I’m very much like him when I see something that feels unfair, you know?”
Crow faced criticism after sharing an Instagram post with the caption, “My parents always said … you are who you hang out with. There comes a time when you have to decide who you are willing to align with. So long Tesla.”
The post also read, “Money donated to [NPR], which is under threat by President Musk, in hopes that the truth will continue to find its way to those willing to know the truth.”
