Gloria Johnson appears during Allison Russell's set at Bristol's Rhythm and Roots Festival

Days after she announced a run for U.S, Senate, Tennessee State Representative Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville), appeared Saturday evening on the main stage proceedings of Bristol, Tenn.'s Rhythm and Roots Reunion Festival.

Johnson, one of the "Tennessee Three" lawmakers who caught national attention when they were expelled from the state legislature last spring following disruptions related to calls for gun reform in the aftermath of the Covenant school shooting, took the stage alongside award-winning singer-songwriter Allison Russell.

Russell's set closed with the performer playing an unreleased song directly alluding to the pain and strife felt, not just by the students and parents impacted by the Covenant School shooting in Nashville on March 27, but by all those who feel trauma associated with gun violence.

"The circle of love built with this music and family is what we need to recreate across this state," Johnson offered briefly after Russell's introduction. "We need to make sure that we are listening to the people, lifting up their voices and working for Tennessee families, building a multiracial, multigenerational circle and — quite frankly — a multipartisan group of folks who care deeply about the safety of their communities and each other."

Russell then implored all Tennesseans to — regardless of "beliefs, persuasion or side of the aisle" — "show up and vote and keep empathy in [their hearts]."

Johnson posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that alongside a visit to Johnson City, Tenn.'s Umoja Festival, she was also headed to Bristol to see Russell, as well as Margo Price, another frequent supporter of her work alongside fellow Democratic State Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson.

Alongside Price, on April 18, Russell joined musicians Sheryl Crow, Amy Grant, Ruby Amanfu and Will Hoge in sitting with Tennessee's Governor Bill Lee, Lt. Governor Randy McNally, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, GOP Senate Leader Jack Johnson, GOP House Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison and Representative Sam Whitson (R-Franklin) regarding the potential passage of gun safety laws in a-then upcoming special session of the Tennessee General Assembly.

Among many musicians in Nashville, Russell has sustained vocal support for Johnson and her initiatives leading into the Sept. 5 announcement of her Senatorial campaign against incumbent GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Gloria Johnson appears with Allison Russell at Rhythm and Roots Festival