Lawsuits challenging Tennessee's new congressional map were filed last week hours after it was signed into law.

Why it matters: The new map, which Republicans created to give themselves a clean sweep of the state's nine U.S. House seats, must survive the immediate legal challenges to take effect for the midterm election.

Driving the news: The NAACP spearheaded a Davidson County Chancery Court lawsuit that claims Gov. Bill Lee did not properly state his purpose for calling the new special session. Lee asked lawmakers to review the map and didn't say the specific purpose was to break up the Memphis-area House district.

Another suit, filed in federal court late Thursday by voters and Democratic candidates, claims the new map creates bureaucratic confusion and is impossible to implement in time for the August primary.

Zoom in: The second suit makes a more technical argument, asserting that there isn't adequate time for administrative tasks like reprograming voting machines, alerting voters to changes and mailing ballots to military members overseas.

• Early voting is set to begin in July.

The suit argues the tight timeline amplifies the risk of technical errors, such as voters getting ballots for the wrong district.

Between the lines: The plaintiffs say putting the new map into effect this year creates even more chaos because the candidates' qualifying deadline had passed and ballot lineups had already been set.

The intrigue: The lawsuit uses Lee's and state election officials' own arguments against them.

• It refers back to a 2022 lawsuit against Tennessee maps for state legislative districts. In that case, the state argued there wasn't enough time to make changes because the midterm election process was already underway.
• The state Supreme Court agreed, relying on affidavits from election administrators.

The Supreme Court issued its ruling on April 13. Now Republican state leaders must argue against their 2022 statements, even though the legislature approved the U.S. House maps even later in the process, on May 7.

What they're saying: "Based on the sworn statements of the very election officers who will administer the August 6, 2026, primary statewide and in Shelby County ... the Act will unlawfully burden the plaintiffs' constitutional rights to vote and to free speech and association," the lawsuit argues.

• U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, state Rep. Justin Pearson and Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder are plaintiffs in the case, as are individual voters.

The bottom line: Both suits ask the court to block the map from taking effect prior to this year's elections.

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Music Community Foundation, a Nashville-based initiative connecting music artists to philanthropic resources, announced its launch today.

Why it matters: The new foundation will be a hub for music-driven philanthropy.

• The intersection of nonprofit work and the music industry is uniquely Nashville, but organizers hope to expand the Music Community Foundation's reach across the country.

How it works: The foundation will work to amplify individual efforts by pairing artists, managers and industry partners with the scaffolding and expertise they need to build and grow their own charitable efforts.

Between the lines: Charitable organizations have unique sets of rules and requirements. Leaders say the foundation can help artists with strategy, grant-making and fundraising support.

The big picture: The effort is an initiative of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, which has been helping local artists artists like Lainey Wilson with their charity efforts for years.

• According to a press release, those partnerships brought in $300 million to 140 funds over the last 30 years. Officially launching the Music Community Foundation nationally could further expand that impact.

What she's saying: "Since first partnering with the Foundation during the 2010 flood relief concerts, I've been proud to be part of the work they're doing," country artist Trisha Yearwood said in the release. "Through the Dottie's Yard Fund, we've been able to support animal nonprofit organizations and shelters in all 50 states over the past five years."

Join in: To learn more about the new foundation or to get involved visit www.musiccommunityfoundation.org.

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🎟️ All 35,000 slots in Tennessee's newly expanded statewide school voucher program are taken for the next school year, education officials said. That tally includes 18,553 returning students. (Tennessean)

💿 Amy Grant's new album, released last week, is in part a reflection on the Nashville bicycle accident in 2022 that left her with a traumatic brain injury. (AP)

💵 The ticketing giant Live Nation bought the FirstBank Amphitheater in Franklin. (Nashville Business Journal)

As we reflected on charitable efforts led by Nashville musicians, as mentioned above, we realized many of them have one cause in common.

• Animals.

Zoom in: Emmylou Harris, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood and Trisha Yearwood are just a few singers who have used their fame to raise money to help vulnerable animals.

• So we filled this week's Axios Nashville playlist with songs about animals. Despite what Florence + The Machine might tell you, the dog days are not over.

Follow our playlist on Spotify