05/28/2026
FROM “BROKEN PROMISES” TO ADVOCACY:
TONYA MITCHELL AND KIM DODSON JOIN FORCES TO
TAKE SAVANNA’S LAW NATIONWIDE
NASHVILLE, Tenn.– May 27, 2026 – Former pop star Tonya Mitchell, whose 2001 hit "Broken
Promises" launched her to international fame, has partnered with Kim Dodson, founder of
Deputy 550’s Warriors Foundation the driving force behind Tennessee's "Savanna's Law”
to launch The Savanna's Law 50‑State Initiative —a national campaign aimed at passing domestic
violence offender registries in all 50 states.
The law, enacted in Tennessee in 2025, was named for Dodson's daughter, Robertson County
Sheriff's Deputy Savanna Puckett. In 2022, Puckett was shot nine times, and her home was
set on fire by an ex‑boyfriend who had a lengthy history of domestic abuse charges that were
invisible to public records.
Savanna's Law created the nation's first public registry for repeat domestic violence offenders, giving families a tool to see a partner's violent past before it is too late. Dodson has spent the years since her daughter's death pushing for the law, and she is now determined to see it enacted across the country.
A statement from the Deputy 550’s Warriors Foundation read:
We are honored to announce a new partnership between Deputy 550's Warriors Foundation
and Tonya Mitchell, former popstar and now advocate and speaker for the National Alliance
of Domestic Violence Survivors, united by a shared mission of hope, healing and support for
those affected by Domestic Violence. This partnership will help spread awareness, strengthen outreach efforts, and provide meaningful support to families and individuals in our communities. Together, we believe this partnership will create a greater impact and bring light to those facing some of life's darkest moments.
“I am extremely excited to work with Tonya! To know there are still people out there who truly
want to help and make a difference, makes my heart happy! Working with Tonya is more than a partnership; it's two people coming together for a BIGGER purpose, Tonya's voice—both as an artist and as a survivor—reaches people who might never have heard of Savanna's Law," Dodson said.
"She turned her 'broken promises' into a stand.
Together, we're going to make sure no other mother has to bury her child because a registry
didn't exist."
Mitchell, who emerged from a years‑long hiatus, brings a deeply personal stake to the cause.
Since her pop career, she has become a domestic violence survivor advocate, who recently
partnered with the National Alliance of Domestic Violence Survivors (NADVS) speaking
openly about the emotional and financial abuse she endured in multiple relationships—abuse
that left no visible bruises.
“I am the mother of a 22-year-old, and Savanna was only 22 years old when her life was tragically taken, a connection that reaches straight into my heart and reminds me how precious and deserving of protection our children truly are; partnering with Kim was an absolute no brainer.” Mitchell said.
“Together, Kim and I are committed to helping expand Savanna’s Law into other states so more women, children, and families can be protected before tragedy strikes. As a survivor of domestic violence myself, I understand the fear, trauma, and lasting impact abuse leaves behind, which is why this mission and this partnership is deeply personal and incredibly meaningful to me.”
The 50‑State Initiative will focus on three strategic pillars:
1. Legislative Advocacy: Draft model legislation for state lawmakers, drawing directly from
Tennessee's Savanna's Law.
2. Survivor Storytelling Campaign: Mobilize survivors—including Mitchell—to testify in state
capitols, sharing how a domestic violence registry could have changed or saved their lives.
3. Music & Grassroots Activation: Release new music and collaborate with advocacy groups to
raise awareness and pressure legislators.
Texas, Nebraska, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, Kentucky, Georgia, Rhode Island and Oregon have all expressed interest in the law to date.
About Tonya Mitchell
Mitchell was signed to Motown/Universal as a teenager, toured with *NSYNC, and earned a Top
40 hit with "Broken Promises" She stepped away from the spotlight to raise a family, only to later
emerge as a domestic violence survivor advocate and author.
About Kim Dodson
Dodson is the mother of fallen Robertson County Deputy Savanna Puckett and the driving force
behind Tennessee's Savanna's Law, which created the nation's first public registry for repeat
domestic violence offenders.
About Deputy 550’s Warriors Foundation
Deputy 550's Warriors Foundation (501(c)3) was created in honor of Deputy Savanna Puckett,
Kimberly Dodson’s daughter, to continue her legacy of serving, protecting and unifying the
community through advocacy, scholarships, and programs that support victims and families in
need. Throughout the year the foundation holds fundraisers such as softball and other events
for the local community.
