Fancy Hagood on Beg Gay Nashville: 'Our Stori Are Important'

Contents:

• COUNTRY SGER FANCY HAGOOD ON LIFE AS A GAY ARTIST NASHVILLE: 'OUR STORI ARE ALL IMPORTANT'
• HERE ARE GAY COUNTRY SGERS WHO STOOD OUT LOUD AND PROUD
• WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE A GAY COUNTRY SGER NASHVILLE
• WHY KATIE PT IS COUNTRY MIC'S NEXT QUEER STARTHE 25-YEAR-OLD NASHVILLE-BASED SGER IS REIMAGG THE GENRE ONE GAY LOVE SONG AT A TIME.BY SAM MANZELLAFEBARY 20, 2020/10:21 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:4096PX;WIDTH:6144PX;}ALYSSA GAFKJEN/COURTY OF SACKS & CO.KATIE PRUITTBY SAM MANZELLAFEBARY 20, 2020 / 10:21 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"WHY KATIE PT IS COUNTRY MIC'S NEXT QUEER STAR","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2020-02-20T15:21:44.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2020-02-20T15:21:44.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"SAM MANZELLA"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}QUEER SGER-SONGWRER KATIE PT DON'T NECSARILY BELIEVE GOD THE BIBLIL, "Y WH A WHE BEARD" SENSE, BUT THAT DON'T MEAN SHE'S GIVEN UP {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}A NASHVILLE TRANSPLANT BY WAY OF THE SUBURBS OF ATLANTA, GEIA, PT WAS RAISED A TRADNAL CATHOLIC HOEHOLD. SHE CUT HER TEETH PERFORMG MIL THEATER PRODUCTNS AS A KID, LATER BRANCHG OUT TO SGG WH JAM BANDS AND BELTG AT OPEN MIC NIGHTS NEARBY ATHENS DURG A STT MUNY LLEGE. BUT THE UNTRY CROONER C RELOTG TO NASHVILLE FOR THE LATTER HALF OF LLEGE—AND BEGNG TO TAKE THE STAGE AS A SOLO ARTIST WH NFINCE—AS A PIVOTAL MOMENT HER BURGEONG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I JT FELT LIKE I ULDN'T REALLY BE MYSELF, SPECIFILLY EMBRACG MY SEXUALY," PT TELLS NEWNOWNEXT, REFLECTG ON HER PAST AS A YOUNG ADULT STUCK SUBURBIA. "AND I REALLY STGGLED WH THAT. I THK JT THE ACT OF MOVG AWAY OM MY HOMETOWN SENTIALLY IS WHAT PROVID THE SPACE FOR ME TO EMBRACE THAT SI OF MYSELF."COURTY OF SACKS & {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AT JT 25 YEARS OLD, PT HAS ALREADY ATTRACTED THE ATTENTN OF MICIANS LIKE RTON KELLY, KACEY MGRAV' HBAND, AND RERD HER FIRST FULL-LENGTH STUD ALBUM: EXPECTATNS, SLATED TO DROP THIS FRIDAY, FEBARY 21. SHE'S SPENT THE BULK OF HER ADULTHOOD LEARNG TO ACCEPT HERSELF FOR WHO SHE IS, AND PUTTG THAT JOURNEY OF SELF-LOVE TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND SHOWS. LIKE ANY GOOD G-OF-AGE SAGA, QUEER OR NOT, EXPECTATNS UNFOLDS CHAPTERS RIFE WH ANGST, FEAR, AND PA. TRACKS LIKE "GRACE HAS A GUN" AND "MY MD'S A SHIP (THAT'S GOG DOWN)" SPELL OUT PT'S FIRSTHAND EXPERIENC NAVIGATG TOXIC FIRST LOV AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSU, PAIRG HER THROATY, POWERHOE VOLS WH MELLOW, AMERINA-STYLE GUAR RIFFS. HER TORMENT IS ALMOST UNFORTABLY PALPABLE, A TTAMENT TO THE LEVEL OF VULNERABILY PT HERSELF IS FORTABLE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"WHEN I'M GOG THROUGH HARD THGS, [SONGWRG] IS AN OUTLET FOR ME TO EXPRS THE EMOTNS THAT I'M SIFTG THROUGH," SHE SHAR. SHE REMEMBERS THE REAL-LIFE GRACE SHOWG HER THE GUN UNR HER PILLOW, PROMPTG PT TO JOT DOWN THE PHRASE GRACE HAS A GUN—A PAFUL ANECDOTE WHICH WOULD BEE THE GENIS FOR THE GUT-WRENCHG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}PT LIKENS HER SONGWRG PROCS TO KEEPG A DIARY OR A GRATU JOURNAL, BOTH THGS SHE ALSO DO REGULARLY: "YOU HAVE SO MANY THOUGHTS, AND 'S HARD TO UNRSTAND THEM ALL. SO WRG THGS DOWN IS IMPORTANT. YOU DON'T QUE KNOW WHAT 'S GOG TO TURN TO, BUT YOU KNOW MEANS SOMETHG."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT EXPECTATNS, LIKE PT, HAS HOPE. SONGS LIKE "LOVG HER," "NORMAL," AND "GEIA" SPEAK TO HER ONGOG STGGLE TO EMBRACE HER OWN QUEERNS AND ENURAGE THOSE AROUND HER TO DO THE SAME. SHE'S SCRIBED "IT'S ALWAYS BEEN YOU" AS A LOVE SONG TO HER CURRENT GIRLIEND, WH WHOM SHE'S EXPERIENCED A HEALTHY, LOVG RELATNSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME HER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THERE IS A PLACE PAST THE GEIA P / PEOPLE WHO WELE YOU WH AN OPEN MD," SHE CROONS THE BRIDGE OF "GEIA," A BTERSWEET O TO HER HOME STATE. "THEY SAY 'LL TAKE, 'LL JT TAKE SOME TIME / 'TIL LOVE BELONGS, BELONGS TO ALL HUMANKD."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}PT CREDS OUT UNTRY AND AMERINA LEGENDS LIKE BRANDI CARLILE—WHOSE RERD BY THE WAY, I FIVE YOU SRED HER THE 2019 GRAMMY AWARD FOR BT AMERINA ALBUM—FOR RVG OUT SPACE FOR OTHER WOMEN AND LGBTQ ACTS THE GENRE. (PT SAYS SHE EQUENTLY GETS LIKENED TO CARLILE, A PLIMENT SHE STGGL TO ACCEPT—"SHE HAS, LIKE, 20 YEARS ON ME!"){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"HAD I TRIED TO MAKE A RERD LIKE THIS 10 YEARS AGO—EVEN SEVEN, OR, FUCK, FIVE YEARS AGO—'S BEG LS AND LS NTROVERSIAL," SHE SAYS. "THANK GOD. BEE SHOULDN'T BE NTROVERSIAL! IT'S A HUMAN STGGLE. IT'S A SPECIFIC HUMAN STGGLE. I'M PECIALLY PROUD TO KEEP THOSE SOUTHERN ROOTS AND TALK ABOUT THE TOPICS BEE BEG OM THE SOUTH IS A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE THAN, LIKE, GROWG UP CALIFORNIA AND BEG QUEER."ALYSSA GAFKJEN/COURTY OF SACKS & CO.KATIE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}PT ADDS THAT SHE LIV FOR THE MOMENTS WHERE HER SONGS STRIKE A CHORD LISTENERS, QUEER OR NOT. "I LOVE KNOWG THAT I ALSO HAVE FANS WHO AREN'T LGBT," SHE SAYS. "MY FAVORE IS WHEN STRAIGHT WHE DUS ARE LIKE, I LOVE 'LOVG HER,' THAT'S MY FAVORE SONG. LIKE, DU, Y! YOU ROCK. I ALSO WANT PEOPLE WHO AREN'T LGBT TO MAYBE BETTER UNRSTAND THAT EXPERIENCE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS SHE GEARS UP TO RELEASE EXPECTATNS TO THE UNIVERSE, AND EMBARK ON HER FIRST HEADLG TOUR THROUGHOUT THE U.S., PT N'T HELP BUT REFLECT ON HOW FAR SHE'S E. SHE'S NERVO, SURE, BUT WHAT 20-SOMETHG-YEAR-OLD FDG THEIR PLACE THE WORLD ISN'T? AG 20 AND 25 MAY ONLY BE SEPARATED BY FIVE YEARS, BUT THE AMOUNT OF MAJOR LIFE CHANG AND TRANSNS THAT OCCUR THAT SHORT PERD ARE ALMOST TOO VAST TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT'S EVEN MORE TE FOR SOMEONE LIKE PT, WHO OPENLY ADMS SHE'S STILL VERY MUCH THE PROCS OF FIGURG OUT WHO SHE WANTS TO BE—AND WHAT SHE WANTS TO BELIEVE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I FEEL LIKE I WAS A PERSON OF FAH THE BEGNG OF MY LIFE BEE THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD TO BE," SHE NFS. "AND I'M TRYG TO FIGURE OUT, AS I'M BEG AN ADULT, WHAT RELIGN AND WHAT FAH MEAN TO ME. THE OLR YOU GET, YOU'RE SORT OF REFG AND RHAPG WHAT GOD IS TO YOU. AT THE END OF THE DAY, 'S THAT FEELG OF, LIKE, WOW—THAT THERE IS GOOD. THE WORLD N BE GOOD. AND THAT'S GOD. THAT'S HOPE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}STREAM EXPECTATNS ON FRIDAY, FEBARY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• LIVG GAY NASHVILLE: COUNTRY MIC INSIRS SHARE STORI OF INCLN, BLACKMAIL, HUCKABEE AND HATERS
• KYLE DEAN MASSEY OPENS UP ON GAY ‘NASHVILLE’ CHARACTER
• GAY NASHVILLE

COUNTRY SGER FANCY HAGOOD ON LIFE AS A GAY ARTIST NASHVILLE: 'OUR STORI ARE ALL IMPORTANT'

Here, the 30-year-old risg star (real name: Jake Hagood) opens up about his journey back to Nashville and how he is reprentg the LGBTQ muny as a gay untry sger. And I've been passnate about om day one, about my artistry, about beg te to who I am, and I happen to be a gay man, and I don't want to be told that my story don't belong on a mastream platform, bee do. Tell me about beg an out, gay artist Nashville.

HERE ARE GAY COUNTRY SGERS WHO STOOD OUT LOUD AND PROUD

It's tertg bee I thk people would say that Nashville is more nservative and fely probably a harr place to exist as a gay creator. But I was also my early twenti, experimentg wh beg gay for the first time my entire life. Comg om a place like Arkansas, where 's way harr to be fabulo and gay, Nashville was a place where I was able to explore myself and e to my own inty, whether that be sexual or even jt as a creator.

In Los Angel, I expected this paradigm shift of, "Beg gay is okay here and I n be my wild self, " and I actually found myself more boxed . A., even though beg gay is not really a nversatn and people don't really re, I found myself beg told to tone down.

Your iend TJ Osborne (of Brothers Osborne) recently me out as gay.

WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE A GAY COUNTRY SGER NASHVILLE

We all look and breathe and act and perform differently, and you might be experiencg gay culture and you don't even know . I thk the msage that: "We're here, we're queer, and you might not even know , " is so empowerg, bee gay people don't all sound the same, we don't all look the same. And I thk that's the most betiful thg about anyone steppg to their tth, is 's showg, beg queer, 's a large spectm, and you don't know all the time bee not everyone is that stereotypil gay male and not everyone has those immediate intifiers.

WHY KATIE PT IS COUNTRY MIC'S NEXT QUEER STARTHE 25-YEAR-OLD NASHVILLE-BASED SGER IS REIMAGG THE GENRE ONE GAY LOVE SONG AT A TIME.BY SAM MANZELLAFEBARY 20, 2020/10:21 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:4096PX;WIDTH:6144PX;}ALYSSA GAFKJEN/COURTY OF SACKS & CO.KATIE PRUITTBY SAM MANZELLAFEBARY 20, 2020 / 10:21 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"WHY KATIE PT IS COUNTRY MIC'S NEXT QUEER STAR","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2020-02-20T15:21:44.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2020-02-20T15:21:44.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"SAM MANZELLA"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}QUEER SGER-SONGWRER KATIE PT DON'T NECSARILY BELIEVE GOD THE BIBLIL, "Y WH A WHE BEARD" SENSE, BUT THAT DON'T MEAN SHE'S GIVEN UP {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}A NASHVILLE TRANSPLANT BY WAY OF THE SUBURBS OF ATLANTA, GEIA, PT WAS RAISED A TRADNAL CATHOLIC HOEHOLD. SHE CUT HER TEETH PERFORMG MIL THEATER PRODUCTNS AS A KID, LATER BRANCHG OUT TO SGG WH JAM BANDS AND BELTG AT OPEN MIC NIGHTS NEARBY ATHENS DURG A STT MUNY LLEGE. BUT THE UNTRY CROONER C RELOTG TO NASHVILLE FOR THE LATTER HALF OF LLEGE—AND BEGNG TO TAKE THE STAGE AS A SOLO ARTIST WH NFINCE—AS A PIVOTAL MOMENT HER BURGEONG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I JT FELT LIKE I ULDN'T REALLY BE MYSELF, SPECIFILLY EMBRACG MY SEXUALY," PT TELLS NEWNOWNEXT, REFLECTG ON HER PAST AS A YOUNG ADULT STUCK SUBURBIA. "AND I REALLY STGGLED WH THAT. I THK JT THE ACT OF MOVG AWAY OM MY HOMETOWN SENTIALLY IS WHAT PROVID THE SPACE FOR ME TO EMBRACE THAT SI OF MYSELF."COURTY OF SACKS & {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AT JT 25 YEARS OLD, PT HAS ALREADY ATTRACTED THE ATTENTN OF MICIANS LIKE RTON KELLY, KACEY MGRAV' HBAND, AND RERD HER FIRST FULL-LENGTH STUD ALBUM: EXPECTATNS, SLATED TO DROP THIS FRIDAY, FEBARY 21. SHE'S SPENT THE BULK OF HER ADULTHOOD LEARNG TO ACCEPT HERSELF FOR WHO SHE IS, AND PUTTG THAT JOURNEY OF SELF-LOVE TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND SHOWS. LIKE ANY GOOD G-OF-AGE SAGA, QUEER OR NOT, EXPECTATNS UNFOLDS CHAPTERS RIFE WH ANGST, FEAR, AND PA. TRACKS LIKE "GRACE HAS A GUN" AND "MY MD'S A SHIP (THAT'S GOG DOWN)" SPELL OUT PT'S FIRSTHAND EXPERIENC NAVIGATG TOXIC FIRST LOV AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSU, PAIRG HER THROATY, POWERHOE VOLS WH MELLOW, AMERINA-STYLE GUAR RIFFS. HER TORMENT IS ALMOST UNFORTABLY PALPABLE, A TTAMENT TO THE LEVEL OF VULNERABILY PT HERSELF IS FORTABLE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"WHEN I'M GOG THROUGH HARD THGS, [SONGWRG] IS AN OUTLET FOR ME TO EXPRS THE EMOTNS THAT I'M SIFTG THROUGH," SHE SHAR. SHE REMEMBERS THE REAL-LIFE GRACE SHOWG HER THE GUN UNR HER PILLOW, PROMPTG PT TO JOT DOWN THE PHRASE GRACE HAS A GUN—A PAFUL ANECDOTE WHICH WOULD BEE THE GENIS FOR THE GUT-WRENCHG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}PT LIKENS HER SONGWRG PROCS TO KEEPG A DIARY OR A GRATU JOURNAL, BOTH THGS SHE ALSO DO REGULARLY: "YOU HAVE SO MANY THOUGHTS, AND 'S HARD TO UNRSTAND THEM ALL. SO WRG THGS DOWN IS IMPORTANT. YOU DON'T QUE KNOW WHAT 'S GOG TO TURN TO, BUT YOU KNOW MEANS SOMETHG."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT EXPECTATNS, LIKE PT, HAS HOPE. SONGS LIKE "LOVG HER," "NORMAL," AND "GEIA" SPEAK TO HER ONGOG STGGLE TO EMBRACE HER OWN QUEERNS AND ENURAGE THOSE AROUND HER TO DO THE SAME. SHE'S SCRIBED "IT'S ALWAYS BEEN YOU" AS A LOVE SONG TO HER CURRENT GIRLIEND, WH WHOM SHE'S EXPERIENCED A HEALTHY, LOVG RELATNSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME HER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THERE IS A PLACE PAST THE GEIA P / PEOPLE WHO WELE YOU WH AN OPEN MD," SHE CROONS THE BRIDGE OF "GEIA," A BTERSWEET O TO HER HOME STATE. "THEY SAY 'LL TAKE, 'LL JT TAKE SOME TIME / 'TIL LOVE BELONGS, BELONGS TO ALL HUMANKD."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}PT CREDS OUT UNTRY AND AMERINA LEGENDS LIKE BRANDI CARLILE—WHOSE RERD BY THE WAY, I FIVE YOU SRED HER THE 2019 GRAMMY AWARD FOR BT AMERINA ALBUM—FOR RVG OUT SPACE FOR OTHER WOMEN AND LGBTQ ACTS THE GENRE. (PT SAYS SHE EQUENTLY GETS LIKENED TO CARLILE, A PLIMENT SHE STGGL TO ACCEPT—"SHE HAS, LIKE, 20 YEARS ON ME!"){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"HAD I TRIED TO MAKE A RERD LIKE THIS 10 YEARS AGO—EVEN SEVEN, OR, FUCK, FIVE YEARS AGO—'S BEG LS AND LS NTROVERSIAL," SHE SAYS. "THANK GOD. BEE SHOULDN'T BE NTROVERSIAL! IT'S A HUMAN STGGLE. IT'S A SPECIFIC HUMAN STGGLE. I'M PECIALLY PROUD TO KEEP THOSE SOUTHERN ROOTS AND TALK ABOUT THE TOPICS BEE BEG OM THE SOUTH IS A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE THAN, LIKE, GROWG UP CALIFORNIA AND BEG QUEER."ALYSSA GAFKJEN/COURTY OF SACKS & CO.KATIE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}PT ADDS THAT SHE LIV FOR THE MOMENTS WHERE HER SONGS STRIKE A CHORD LISTENERS, QUEER OR NOT. "I LOVE KNOWG THAT I ALSO HAVE FANS WHO AREN'T LGBT," SHE SAYS. "MY FAVORE IS WHEN STRAIGHT WHE DUS ARE LIKE, I LOVE 'LOVG HER,' THAT'S MY FAVORE SONG. LIKE, DU, Y! YOU ROCK. I ALSO WANT PEOPLE WHO AREN'T LGBT TO MAYBE BETTER UNRSTAND THAT EXPERIENCE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS SHE GEARS UP TO RELEASE EXPECTATNS TO THE UNIVERSE, AND EMBARK ON HER FIRST HEADLG TOUR THROUGHOUT THE U.S., PT N'T HELP BUT REFLECT ON HOW FAR SHE'S E. SHE'S NERVO, SURE, BUT WHAT 20-SOMETHG-YEAR-OLD FDG THEIR PLACE THE WORLD ISN'T? AG 20 AND 25 MAY ONLY BE SEPARATED BY FIVE YEARS, BUT THE AMOUNT OF MAJOR LIFE CHANG AND TRANSNS THAT OCCUR THAT SHORT PERD ARE ALMOST TOO VAST TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT'S EVEN MORE TE FOR SOMEONE LIKE PT, WHO OPENLY ADMS SHE'S STILL VERY MUCH THE PROCS OF FIGURG OUT WHO SHE WANTS TO BE—AND WHAT SHE WANTS TO BELIEVE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I FEEL LIKE I WAS A PERSON OF FAH THE BEGNG OF MY LIFE BEE THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD TO BE," SHE NFS. "AND I'M TRYG TO FIGURE OUT, AS I'M BEG AN ADULT, WHAT RELIGN AND WHAT FAH MEAN TO ME. THE OLR YOU GET, YOU'RE SORT OF REFG AND RHAPG WHAT GOD IS TO YOU. AT THE END OF THE DAY, 'S THAT FEELG OF, LIKE, WOW—THAT THERE IS GOOD. THE WORLD N BE GOOD. AND THAT'S GOD. THAT'S HOPE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}STREAM EXPECTATNS ON FRIDAY, FEBARY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

There was my ia of the people who listen to untry, and then there were the gay and queer people over there the other rner, ” says Jobi Ricc, a Colorado-born Amerina-untry sger now based Nashville. From the gay honky tonk group that have joed the old guard at theEast Nashville Amerin Legn for two step on Tudays to the folk-punk acts that brg down Basement East, and the thrivg sger-songwrer muny sharg their stori, LGBTQ+ micians Nashville are beamg the cy’s longstandg tradn of untry, folk, and Amerina storytellg through their own unique lens. “I me out right when I moved here, and my iends and I would go to a uple of gay plac that almost felt solate.

Spac existed for gay people to gather, but a ago, Nashville was nowhere near as progrsive of a place for queer people to thrive, let alone for LGBTQ+ micians to prosper profsnally.

It wasn’t ol to be gay that world yet. Nashville native Cys is an unniable pop and rock star, fond of sgg vers by the Cranberri and Soundgarn, but her gut list at the Ryman was 100 percent untry: Brothers Osborne, Ltle Big Town, Mickey Guyton, Maren Morris, and the gay masked wboy Orville Peck.

LIVG GAY NASHVILLE: COUNTRY MIC INSIRS SHARE STORI OF INCLN, BLACKMAIL, HUCKABEE AND HATERS

In juxtaposn to Wallen’s boorish behavr was Osborne’s vulnerable, public revelatn a Time magaze terview that he was gay. Bee the very ia of a gay untry star once seemed like a fantasy — the assumptn beg that untry mic’s fan base was overwhelmgly nservative and perhaps even bigoted. “Gee Stra or Gee Gay, there’s no difference” go another le that has sce end up on a T-shirt.

Homan, who’d left his ral Kansas home at 18 to e to Nashville to pursue both mic and an tn, hadn’t imaged there would be a time when the untry-mic dtry would be welg to gay artists. “It was like, ‘I n ntue to be fortable and out and gay, or I n do untry mic, but I fely n’t do both, ’” he says. Now, midway through 2021, that dichotomy appears to be fallg apart as artists stop worryg how they’ll be perceived for beg gay.

Country mic has a lengthy and not-so-proud reputatn for beg tensely homophobic.

KYLE DEAN MASSEY OPENS UP ON GAY ‘NASHVILLE’ CHARACTER

Gay untry sgers were, sadly, not warmly weled. For stance, Patrick Haggerty, whose band lled Lavenr Country, released what is wily believed to be the first explicly gay rerd 1973, ultimately leadg the band to fa to obscury. From gay untry stars sgg os about lovg who you want to untry artists enuragg listeners not to be aaid to embrace their genr inty, the genre – both s artists and s fans – has fally reached a place where acceptance is the new standard.

So, today, let’s take a look at some of the most celebrated gay untry sgers – om Grammy Award-wng stars Brandi Carlile and Lil Nas X to T. Osborne, who is the first gay artist signed to a major untry label. Brandi Carlile spent most of her childhood beg told that “to be gay was a one-way ticket to hell.

” She even had never met another gay person – until she watched Ellen DeGener’ historic 1997 “I’m gay” episo, which she rerd on a VHS tape so she uld watch repeatedly. It was then that Carlile me to terms wh the fact that she was gay.

GAY NASHVILLE

However, thgs changed at the height of his reer when he me out as gay durg the last day of Pri Month 2019 through a seri of tweets and his song lled “c7osure. In 2014, the Nashville artist revealed to PEOPLE a part of himself he has kept secret for his entire reer: beg a “happy gay man. Herndon said that Anthony Robbs’ semar 2009 sparked the urage for him to e out, thkg how his story might help terrified gay youth.

“There is somethg very gay about the imagery of , ” the sger said. Chely Wright beme one of the first untry sgers to e out as gay openly.