In a surge of bravery and progressive thought, more and more members of the Country Music scene are coming out of their respective closets and into the welcoming arms of their listeners.
Acceptance of the LGBT membership in country music is something that just did not happen until very recently.
Blake Shelton, famed country music singer and host of popular American television show The Voice, had this to tweet in regards to his feelings about homosexuality.
“Re-writing my fav Shania Twain song.. Any man that tries Touching my behind He’s gonna be a beaten, bleedin’, heaving kind of guy…”
Blake Shelton, like other remnants of an archaic time sure to be passing, is not the spokesperson for country music. This is evidenced by the mostly positive reaction Ty Herdon received when he first announced that he was gay.
Herndon ? the country music star who’s had 17 singles on Billboard’s Hot Country chart- publicly came out in November of 2014. Herndon is the biggest male country star to date who has publicly come out. He appeared in? Entertainment Tonight in November and was quoted as saying,
“The first two decades of my career I thought I couldn’t be gay and be in country music, but now? Nashville is ready.?
In the twitterverse frenzy that followed his announcement, country music darling, Leann Rimes, was quick to come to Ty’s support,
“Ty waited for a very long time in his life and Billy actually has a chance at having a full life as an out, gay man. People should be able to love who they love — it’s as simple as that.”
Ty Herndon isn’t the only country crooner to boldly bare an aspect of who they are.
In the past decade, countless other award winning country music artists have joined Herndon in being honest.
Shane McAnally, Billy Gilman, Brandy Clark, Steve Grand, the list will continue to go on, whether Shelton and his cronies of the past like it or not.
This is not a movement led only by those who identify under the LGBT umbrella, straight allies have taken up the cause as well.
Kacey Musgraves, whose song ?Follow Your Arrow? champions same-sex relationships, won Song of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards.
Nashville is ready, cow-country Alabama is ready, and most importantly, the fans are ready to kick boots with boys and listen to lovely lasses sing about knocking boots with gals.
