Gay country male singer

Russell is also married to her Birds of Chicago bandmate, Jeremy Lindsay.

While people might think she’s straight, “it is really important that people understand that nothing is black and white,” Russell said.

13. Growing up in South Africa before moving to Toronto with his family, Peck said he’d been out since he was little.

Chris Housman

Chris Housman, born around 1990 in western Kansas, is a singer-songwriter known for incorporating gay themes into his music.

He gained attention with his 2020 single Nobody, which reflects on his personal life events.

Raised on a farm, Housman’s early exposure to country music and his experiences as a gay man in a conservative environment heavily influenced his songwriting.

And, his work aims to bring visibility and authenticity to LGBTQ+ narratives in country music.

21.

Unfortunately, some radio stations stopped playing her music after her revelation. Ty Herndon

In 2014, the Nashville artist revealed to PEOPLE a part of himself he has kept secret for his entire career: being a “happy gay man.” Ty Herndon revealed that he first began wondering about his sexuality when he was only ten years old.

With six number-one hits across the UK, Canada, and New Zealand, Tommy Atkins has undoubtedly captured the hearts of country music fans worldwide.

Based in Newcastle, England, Tommy Atkins is known for his incredible talent and contributions to the LGBTQ+ community in country music.

As the founder and host of Proud to Be Coun, a platform for LGBTQ+ country music artists, Tommy Atkins continues to create a space where artists can express themselves freely and be celebrated for who they are.

13.

Orville Peck

While Dolly Parton got her huge blonde hair just like Johnny Cash got his all-black suits, Orville Peck got his fringed mask that conceals most of his face and a cowboy hat with an upside-down brim. For instance, Patrick Haggerty, whose band called Lavender Country, released what is widely believed to be the first explicitly gay record in 1973, ultimately leading the band to fade into obscurity.

lang was only five when she realized she was gay?

Even his music videos are celebrations of LGBTQ pride.

5. Patrick Haggerty

Patrick Haggerty died in 2022, leaving behind a legacy of his music and refusal to fit into the straight-laced genre. It was then that Carlile came to terms with the fact that she was gay. But the moment he did, the country music community welcomed him with open arms.

In 2012, McAnally married his husband, Michael Baum.

Orville Peck has an enigmatic persona, often wearing a distinctive leather-fringed mask during performances.

He has also opened up about his identity as a gay man in the music industry, facing homophobia. Lil Nas X

Lil Nas X, born Montero Lamar Hill in Georgia, gained fame with his genre-blending hit Old Town Road in 2019, which became the longest-running number-one song on the Billboard Hot 100.

Initially using music as an escape, Lil Nas X’s work often reflects his experiences as a Black gay man navigating fame and identity.

His openness about his sexuality has been groundbreaking in the hip-hop and country music scenes.

4.

Still, T.J.’s presence provides visibility to LGBTQ+ fans longing to see themselves represented in their favorite musical style.

14. Tommy Atkins

In 2020, Tommy Atkins made history on country radio with the first-ever hit to feature openly gay lyrics in Europe and the United Kingdom.

“There is something very gay about the imagery of it,” the singer said. 

However, there is one thing he never felt the need to mask: his gender identity. Her sexuality is just one part of her artistry as she took her real-life struggles and weaved them into lyrical tales, as evident in her songs “Georgia,” “Loving Her,” and “Normal.” These songs speak to all the adversities she faced to embrace her queerness.

12.

Waylon Payne

Waylon Payne, born on April 5, 1972, in Nashville, Tennessee, is the son of country singer Sammi Smith and guitarist Jody Payne.

Payne’s music reflects his loud life experiences, including struggles with addiction and identity.

And, his candid storytelling offers a raw and emotional perspective within the country genre.

10.

Lily Rose

Lily Rose, born on September 12, 1993, in Dunwoody, Georgia, is a rising country artist known for contemporary country with pop and R&B influences.

Rose’s passion for music begins after attending a Bruce Springsteen concert, inspiring her to learn to play the drums and guitar.

Her songwriting often reflects personal experiences, aiming to break barriers in the country music scene.

7.

Joy Oladokun

Like most artists on this list, Joy Oladokun struggled with self-acceptance. Such a feat definitely placed Atkins at the center of conversations about the genre’s diversity.

Atkins’ first EP, Kiss Me, Cowboy, on the other hand, wonderfully documented young love made complicated by the ravages of homophobia.