Country music star Chely Wright is coming out of the closet! Yeah, we're not exactly sure who she is either, but she'll be releasing her new album and book later this week. But, you know, it's not a publicity stunt or anything… She tells People magazine, "Nothing in my life has been more magical than the moment I decided to come out."
After all the hype that a "major celebrity" would be announcing their allegiance to our team, this feels like a bit of a letdown. On the other hand, it'll be interesting to see if the Nashville crowd will embrace an openly lesbian musician. What do you think of Wright's announcement?
– Dewitt
To listen to Wright's new single and previous hits, follow the JUMP:
And here's her new single "Broken":
I am into country music… and I have never heard of this lady… it is a bit saddening when they said a MAJOR celebrity… I thought that would classify as someone who everyone knew… not a select few. I am glad to see a role model type person coming out in the genre. I wish I had one to grow up with and look up to.
But then i discovered Diving and Swimming… and it became all about Louganis.
I Hope we will here more great things from her though. May her music be true to her life… and her story an inspirational to all!
While I agree that Chely is by no stretch of the imagine a “major celebrity,” I think anything we say or do to belittle, undermine or otherwise weaken the impact of ANYBODY’S coming out only serves to lessen the appeared validity of our “movement.”
Appeared validity, yes I did use the phrase. For while, we – level headed, decision-making-based-on-universal-truths members of the LGBT community – know our rights to be abstract, concrete and unquestionable; those who oppose us will use any chink in our armor against us.
ALSO – if we mock the nobodies, how can we EVER hope for Brad Pitt, Gerard Butler or the like to nut up and step out?
i have absolutely heard of her before. not everyone is as myopically addicted to horrible contemporary pop music as manhunt daily. hahaha. for reals.
wellllllll….she’s recorded six studio albums and charted 17 singles since the mid 90’s, so i bet SOME PEOPLE have heard of her. i love it when people assume that, since they’re unfamiliar with something, it can’t have any importance…can i hear somebody say “ego”!
Heard of her, have a couple of her cds. I always thought she was transexual.
Chely has been around for a number of years. That she does not qualify as “Major” celebrity status and is someone we never heard of shows me a whole bunch of you (yes you dewitt among others) still succumb to and fit all those uppity faggot stereotypes. Yes I’m a gay man who enjoys country music too. And by the way Nashville has embraced Melissa Etheridge for many years! DUH!
Well to each his own I guess!! This is akin to me telling you that my neighbor down the street came out on the weekend! Who cares except the people that know them. My guess: a bad, bad attempt at fame in a different light that the fame she had!!!! Could it be that coming out is not even interesting to gay people any more?
ive heard most of these songs and some others just never knew her name. Enjoyed them as well. HAHA I am am a country listener 😀 Well I just never pay attention to the names of the bands. 🙂
I have to agree with “shitkicker” above… maybe if some of Manhunt staffers would listen to something other than Lady Gaga and the latest black diva whose main talent seems to be fellating the microphone, you might have actually heard of her. “Major celebrity”? That’s in the eye of the beholder, but in her field, she’s been nominated for several CMA awards, won one and nominated for other ACM awards, and more. Probably a lot more than some of these bimbos you throw up week after week after week because they’re the kind of music you think we ought to like.
I have heard of her but don’t have a clue what songs she sings. Living near Nashville, I can tell you her country music career is probably over.
I love her “not as in love” Track. Real emotional shit and my life story.
I have loved her music since her career began in the early 90’s. She does not make music just for radio, so does not have the fame of other singers. I have seen her live, and she puts on a hell of a show. Who cares if she is not at Shania Twain’s level. THis can be an important step for country music. Or it can be another kd lang moment. Only time will tell.
I used to like Chely, back when she was making hits, but she isn’t the first country star to come out of the closet. K.D. Lange was originally a country singer, and came out of the closet a long time ago. K.D. was more condemned by the “country” community for her stance on vegetarianism than she was for her lesbianism.
I agree with you guys about every person who comes out is important, not just the ones with name appeal. I want to make something clear to those of you who are criticizing this as not important. The place that we, as gay people have our greatest challenges is with Middle America, the same crowd that Chely has been popular with for years. Every person who can come out, to that group, where they can say, I know someone who is gay, puts our fight for our legal rights, in their spaces and in America’s faces. We are not having the same problems with the 18-35 straight crowd who listen to Beyonce and Lady GaGa as we are with those who listen to Garth Brooks, Sugarland, and Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. We really do not need to come out to our own kind, but to those who reject us already, with the hope that we (collectively) can make someone say, “I know someone who is gay” When we can do that, we have begun to change the minds od people and win the battle for our rights. (Thank you, Harvey) Every person from that group who joins as an ally (like the Dixie Chicks) or comes out, helps in the slow process of changing peoples minds. Good Luck Chely, I love you and I will support you.
Kevin, I so agree with you. I NEVER vote on the top ten music because it’s simply not what I listen to. Even in the gay community, where open mindedness is preached, we get things shoved down our throats! And I’m not talking in the good way! We HAVE to like this type of music, or we HAVE to act this way, or we HAVE to believe this way… You know, there are all types out there. We talk about stereotypes when we are the ones who perpetrate them! Go figure.
Anyway! That said, I’ve heard her music a lot! And I’m not a country music fan. She’s famous. Yep. Definitely.
I have definitely heard of Chely Wright…Even own one of her CD’s and it is awesome…and thanks for the clip of her new song! It sounds really great and I think we should support her in her coming out anyway we can…….
the lyrics to country music are always amusing at how bland they are.
wait a second… even IVE heard her music before…
okay, sure, my dad listens to lots of music that’s older then what my grandparents listen to and newer country music in that genre… but that’s beside the point
Chely Wright isn’t what I would call a “major” country star, but she has had some songs that topped the charts, and I love her voice. Oh well, huge star or not, happy that she’s comfortable enough to come out.
I’ve been a Chely Wright fan for years. She’s a very talented singer and musician. I’m glad she feels comfortable coming out and letting the world know who she really is. I’m proud of her.
Country music bland?!? I’ve not heard of another genre of music that’s made more of an impact on this country than country music. And I’m no fan! At least when you actually listen to the lyrics, they say something. Make a point. And you can understand the lyrics, unlike a lot of what is popular today. Bland? Nah. And… Pretty hot guys as well! Josh Turner?? Hmmm….