http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/05/03/chely.wright.out.ppl/i...
I found this story particularly interesting because I was literally JUST thinking last night about how I enjoy country music and bluegrass, but never really got into it because of the generally ultra-conservative attitude of its fanbase.
I'm really proud of Chely for having the courage to be honest. I'd like to hope that this opens the door a little wider for the LGBT community as a whole, but I'd be lying to say I wasn't more worried for her well-being right now. I hope everything works out for the best.
Edit: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2010/05/05/behar.ch...
Found the Joy Behar interview video. I LOVE her comment on Christianity. You guys know how I've struggled with my faith, like a lot of you, so this hit close to home for me, when she said "I have NEVER not had a relationship with God, and it feels more like he's been whispering in my ear this whole time."
Comments
I Know I Have Said This Before
I know I have said this before, but I have learned to separate my beliefs in God and Jesus from the Philosophy of Organized Religion. I have also cheered Chely Wright on as she showed the courage to come out and show the world who she really is. I will support her career by buying her music and lend my support to her vocally. It is time that Country Music came into the 21st century and embrace diversity. I know it is probably wishful thinking, but it is always nice to dream.
As for being "first"
Evidently she's never heard of Canadian country and later pop singer k.d. lang, who's been out for years and obvious for many more. There are bunches more.
Cheers,
Puddin'
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Cheers,
Puddin'
A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style
Names
Lavender Country was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000.
Alix Dobkin, Robin Flower, Barbara Higbie, Woody Simmons, and Teresa Trull all started out as country singers.
Cheers,
Puddin'
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Cheers,
Puddin'
A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style
Shows how little I know ;-)
I literally had no idea they all started out in Country music. Though a lot of that is due to the ... *ahem* conservative tendancies of our local stations.
When the Dixie Chicks made their famous Bush speech I know at least one station refused to play their music again for awhile (which is a shame. "Traveling Soldier" is an awesome song, to veer way off-topic on my own blog ;-))
I'll have to sit down and do some research this weekend, now. :-D I'm kinda curious what else I've missed.
Country music
Country music is a fairly late melding of swing jazz and blues, although it also incorporates quite a bit of Appalachian (and therefore English ballad traditions, Irish and Scottish fiddle music, several religious hymnals, and African-American flavour.) At one time it was uniquely American, but it's spread all over the world now, as have many musical traditions.
The singer/composers I mentioned mostly flourished in the "women's music" culture, published by Olivia (yes, the same outfit that does the GLBT cruises) and other lesbian/feminist publishers.
This is a classic of early women's music, though not exactly "country." You can hear country riffs in it, though. You can either love it or hate it, but every woman from that era can sing it from memory.
Cris Williamson
It's surprisingly hard to find a lot of the early songs. Nobody had video cameras, and most didn't have tape recorders. I did the best I could without exhaustive search.
Two Nice Girls
Janis Ian and Dolly Parton
Ani Difranco
Two Nice Girls
Barbara Higbie, Teresa Trull, et al.
Woody Simmons
Tracy Jane Comer, Tret Fure, and Rachel Nelson
k d lang
Cheers,
Puddin'
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Cheers,
Puddin'
A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style
Who?
This is the first time I've heard of her, but then I'm not a country music fan, it's too whiny.
Mr. Ram
Teehee
I agree, there's a lot of country music that I can't listen to because I get depressed from it ;-) I'm a closet Garth Brooks fan and I love Taylor Swift's voice though.
I have pretty ecclectic listening habits though, bouncing from "Where Corn Don't Grow" to "Call Me When You're Sober" without a thought, so I'm on-record already as being weird :-D (I love driving my heavy metal and punk fan friends crazy with my quirky playlists)