Ty Herndon & Billy Gilman Come Out As Gay Male Country Stars
This story has been updated (see below)
Country star Ty Herndon—known for his handful of mid 90’s hits such as “What Mattered Most,” “I Want My Goodbye Back,” and “Living In A Moment”—came out as gay on Thursday morning (11-20), making him the first openly gay male country music star in the mainstream in the history of the genre. The announcement was made in a series of stutter steps, when entertainment show Entertainment Tonight apparently accidentally made the announcement early by putting up an image up on their website of Herndon with the caption “Country Star Ty Herndon, I’m Gay” under their “Current Videos” section. The television show teased the announcement Wednesday night, and Herndon was set to come out on Thursday’s show. Subsequently, People Magazine has run a story confirming Ty Herndon’s coming out, with quotes from the country singer.
“My mother probably knew I was gay before I did,” Herndon tells People. He says he first realized he was gay at the age of 10, and felt guilty while sitting in church, thinking he was gay. Herndon was born in Mississippi, and raised in Alabama. “I remember sitting down with her and having the conversation…she was more concerned about me having a happy life. You have to be able to do that in your own skin, and [my family] has seen me struggle with being gay my whole career.”
Ty Herndon says one of the things that motivated him coming out was seeing Kacey Musgraves win the CMA Song of the Year for “Follow Your Arrow,” saying that he welled up in tears at the win. “I felt so proud of my city. I hope that trend continues; I pray it does.” Herndon says one of his main motivations for coming out is to let others know “They can be loved by God, they can be married one day, they can have a family, they can give their parents grandkids. And they’re not broken, they’re not sinners and they’re perfectly beautiful.”
Ty Herndon, who was married twice and divorced both times, has had a troubled past amidst his short-lived success in country music in the mid 90’s. In 1995, Herdon exposed himself to an undercover police vice officer in Ft. Worth’s Gateway Park. After passing Herndon walking in the park, the officer asked him, “What do you like to do?” Herndon apparently proceeded to take down his pants and began masturbating. He was arrested, and also was found in possession of methamphetamine. Herndon copped to the meth, and pled down to spending 30 days in rehab, but denied the sexual encounter. “As for the charges that were brought against me, that’s absolutely a bunch of [expletive],” Herndon said at the time. “The moral of the story is, don’t take a leak in the woods, ’cause it can get you arrested.”
Herndon was also mugged in a Los Angeles park by three men at gunpoint. After Herndon’s second divorce, he filed for bankruptcy. He’s also been sued by a dentist and a former manager over financial troubles. “I have made a lot of mistakes in my life,” Ty tells People. “They’ve been my mistakes, and I own them. I’ve done a lot of work around forgiveness with people that I’ve hurt and people I’ve not been honest with because of my sexuality.”
The 52-year-old Herndon initially moved to Nashville to pursue a country music career, but after failing for almost a decade to make it in the business, he moved to Texas where he finally began to find some traction, being named the 1993 Texas Entertainer of the Year. Later in 1993 he was signed to Epic Records, who released his biggest albums, including the Gold certified What Mattered Most and Living In A Moment. Herndon released a total of four albums with Epic before being dropped for poor sales, and subsequently releasing three independent albums, most recently 2013’s Lies I Told Myself.
What This All Means For Country Music
As the first openly gay male country star in the mainstream of the genre, this announcement will certainly move country music in the direction of accepting a more active male star being gay in the future, but doesn’t secure that fate for a style of music known for its conservative leanings. As an artist whose mainstream relevance ended arguably 15 years ago, this is more the equivalent of a football player coming out as gay after his retirement. That doesn’t mean that Ty Herndon does not have a music career ahead of him, but this is not the crossing of the Rubicon that the genre would experience if one of country’s top tier stars of today was to make a similar proclamation.
What it does do is define 2014 as a watershed year for gays in country music. With Kacey Musgraves’ “Follow Your Arrow” winning Song of the Year, with the openly-gay Brandy Clark winning a CMA Award as a songwriter, and now Ty Herndon’s announcement, the boundaries for gays are moving further than ever before. It also adds to the legacy of Musgraves’ “Follow Your Arrow” as being a big impetus for Ty Herndon’s coming out.
Now country music will go through the business of sorting out how it feels about the matter.
READ: Why Brandy Clark Was The Best Candidate to Integrate Country
UPDATE: Billy Gilman also says he’s gay.
Billy Gilman has also come out today, November 20th, to tell fans he’s gay. In the five-and-a-half-minute long video, the former child country star gives credit to Ty Herndon for inspiring his decision.
November 20, 2014 @ 12:32 pm
Ty hasn’t been relevant in many years (since 99 I think), I don’t think this will go far. Much like Chely Wright, it will largely go unnoticed.
November 20, 2014 @ 12:33 pm
I got to see Mr. Herndon at a show in Payson, UT this summer. The guy has a great respect for the roots of country music. Very, very good performer.
November 20, 2014 @ 12:34 pm
When I initially read something about this my first thought was: “Umm ”¦ who?” after looking him up it changed to “Oh, one of those guys my ex listened to around 2 decades ago”.
November 20, 2014 @ 1:24 pm
I honestly thought it was Jewels ex husband at first and thought “ohh so thats why they split”. I don’t remember him at all.
November 20, 2014 @ 12:38 pm
People need to realize something about Christians: Not all of us are blatant homophobics. Granted, they’re out there, and they make a lot of noise, but there’s also people like me: Maybe I’m not personally in favor of homosexuality, but this guy’s a human being, he’s able to make his own choices, and those choices are none of my damn business. He’s doing what he thinks is right, and I’m going to support that, regardless of my own beliefs.
November 20, 2014 @ 1:12 pm
This atheist couldn’t have said it better. Well, I might’ve used “born that way” instead of “choice”, but I get your sentiment and point.
Nice.
November 20, 2014 @ 1:55 pm
But the whole juxtaposition of “I’m not personally in favor of homosexuality” and “it’s none of my business” ultimately functions as trying to have your cake and eat it too.
There is a vast difference between saying you don’t want to punish somebody for their lifestyle…and saying you actually approve of their lifestyle (from a sexuality standpoint).
‘Tolerating’ without ‘approving’ is of course preferable to ‘opposing,’ but it’s still a bigoted position. It suggests that you do see homosexuality as inherently lesser or worse than heterosexuality.
Of course it isn’t your “business,” but that’s not the reason you should be okay with it. You should be okay with it because homosexuality is perfectly okay.
(If I’m misconstruing your particular view, I apologize, but this is a view I commonly see)
November 20, 2014 @ 2:05 pm
Out: Just be tolerant of others lifestyles.
In: Approve of others lifestyles or you’re a bigot.
Using your ‘logic’ then you are a bigot for not approving of Bill’s Christian beliefs.
November 20, 2014 @ 2:13 pm
^^this
November 20, 2014 @ 2:16 pm
Out: describing the illogic of someone’s comment.
In: tolerating/ignoring the illogical because of “Jesus”.
We can do this all day!
But I’ll stop now…
November 20, 2014 @ 2:22 pm
I’m not even slightly religious. At all. So my comment had nothing to do with ‘Jesus’ or whatever snark you want to throw out there. My point was the stupidity of saying that you have to approve of something or else you’re bigoted.
The comment by Bill was in no way bigoted or offensive to anyone but the most over sensitive. Hell even you GregN didn’t seem to be that offended by it.
November 20, 2014 @ 2:35 pm
Scotty: “Jesus” wasn’t snark, just a shortcut to “Bill’s Christian beliefs” that you wrote.
And yes, Bill’s comment didn’t bother me. I’m tolerant of many things, and a firm believer in “judge not lest ye be judged”, and “let he who is without sin cast the first stone”. Not to mention “do unto others as you’d have them do unto you”.
Don’t always see those adhered to, especially when my Talibornagain relative visit for Thanksgiving.
November 20, 2014 @ 2:50 pm
Sounded a little snarky but that’s OK. Would you have said ‘Allah’ if Bill was Muslim?
My personal views have always been ‘live and let live’ as well. Just seems sometimes this is only a one way street in our society as the commenter BJones below said tolerance has to be a two way street.
Anyway, this is a never ending argument I guess.
December 22, 2020 @ 5:34 pm
In your comment below, you bring up probably the MOST misused & mis-interpreted Bible verse, “Judge not lest you be judged…” Non-believers & lefties use that all the time to hammer Christians (& conservatives) when we dare to speak out against evil & wrong. But sadly I expect that from their side. I’m hardly perfect & we’re ALL sinners who need a Savior (which is what this CHRISTmas ???? season is all about). But basically they misquote/misuse this verse to say that we can’t tell anyone they’re wrong or we’re judging them, are intolerant bigots, etc…..
November 20, 2014 @ 8:15 pm
This lovely argument (the “telling a racist he can’t be racist is just as bad as being racist” stupidity).
Here’s the difference, as if this needed to really be clarified:
— I’m not looking to be praised for tolerance towards homophobia. I’m very openly condemning those who are homophobic. I’m saying those individuals are wrong – and I’m owning that.
— One who says “I personally think it’s wrong, but I’m not going to tell someone how to live their life” is playing both sides of the coin. They’re passively condemning the person’s lifestyle but want to be rewarded for ‘tolerating’ it.
November 21, 2014 @ 12:48 pm
Sorry, but I call BS on this:
“”“ One who says “I personally think it”™s wrong, but I”™m not going to tell someone how to live their life” is playing both sides of the coin. They”™re passively condemning the person”™s lifestyle but want to be rewarded for ”˜tolerating”™ it. ”
I’m one of those people, and I’m not looking to be rewarded for anything. But it’s not my business to tell another person how to live their life, whether I agree with them or not. There are too damned many people – conservatives AND liberals – who think they know best and should be able to tell other people what to do. They all need to worry more about themselves and less about everyone else.
November 20, 2014 @ 2:08 pm
I see where you’re coming from, but my point is that the Bible tells us to love one another. It also takes a stand on homosexuality among other topics, but the thing is, this is between Ty and God, and nobody else. Unless he does something that directly affects me or my family, I have no problems with him. It’s like if you tell me you like onions on your burger. I hate onions, but I’m not gonna throw your burger on the ground and shove mine down your throat. My point is simply this: Let me believe what I want, and if you believe something else, that’s fine, let’s get on with our lives. I hope that helps.
November 20, 2014 @ 2:12 pm
Well, many with religious beliefs do in fact think that there is something inherently wrong with homosexuality and that it is in fact inferior to heterosexuality. Not being religious, I am not in that camp. But for those preaching tolerance, it has to be a two way street. Homosexuals might not like the religious beliefs, but why shouldn’t they have to tolerate them? Of course, when religious beliefs translate into abuse, discrimination, that’s a different story. But if gays expect the religious to tolerate their lifestyle, the religious should be able to expect the gays to tolerate their beliefs as well. Tolerance doesn’t mean acceptance or endorsement, it means just that — tolerance.
November 20, 2014 @ 12:58 pm
Good for Ty. The current ‘relevance’ of his career makes no difference here — fact is, currently charting star or otherwise, it took courage and his action should be commended.
November 20, 2014 @ 4:33 pm
The only reason I am mentioning the status of Ty Herndon’s career is because I do believe it would be a bigger story and make a bigger impact if let’s say he was a big artist who currently had singles on the radio and was selling out arenas. As we have seen here and many other places, many are saying “Who is Ty Herndon?” I don’t want to in any way diminish his current career, or allude that just because you’re not well-known what you do doesn’t matter. I cover many artists who would love to have the name recognition Ty Herndon does. But I do think it makes a difference that he’s not high in the public spotlight, just as it was similar for Chely Wright.
November 20, 2014 @ 1:10 pm
Don’t care. Not a fan of Herndon’s music, but if Billy Joe Shaver came out as gay I’d still love his music and still pay to hear him play. Also not religious, but doubt God (however defined) cares about this either.
November 20, 2014 @ 1:14 pm
God Bless Ty Herndon.
The way he did it was on the money. It takes a real man to admit when he messed up and made a lot of mistakes. Takes a bigger man to own up to those mistakes and begin to make amends for them. And his music is pretty solid as well. I hope he continues to make solid country music the way he has been and that folks don’t define him by his sexuality. Its a part of him but its also not who he is as a man and as a human being. I pretty much don’t care about a person’s sexual orientation. I care about a person’s character. That’s what matters in the end. Ain’t whom you sleep with. Its how you treat others that counts in the long run.
November 20, 2014 @ 1:21 pm
Good for him, this should take some pressure off Hunter Hayes when he decides to come out
November 20, 2014 @ 2:46 pm
Can’t forget Kenny Chesney and the Rascal Flatts guitar player.
I know Chesney has supposedly bragged about how many women he has slept with but you what Willie said.
November 20, 2014 @ 1:24 pm
Ty who?
November 20, 2014 @ 1:27 pm
I was hoping to see a headline more like: “Ty Herndon Comes Out As Country Music”™s First Gay Male Star, And Water Is Wet.” BTW star is a bit of a stretch in 2014.
November 20, 2014 @ 4:36 pm
So for snark purposes, am I supposed to pretend I’ve never heard of him, or pretend I’ve always known he’s gay? I just want to know because those two things are kind of in conflict.
In the end I just decided to report the story, and give my opinion on how I believe it will impact country music.
November 20, 2014 @ 6:28 pm
and : Update , Billy Gilman finally admits to himself what everyone could easily see….. hes gay.
November 20, 2014 @ 1:52 pm
I don’t know anything about the guy except for the fact that I trip over his name and CDs in the bins of the various LRS’s I patronize.
It’s nice to see these types of issues be regarded as irrelavant by most people these days.
Maybe I will pick up a CD or 2 of Ty’s and give them a spin.
I hope that he stays off of the Meth, though.
November 20, 2014 @ 2:03 pm
My sometimes foggy memory seems to recall that there was speculation about him being a homosexual back during his period of relevance, even before his arrest for allegedly exposing himself to the cop.
November 20, 2014 @ 8:53 pm
Yeah, I remember that, more than his music, honestly.
November 20, 2014 @ 2:06 pm
Good for Ty, hopefully his fans will keep supporting him and going to his shows. His coming out may bring in a whole new influx of fans who did not know his music. I enjoy his music and for people saying they never her of him I am a bit surprised as Ty was touted as the next Garth Brooks if not bigger up until his run in with the law.
November 20, 2014 @ 2:12 pm
Yay! Good for Ty! =D
Momentum is only going to continue to be drawn in favor of gay and lesbian acceptance into the mainstream country music community. It’s quite clear it will remain more polarizing in this listening constituency compared to that of Mainstream Top 40 or Alternative formats, but make no mistake: the cultural trendlines are moving heavily toward sexual equality.
As I’ve previously stated, we have had a number of heterosexual A and B-list mainstream country artists who have made statements affirming their support of same-sex marriage including Carrie Underwood, Wynonna Judd, Tim McGraw and Garth Brooks. Then you have others who haven’t necessarily affirmed it but have nonetheless argued it isn’t their business to interfere with the livelihoods of others and deprive them of their rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness like Toby Keith and Kenny Chesney. Then you have yet others who don’t flat-out affirm their support but nonetheless preach the importance of “tolerance” in response such as Martina McBride.
But this is a whole other level of significance: regardless of how forgotten Ty Herndon may be to a younger generation of listeners. I’m willing to bet we’ll hear at least three more closet doors open in the next year among other country entertainers.
November 20, 2014 @ 2:22 pm
Unfortunately, I fear it will be longer before we see authentic gender neutrality and transgenderism begin to enjoy great openness and support in the mainstream country/”country” community.
To be brutally honest, I previously felt uncomfortable with the way many mocked Luke Bryan and other entertainers due to their androgynous looks and expression. I mean, I get that the skinny jeans is more crass marketing than it is genuine fashionable expression…………….but I didn’t like it when numerous articles here in the past seemed to frown upon or even condemn gender ambiguity in the country scene. As a genderqueer, that disconcerts me: even when I also understand the reality that the genre has a long traditional history tied to the nuclear family, faith and traditional gender roles and respect it takes time to build awareness and advocacy of the reality that, in even the smallest of towns, there are those who identify outside of binaries………….and the main reason we just don’t see them often is because of the fear of rejection or even violent retaliation in the vein of the Matthew Shepard tragedy.
November 20, 2014 @ 2:29 pm
SCM is about music , for me . I’m not sure what Ty’s sexual orientation has to do with his ( or anybody’s ) music .
November 20, 2014 @ 4:20 pm
In a musical tradition and culture defined highly by the themes of family, faith, hard work and storytelling, this is quite momentous in my opinion.
Up to this very day, in certain parts of the country, the ability for some gay or lesbian parents to even adopt children remains wishful thinking. That flies in the face of one’s right to family. And in terms of hard work, there are many who are barred and/or discriminated fro or at work because of their sexuality, with the Employment Non-Discrimination Act yet to be passed in Congress.
Add to that the long-held blending of faith-based activism with anti-GLBTQI discrimination in some quarters, and it is understandable why, even though there are plenty of GLBTQI individuals who appreciate country music, it has been rather hard to feel welcomed in the community as a GLBTQI individual to this day.
Developments like this will inspire comfort and confidence. It matters.
November 20, 2014 @ 4:57 pm
I understand what you’re saying Albert, but my hand was kind of forced in covering a story like this, especially with the whole Brandy Clark, “Follow You Arrow” thread that has been so present here for the past few weeks. You have to understand there’s repercussions to NOT running stories as well, and sometimes that can cause even more consternation. There have been a lot of issue-based stories breaking in the past couple of weeks and don’t think that I haven’t noticed that it has distracted from the music. That is why I made sure to post my review of First Aid Kit this morning before covering this. All of this stuff is cyclical, and the music will come to the forefront again, trust me.
November 20, 2014 @ 6:07 pm
Points taken …..Noah and Trigger . I’m certain we’re on the same page .
November 20, 2014 @ 2:44 pm
So is this who the writers of “Nashville” based their character Will Lexington on?
Personally I’m with those who say that his personal life is none of my business and this announcement is irrelevant to me. However, it sounds like he’s had a troubled life, so I hope this helps him find some peace and happiness. That’s what we all want and deserve, after all.
November 20, 2014 @ 2:46 pm
I think that President Clinton’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, as it related to the military, was an excellent compromise position. Even the most ardent Bible thumper would have to admit that homosexuals have served bravely and heroically in every military in history. I view this the same way. I’m sure that many people’s heroes, whether they were actors, musicians, or athletes, might have been gay. If you’re a deviant, keep your personal life to yourself.
November 20, 2014 @ 2:54 pm
“Deviant”? Of course you would think ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ is a ‘good compromise’. Because it allows you to continue with your prejudiced views without having to confront the fact that many people people you know, love or look up to, are in fact “deviants”.
November 20, 2014 @ 2:59 pm
That’s why its a compromise.
November 20, 2014 @ 3:08 pm
When you admit that you need a ‘compromise’, however, to allow you to not have to confront your prejudices, you’ve also admitted how thoroughly irrational your beliefs are.
After all, apartheid was such a compromise, allowing everyday white South Africans to not have to confront or see the fact that they were systematically oppressing black and coloured people. Given that I shouldn’t need to state how irrational and bigoted apartheid was, I hope you can extrapolate and connect the dots.
December 22, 2020 @ 5:43 pm
But apartheid has NOTHING to do with this subject. Plus when you see what’s happened in South Africa the last number of years, things went in the opposite direction & worse under Robert Mugabwe (thank God he’s gone & not running the country anymore). But of course I’m just another right-wing bigot for pointing out some facts…
November 20, 2014 @ 3:08 pm
I was an active duty marine for 5 years in the early 2000’s and I understand why someone would feel that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell appears as a good compromise, and maybe for an early 90’s America it was, at least as a step in the right direction, but once you get to the actual functionality of it you see the huge problems with it.
DADT basically barred a gay person from any mention of their personal life with their work friends and co-workers. You’d basically have to go for years without any mention of your significant other or a large part of your social life. And this isn’t about what goes on in the bedroom. Something like going to a movie with a date, or someone special back home would have to be omitted from casual conversation with your coworkers in order to comply with the “don’t tell” part of it.
November 20, 2014 @ 3:43 pm
In what direction are we going?
November 20, 2014 @ 3:52 pm
Towards gays being able to serve openly. It’s 2014, we don’t segregate the black soldiers by keeping them in the kitchen, and we don’t require someone to lie (by omission) about their sexuality in order to serve their country.
November 20, 2014 @ 3:59 pm
Where do you hope we’ll be in 2024? What is your vision for this brave new world you speak of? What is the next mountain to climb or dragon to slay? That is the problem with progressivism, it always undermines itself. Today’s progressive is tomorrow’s bigot. Just ask Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Gore Vidal, Ralph Nader, etc. If you take your position, you have to be absolutely ok with any human behavior, because if you live long enough, the train will get there some day.
November 21, 2014 @ 7:19 am
Apolitically and secularly I see it as a trend toward kindness. Over the 100s and 1,000s of years we have seen the world become less violent, healthier, and more empathetic. There will always be opposing forces, so the vestiges of unkindness manifest in terrorism, bigotry, and sexism.
However, as much as I hate to admit it, RD does raise a good point. At what point does acceptance become pathological? Obviously there are limits to what we are willing to accept culturally. To me, the answers are found by determining, as a culture, whether by the benefits of allowing personal transparency outweigh the detriments caused by the associated behavior.
For many years, we were culturally deaf to the issues facing homosexuals. However, as the very real ramifications of their plight become more known, we realized that encouraging people to live veiled lives led to major problems like drug and alcohol abuse, transmitted diseases, failed marriages and even more mundane issues like planning end of life care and inheritances. As a culture we simply no longer believe these problems outweigh any perceived problems caused by homosexuality.
May 4, 2017 @ 10:29 am
The world has become less violent?
We had two of the biggest wars in history in the last 100 years. All occurring during the age of progressivism and modernism.
November 20, 2014 @ 4:16 pm
Too many replies, it wouldn’t let me reply to your last comment, but no, you’re off the mark.
Progressivism does not require being okay with ANY human behavior. Not in the least. You take it on a case by case basis. Women’s rights, Catholic rights, Jewish rights, Black rights and now Gay rights. I don’t know what the next mountain will be.
But just because we don’t know what the next movement is lurking around the corner does not mean we should stop the advancement of any one group or cause. If there is a way to grant freedom and rights to an individual, and there’s no good or logical reason not to, then it should be advanced. Simple as that.
November 20, 2014 @ 6:05 pm
I wasn’t going to say anything, but now I am. I know you just didn’t call the LGBT community “deviants”. If you are going to go in that direction, might I remind you that straight folks in the Bible had multiple wives, concubines, fornicating before marriage, having children out of wedlock and were sinning left & right. What Ty Herndon and Billy Gilman do in their personal time is their business and no one has the right to judge or condemn them. Besides, they ain’t sleeping with you so why the fuck do you care? If anything, it shouldn’t affect you one way or the other.
November 20, 2014 @ 3:06 pm
As much as people talk bad about his career – let’s face it – his stuff is 100000% better than half the shit out there now. We would be better off if he had not had personal issues and would have stuck around.
BTW, his parents and siblings are in AZ now and his parents actually own a pretty popular country bar in Scottsdale. http://www.handlebarj.com/index.php.
November 20, 2014 @ 3:22 pm
A more interesting story is that of Josey Greenwell, the out-loud-and-proud young homosexual country singer and model who recently disappeared and re-emerged as straight country singer Nate Green.
November 20, 2014 @ 6:03 pm
I had never heard of him before, but did some research just now. That was pretty interesting.
November 20, 2014 @ 3:45 pm
Billy Gilman announced he was gay today as well. Im just waiting for Kenny Chesney to step up to the plate now.
November 20, 2014 @ 5:06 pm
I was not suprised to find out that Billy Gilman was gay. I am happy that Ty Herndon finally came out. However, he has not been relevant for years in country music, so it seems like he is doing it to gain exposure for his career that has been over for years. I am happy for him, however people need to stop revering people who do this. In his case, it seems like his two ex-wives knew, so it is different in this case. But these people need to stop getting a pat on the back for not being honest and truthful. You will always have your bible thumping homophobes, but when it comes down to it most people do not care if someone is gay or not.
November 20, 2014 @ 6:09 pm
I think it,s just a career move. I’ve heard Melissa Ethridge (for example)…nothing special. If she wasn’t gay, very few would buy her music…she’s created a niche market. Good luck Ty. At least those of us who aren’t down with the gay thing will always have our artists…Charlie Daniels, for one…
November 20, 2014 @ 6:34 pm
There have been rumors about Ty for a while, so it’s not like this is a stunner. I’m more surprised by Billy, though not exactly shocked either. I do remember really liking Billy around the time of “One Voice”, though a lot of that was because of the novelty that I was 12 and there was someone the same age as me having a #1 hit. Pretty sure I have an Opry program signed by him sitting in a closet at my parents’ house.
November 21, 2014 @ 7:14 am
There are so many directions I could go with the “closet” comment given the context of this discussion………….
November 20, 2014 @ 6:53 pm
Have no time for religion or the mere “tolerance” that the more right-wing religious community extend to homosexuality. That is not to say that many religious people are not genuinely accepting of homosexuality, but as the saying goes, in this world good people do good things, and bad people do bad things, but for otherwise good people, to do bad things…well, that takes religion.
May 4, 2017 @ 10:31 am
That is an incorrect saying.
November 20, 2014 @ 6:54 pm
I think Billy’s video is touching. He’s in his 20s and no longer feels the need to hide – good stuff. Imagine how awful it would be to hide who you are for decades.
November 20, 2014 @ 7:09 pm
I knew Billy Gilman was gay back when he had his first song, “One Voice Was Heard” or whatever. It was so stupid and it sucked to turn on the radio and hear some little sissy boy singing some little sissy song. On Country Radio, no less!!! Where real men like Waylon and Hank Jr, etc, once ruled! Yeah, “BroCountry” sucks, but before you start yearning for the “good old days”, think about turning on the radio in 1999 or 2000 or whatever it was, and hearing that little sissy boy all the time. It puts things in perspective, maybe brocountry isn’t all that bad compared to Billy Gilman.
November 20, 2014 @ 7:58 pm
Irony. “Butch” is complaining about [in his words] “little sissy boy.”
November 20, 2014 @ 7:21 pm
I liked Ty’s music & not really a big fan of Billy…but whatever. The part that gets me is why an announcement needs to be made? Am I missing something? Seems to be the “in” thing over the past few years. Are they looking for attention now since there hasn’t been any for them? Let them live their lives…Would enjoy hearing some new music from Ty
November 20, 2014 @ 7:22 pm
I’d just like to point out that the “it’s his personal business” argument seems to apply to Ty Herndon but not Jason Aldean on here. A lot of folks bag on Jason Aldean for his personal choices (infidelity, dumb clothes, etc) but are hands-off with Ty Herndon. BTW…I, in no way, endorse Jason Aldean’s music.
November 21, 2014 @ 8:32 am
While I am not someone who cares either way about Jason Aldean’s life choices, I think a lot of it is how Aldean either intentionally or unintentionally comes off when he talks about it. I don’t think people would “care” so much if every interview he does lately, he didn’t come off as such an insufferable prick.
November 23, 2014 @ 2:40 am
well I don’t give a thing about aldean’s personal life, I don’t think I can understand why he did that and his feelings about it. still his music sucks and I’ll never support it
November 20, 2014 @ 7:45 pm
Did everyone just skip over Shane McAnally? You know the guy that just won some grammys or a songwriter award or something.
November 20, 2014 @ 8:37 pm
I read the article about Brandy Clark last night and did some research on gay country musicians. There was a guy named Steve Grand I came across, but couldn’t stomach his music. I wouldn’t consider myself bigoted in anyway. But country music is often about love, and not many straight men want to listen to a love song about two guys. I could see a bit of a genre split here where gay country singers will have a sorta side genre. It’s not like rock music where you can be openly gay and never have to address that in the music. Relationships are one of this genres biggest topics. And I know almost everyone I know who likes country music will never listen to Ty Herndon again. 2014 means dick all in tolerance and acceptance. My little town in eastern Canada has plenty of racist, homophobic people that aren’t gonna change their opinions. Just my .02. Good on these guys for their courage, but it’s not gonna help their careers any.
November 21, 2014 @ 6:40 am
Just for the record Steve Grand just went country so that he could get the media attention for being gay. In interviews done at the time I his first single launch they asked him what his next song would be about and he said he had no interest in persuing a country career but wants to do pop. His management knew that labelling him as a country singer would make him a “newsworthy” topic.
I’m glad Ty and Billy are finally out and I welcome them to the freedom that comes with it. I do have to say that they’re not the first to do so though as previously mentioned Shane McAnally, Drake Jensen and Josey Green all beat them to it among others. Ty is the most successful male to do so though so far. I’m not sure if he or Chely Wright would e considered the biggest though.
November 21, 2014 @ 6:54 am
His management knew that labelling him as a country singer would make him a “newsworthy” topic.
Oh, great.
I do remember reading an article on him and his single All American Boy. Listened to the song through the video. The song sounded like standard soft rock pop country fare and the video was all backroads, swimming holes and bonfires, except with a hunky gay guy hitting on a hunky straight guy injected into it. Check, please.
November 21, 2014 @ 7:33 am
Patrick Haggerty and Lavender Country have been playing country music with overtly gay themes since the early ’70s.
The song “Lavender Cowboy”, first recorded in the 1930s, was at one time banned from the radio as a blue song because the lyrics supposedly suggested a homosexual theme. I don’t see it, to me the lyrics dust depict someone who just doesn’t appear as masculine as his contemporaries. And at the end of the tune he dies defending a woman’s honor.
November 20, 2014 @ 10:25 pm
I said that “Follow Your Arrow was a groundbreaking song.
November 21, 2014 @ 7:23 am
Why does the line “Kiss lots of boys / Or kiss lots of girls / If that’s something you’re into” from “Follow Your Arrow” get so much attention while Luke Bryan’s line “We love who we love” from “This Is How We Roll”, which I’ve always taken to be about acceptance of same-sex relationships, seems to have been completely ignored?
November 21, 2014 @ 7:31 am
Follow your arrow line was more blatant, The bryan line is buried in a horrible song overall.
November 21, 2014 @ 7:41 am
I get that the line in “Follow Your Arrow” is more overt (and that “This Is How We Roll” is horrible, of course). But surely I’m not the only one of the millions of people who have been forced to listen to that piece of tripe at some point who caught it. In a way it seems like a bigger deal because it comes from the testosterone-driven world of bro country.
November 21, 2014 @ 7:46 am
It probably should be a bigger deal. I think it was buried so it wouldn’t become a big deal because it does not fit the bro-country narrative. It is the most original, genuine line in the entire song and in any real recent Bryan offering. I’d like to see who stuck it in there.
November 21, 2014 @ 9:01 pm
Really? That’s interesting that you think that. Not everything has to be on the gay agenda. I don’t think the “Love Who We Love” line has anything to do with the gay agenda. It could mean a lot of things, but I don’t think they intended it to be about gays.
November 21, 2014 @ 1:32 am
I bet Ty Herndon would like to “Follow Your Arrow”! Like I said above, I never could stomach Billy Gilman, but I did like some of Herndon’s music. “What Mattered Most” reminded me of a girl I knew, and I get teary eyed every time I hear it, even today. I sorta remember when he was playing with himself for that cop way back when. He made lots of excuses, but I knew what side of the plate he batted on even back then. Here’s an idea- Herndon and Gilman should form a gay Brocountry duo… They could rap about hot guys in big pickup trucks, etc… lots of chances for clever double-entendres about “spilling his longneck beer bottle”, “my hands on his gearshift”, etc…
November 21, 2014 @ 6:56 am
Maybe this will Inspire the the guys from Florida Georgia line to finally come out of the closet. Too soon?
November 21, 2014 @ 7:05 am
I thought it was common knowledge that Ty was a dirty homo. The unfortunate thing about this story, like every “coming out” story, is that it’s only purpose is to attempt to celebrate sexual deviance. Homos seemingly want a pat-on-the-back for admitting publicly that they enjoy inserting their penises into men’s poop-chutes.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again unapologetically: I hate homosexuals, for what they have done and are continuing to do to this nation. They already have all the same rights everyone else has, but NOOOOOO, that’s just not good enough for them. They want the f@&$ing government to force you and all your churches to submit to their filth. They are at best afflicted with a serious mental illness, and at worst a bunch of perverted, twisted reprobates.
I always liked a lot of Ty’s music and still do, in spite of the fact that he sticks his weiner in men’s buttholes.
November 21, 2014 @ 7:27 am
Clint, who’s preaching the sermon at Westboro Baptist this Sunday? Don’t forget to bring something for the potluck.
I’m not sure what bothers me more, Clint’s comment of the fact that it’s getting Likes. The internet is an amazing place.
November 21, 2014 @ 7:53 am
What’s the “A” stand for?
November 21, 2014 @ 11:28 am
Clint, here are some words that start with A that describe your disgusting diatribe — Appalling & Atrocious. Take your hate and move on.
November 21, 2014 @ 7:28 am
If by the government forcing you you mean following and enforcing the 14th amendment than yes they are forcing you. Kinda like desegregation in the 60s. No they do not have the same rights and respect that is the problem.
FYI they are not forcing churches to do anything.
I’d like to see you call Brandy Clark a perverted twisted deviant person to her face. My guess is you would not be able to.
If you are done with your hate speech you can move along.
November 21, 2014 @ 8:01 am
Lol! The 14th amendment? I’ve got to know; which part do you think is being enforced?
Yes, they have all the same rights everyone else as.
And stop degrading black people by comparing them to homos. Homos are not a race.
November 21, 2014 @ 8:13 am
The 14th amendment is about equal protection for everybody. The government is just enforcing that. Has nothing to do with race the comparison is that both groups are repressed by the majority. Blacks with segregation until the 60s and gays with the marriage bans (marriage is state sanctioned therefore falls under the 14th) and employment discrimination today.
November 21, 2014 @ 10:40 am
That’s what I figured. You don’t even know, do you? The first section was written to protect the rights of freed slaves. It had absolutely nothing to do with allowing people who commit sodomy to co-opt religious institutions that the government shouldn’t even be involved in, in the first place.
The next 3 sections pertain to some of the rules for the house and the senate. The last section gives the government power to enforce it all. Maybe you should turn off MSNBC, and actually read it Michael.
Homos are not repressed, and yes you are likening them to a race. You’re identifying them by a behavior that they partake in, and saying that identifier makes them comparable to a race of people. Homos have every right that everyone else has. Just because they like to slide their dongs into other men’s mud holes, doesn’t give them special privileges. Why should I have to hire someone because of the sick things they do with their genitals?
November 21, 2014 @ 11:05 am
If you are going to read it like that than the 2nd amendment only applies to well regulated militia and the government should be able to confiscate your guns.
Second of all I can’t stand MSNBC
You can try to twist it anyway you want but it is about equal protection and equal under law. That applies to EVERYBODY.
November 21, 2014 @ 3:47 pm
Dear Clint— Take your hate somewhere else.
November 21, 2014 @ 5:12 pm
Not all gay men participate in booty sex Clint. Some of them just use their mouths. Thought I’d give you something to think about since you seem interested in the specifics
November 22, 2014 @ 2:42 am
Clint,
Not only do you sound like the narrow-minded, bigoted juvenile childish jackhole you are, I’ve also come to realize that the ones who judge and condemn the LGBT community like you do are the ones who SECRETLY want to be a part of it and who have the most homosexual tendencies. What: are you mad and jealous that Billy or Try ain’t stickin their weiners in you, boy? Its 2014 & I don’t expect all people to be loving and open-minded but your hatred of LGBTs and of yourself will not be tolerated. Take your soapbox and childish self somewhere else you jackass.
November 22, 2014 @ 8:14 am
Oh Troy, you poor-little, misguided, emotional, morally-insane degenerate, I can’t be a bigot because homos aren’t a race or ethnicity. They are a group of people who partake in vile sexual behavior. It’s interesting: homos are the only people I can think of who identify themselves by what they do with their genitals, by a behavior. This, combined with the fact that people who partake in normal sexual behavior don’t wish to be identified by their behavior, proves the abnormality, and inferiority of homosexual behavior. Their own activism, along with the faux-pity taken on them by knuckleheads like you, prove their deviance.
You “progressives” really are an odd bunch Troy. I’ve never understood the use of that word: “progressive”, because everything you goofballs believe in, fiscally and socially, would cause society to go BACK in time, not forward. I think you should start calling yourselves degressives. It would make more sense. Homosexual behavior was very popular in the Roman Empire, and totalitarian governments go back just as far.
I think it would be a good idea Troy, that in future, if you’re going to call someone childish or juvenile, you should refrain from using words like, “jackhole”.
I’ve heard that BS before; you and your fellow social warriors have been spewing it for decades. “If someone is against homosexual behavior, they must be a repressed, latent homosexual themselves”. There’s no way on Earth you actually believe that Troy. If you did: a good, “compassionate”, “open-minded” social warrior such as yourself, would feel sorry for me and try to help me through this difficult time in my “self-hating”, repressed life. But who knows, maybe you’re right Troy. Maybe someday I’ll wake up go, “Dang it! I’m gonna leave my smokin’ hot, sweet Spanish wife, so I can go get screwed in the butt until I die of aids.”
P.S. If you want, we can break out the measuring stick and see who the “boy” is.
November 22, 2014 @ 11:38 am
If we break out the measuring stick, being a black man….we both who’d win: ME. You sound exactly like an ignorant, narrow-minded perverted sick douchebag. Are you so scared that they’ll come find you & fuck you in the butt, little boy? Why are you so concerned about nothing that doesn’t involve you? Not to mention, those people are human beings who really don’t give two fucks about you… One way or the other.
November 22, 2014 @ 4:11 pm
Trying to reason with someone this depraved and so devoid of a conscience, compassion and humanity as Clint is futile.
November 22, 2014 @ 12:43 pm
Clint,
You’re so far out of your league here, you might as well not even bother (in fact, please don’t, because your hatred and bigotry is old, outdated, and insufferable). Your whole “argument” (or lack thereof) is predicated upon the proposition that such behavior is “vile.” Nothing to back up such a claim.
In fact, your posts all deal with “men sticking their weiners into other mens’ poop-chutes” while never mentioning female same-sex couples–leading me to believe that while you come on here and spread such hate, you’ve probably got another window open of girl-girl porn, making you not only a bigot, but a hypocrite as well.
Your hatred is not wanted, here, Clint.
November 24, 2014 @ 9:49 am
Lol! So far out of my league? And what league would that be, Socrates? You actually believe that approval of deviant sexual behavior is some enlighted, forward way of thinking, don’t you?
My wife is gorgeous, and I can have her anytime I want, so pornography of any kind would be of no use to me. The only reason I’m speaking about male homos is because this article is about two male homos. Your views, and those of your blog partner Troy, are so rooted in emotion that you called me a hypocrite based on an assumption that you probably thought was a “gotcha” moment for you.
You sodomy appologizers are almost as sick as the sodomy partakers; and I suppose in your deranged minds you sincerely believe you’re doing the world a favor, but you don’t have anything on your side except raw, unadulterated, bleeding-heart emotion. Refuting points that someone makes is one thing, and that can be respected, but all you social warriors know how to do is pretend that your soooo intelligent because you support sexual behaviors that have been around since the beginning of time, and that have in the past, been a lot more “accepted” than they are now.
Now I’m going to clarify my position with hopes that you won’t respond again, because I get tired of these endless back-and-forths almost every time I comment on here. It’s also hard for me to find time for this.
I am vehemently opposed to homosexual behavior. I believe it to be unnatural, abnormal, perverted, self-destructive, and immoral. I suspect it is either the result of some kind of mental illness, or a spiritual temptation.
I believe people have the right to do pretty much anything they want to with their own body, and with their own life. They do not have the right to expect others to tolerate, accept, or approve of what they do.
I hate homosexuals, not because of the deviant behavior they partake in, but because of their militant political movement, attempting to force everyone to approve of them, and because they insist on telling the whole world about what kind of sexual behavior they enjoy.
I hate heterosexual, mostly white, liberal social warriors like you, much more than I have ever hated homosexuals. I hate homos in a general sense, but have had at least one friend who was homo. He didn’t try to force me to agree with it, and it didn’t affect my life in any way. But people like you and Troy somehow think it’s your job to police everybody’s thoughts and “change” the world with your “love” and “compassion”. You are like flies around my food when there’s no swatter around.
As for my “hatred” not being wanted here, that’s wishful thinking on your part. My original comment, that you have to scroll through over 60 comments to read, has 15 likes. That, plus the fact that this site is visited by mostly left-leaning, indie music, hipster types, and it still got that many likes, proves you wrong.
I would appreciate it if you would leave me alone now. Thanks.
November 23, 2014 @ 5:04 pm
Hey Clint how come you know so much about “those” activities? Sounds like some experience there. Let people live the way they wish. They’re not hurting you. People spend too much time thinking about what other people do in the bedroom. Ty and Billy have my support!
November 21, 2014 @ 7:41 am
One quibble with Ty: His comment about being gay “doesn’t mean your a sinner”….if we’re playing “The Strict Rules of Golf” (A little Goldfinger reference for you there), engaging in homosexual activity DOES make you a sinner, if we’re going by The Book. Now, does that alone mean he’s not worthy of Heaven? No more than your sins or my sins make us unworthy. The Book says ALL of us are sinners and fall short of the Glory of God, and its only by proclaiming Jesus as your Savior that we’re saved. The Devil tempts us in different ways: Ty is tempted by homosexual sex, my temptations lean more to gluttony, but in God’s eyes, one’s not better or worse than the other.
November 21, 2014 @ 7:42 am
Eating shellfish is technically a sin too.
November 21, 2014 @ 7:56 am
That’s an argument that the homosexual lobby puts forth as an example of Christians cherry picking which laws to adhere to. The truth is it’s far more complicated than that. We can get into a lengthy discussion about the many different covenants God made with Man, but this is what Jesus said about dietary restrictions: ”˜ “Don”™t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? For it doesn”™t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body. What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person”™s heart, that evil thoughts come””sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” (Mark 7:18-23)
November 21, 2014 @ 8:07 am
If we are going to use that argument with greed than a good portion of the church establishment is guilty. Same thing with Arrogance.
The reality is that a great majority of the people that detest homosexual acts are often not better than what they are against. Church officials, politicians, people like the WBC who are the meaning of slander and deceit.
It is hard to make an argument when the people making it do not practice what they preach. The great majority of high talking religious people I have met are hypocrites in one way or another.
Jesus also said “Love Thy Neighbor” not detest them because they are different.
November 21, 2014 @ 9:36 pm
I like to think the good Lord has come a long way in the past 2000 years or so. Wish he’d write a new book. He gave us the brains to bring us to where we are today, so he must have a modern update coming.
November 21, 2014 @ 9:42 am
Romans 14:14-15 I know and am perfectly sure on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. And if another Christian is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don”™t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died.
November 21, 2014 @ 8:29 am
Good for them. I honestly do not care either way, but if it makes both of them feel happier, I cannot begrudge them for that.
November 21, 2014 @ 8:30 am
This should make it easier for Luke and Kenny to come out.
November 21, 2014 @ 8:36 am
Let me say on the front end, I am a Christian and pastor. Here’s how this works for me – I have no problem with somebody “coming out.” I’m not sure it makes them a hero, but in a traditional field like country music it does take bravery to do that. What I don’t like is when the individual’s music becomes a platform to promote their sexuality. The best example I can think of is one of my favorite bands Judas Priest (yes, I’m one of those metal head / country guys). Lead singer Rob Halford came out many years ago. It did not change the fact that Priest is one of my favorite bands and that Rob is one of my absolute favorite vocalists ever. I didn’t burn my Judas Priest albums. Rob does not make his homosexuality a secret, but he does not make a big deal out of it either. His music today is like his music always has been. I’m not asking him to not be open about his sexuality, I’m just not expecting him to make Judas Priest a bully pulpit for LGBQT activism. I may not agree with his sexuality, but ultimately it’s not a big deal to me. I love him and his band. I have bigger fish to fry. I worry as Christians we’ve declared war on an easy target – homosexuality. We have much more serious issues in our midst – greed, idolatry, adultery, gossip, hypocrisy and many more. We ignore those and point our fingers and shake our heads at this relatively small group of people, almost in hopes the world ignores the mess we have in our own back yards.
November 21, 2014 @ 9:34 am
Well said. As you say, there are many more commons sins that seem to be ignored while certain individuals make it a point to burn homosexuals at the stake.
One thing that sticks in my craw, while the Bible does say that marriage is to be between a man and a woman – and for the record, I am one who is able to make a distinction between Biblical marriage and legal/social marriage – it says nothing about whether or not two people of the same sex should be attracted to each other, cohabitate, or raise children together.
It does explicitly say that, except in specific circumstances, people who have divorced shouldn’t remarry.
So I find it very hypocritical that some churches who rail against same-sex legal marriage are blessing second marriages of divorced people on a regular basis.
November 22, 2014 @ 12:14 am
Nice to see a comment like this. Sane christian country folk seem to be in short supply, or at least surrounded by very few microphones and cameras. BUT I must say that the language you use around the word “sexuality” makes me giggle. It’s not something you can agree or disagree with because it’s not a political position on the economy or a debate over crunchy vs. creamy peanut butter–it’s someone’s identity. That said, I understand you not exactly having a taste for artists “promoting their sexuality via LGBTQ activism.” It just doesn’t happen, is the thing. I feel the same way about not being able to turn on country radio without hearing some frat boy declare what makes him American–mainly, his belief in Jesus–and therefore what makes me un-American. LGBTQ activism is far less pious, I assure you, and all I care about is that music makes me move or moves me.
November 24, 2014 @ 8:24 am
Thanks for your response Ethan. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say Rob and I don’t share the same sexual nature / desire but that doesn’t stop me from loving him. I understand sexuality is not so much an opinion as it is an identity. I do not believe it is a choice somebody makes, but that they are truly born that way. I am not a champion of LGBQT rights nor am I an enemy of them. I believe we have to be careful in imposing our religious beliefs as the law of the land. Just as Christians chafe under the idea of Islam enforcing Sharia Law in our country, many non-Christians chafe under the idea of strictly Christian values being enforced as law.
Like it or not we live in a pluralistic society. It’s going to be very tough to deny same sex couples marriage when looking through the lens of the 14th Amendment. I’m not as concerned about denying same sex couples a right to marry as I am about allowing churches the choice to marry them or not under the auspices of religious freedom. Would I officiate a same sex ceremony? No. Would I attend one of a friend or family member that was gay? Yes. If I owned a bakery would I bake a cake for a same sex wedding? Yes – I would be in the cake business and that’s what you do – bake cakes for goodness sake!
I lived 32 years of my life as an atheist and it does feel very alien when you are outside the realm of Christianity in America. As you said Ethan, it can make you feel almost un-American. I can say I was never really the object of hatred or scorn, just many Christians felt sorry for me, loved me and prayed for me. I believe there is room for much less tension and much more cooperation and understanding between straights and gays. Gay people are not some wicked boogeymen trying to take over the world and force everybody to embrace their lifestyle. They are often misunderstood. Christians are not some zealous group of crusaders who want to burn gays at the stake. They are often misunderstood. Both groups have their extremists that give the majority a bad name.
I think there is room enough for all of this in the good old USA and we need to focus on being a country of unified diversity. United we stand…divided we fall.
November 21, 2014 @ 10:38 am
I think there are others who should follow his lead and proudly get it on with their careers. He’s leading by example.
November 21, 2014 @ 10:39 am
As a gay male country fan I want to thank Trigger for being so deliberately objective and dignified in his reporting on this–not raising hell OR proclaiming this a watershed moment, because these guys are not prominent enough for that to be the case, and that’s a fact. I was always of the belief that even if Chely Wright HAD been a big name when she came out, it would not be the true test for the straight male radio programmers, who are more likely to have the “Sure, we’ll play her–lezzies are hot” attitude.
November 21, 2014 @ 1:49 pm
At least you didn’t post “mega country star” or “Country icon” like most websites, when he wasn’t even that big.
November 21, 2014 @ 6:27 pm
I don’t want to hear that’s someone’s gay anymore than I wanna hear how many fat chicks Trace Atkins has plowed.
November 21, 2014 @ 6:47 pm
Guess what, Blackwater? You don’t have much of a choice, so I strongly suggest you learn to not only deal with it, get over it but most importantly…ACCEPT IT.
November 22, 2014 @ 12:52 pm
I have to accept homosexuality? wrong. I don’t care what consenting adults do. If Troy likes dicks in his mouth, that’s his business not mine or the rest of the worlds. Don’t make it mine by announcing it for no reason. It has no relevance to Country music (or this site for that matter, but that’s up to Trig). Why can’t we keep our sexual lives to ourselves?
November 22, 2014 @ 5:22 pm
I hate to disappoint you Blackwater but I’m straight and married. That is what assumptions get you. Secondly, I have a lot of friends in the LGBT community that are extremely private about their lives. Not because they’re ashamed of their sexuality. Far from it. But because they are normal people like everyone else in America. I have no tolerance for other’s narrow minded mentalities. If you don’t like gay folk, then that’s fine. But that doesn’t mean you have the right TP judge or condemn them on how they live their lives. They’re not sleeping with you, sharing their lives with you nor are they your friends. Its not affecting your life either way, so why do you care? Its idiots like you and Clint that make us Americans look bad all around the world. Take your bigotry and shove it your ass. God knows you’d probably like you.
November 22, 2014 @ 7:03 pm
No tolerance for narrow minded mentalities? Bigotry? Are you a f-in retard or just so blinded by your pro-dick smoking that you couldn’t read what I said. Here it is again – I DON’T CARE about people’s sexuality. What consenting adults do together is there business, not everyone else’s. I simply pose the question why the f- do we gotta hear about it?
And even if I was anti-gay, that’s my views. You expect me to respect yours when you won’t respect mine?? How is it only considered tolerance if you believe the same as the pro-gay community? If you follow Christian values you’re not tolerant. F- your hypocrisy and YOUR simple mind. I never said anything negative about the LGBT community. Go blow your pals.
November 22, 2014 @ 7:48 pm
The only retard I see is you. Its one thing to to say “hey, I don’t agree with homosexuality but their life, their choice” and left it at that. I wouldn’t have gone off onyou the way am I now. I would’ve just agreed to disagree. But when you make disparaging comments about folks like that, then I’m gonna have a problem with that. You went and said “why can’t people keep their sexual lives to themselves?” When in the hell did they mention their sexual lives? From what I’ve read, neither of them once mentioned their sexual lives. Just their orientation which is a big difference between that and what they do in her personal time.
This is America, Blackwater and they have the right to freedom of speech and to speak their minds just you or I do. If you don’t like what they have to say, then why the hell are you on this thread? There are plenty of other threads on here that don’t speak on the topic of homosexuality or the LGBT community. You’re just upset that my arguments are based in logic, facts and common sense and you are looking foolish trying to come up with responses against it. Give up while you’re ahead man. You won’t win and never will.
November 22, 2014 @ 10:44 pm
I’ve had to edit a few comments in this thread. Don’t want to see comments like, “You’re a fucking ____.” Let’s be spirited, but let’s also respect everyone and their opinions.
Thanks.
November 22, 2014 @ 8:12 pm
Judging by your homophobic slurs, Blackwater, clearly you do care. If you really “didn’t care,” you’d keep your mouth shut.
As for announcing it “for no reason”? Well, Blackwater, there IS a reason. And that reason is that he is a public figure, and he is saying that this is not something to be ashamed of (despite what ignorant bigots like you may think). And I refuse to stand idly by and let your ignorant hate speech go unanswered, because Ty is right….his sexual orientation is nothing to be ashamed of.
So, you can shut your mouth. Nobody here, besides Clint, maybe, wants to hear your ignorant backwards way of thinking.
November 22, 2014 @ 8:37 pm
Amen, brother!
I may come off as a hard lined, inflexible douchebag who is loudmouthed and opinionated and for the most part, that is true. I also believe that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and free to express however they wish. But when someone speak their opinion or expresses their belief and it is rooted in bigotry, hatred and ignorance and not to mention that it hurts people: then I will fight for those people who are being hurt by that. I will continue to stand by my LGBT friends and fight for the underdog. That will never change.
November 22, 2014 @ 11:39 pm
Do not confuse my lack of regard for political correctness as “hate” or “bigotry”. I really don’t care, I can’t stress that enough. That’s my whole point. I respect if you’re a Christian/Muslim that believes homosexual in sinful. I also respect homosexuals and their right to their views. Your views are yours, and unless they negatively affect innocent people I feel you should be free to continue such beliefs. What I can’t stand is the homosexual views that “our view is the only view, and if you don’t like it you’re a bigot”. Which is EXACTLY what Troy did to me.
November 23, 2014 @ 5:57 am
You’re fighting a battle you can’t win, Blackwater. You’re phrasing your comments in a way that is not just politically incorrect, but in a way that shows your a bigot.
YOU may not care to learn that Ty Herndon and Billy Gilman are gay, but to a population of people who are consistently demeaned, ostracized, disenfranchised, and otherwise made to feel of less worth, it’s important to see public figures come out. It’s important for them to have more and more people say “that’s fine, there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
And Troy is right. You may not like it. But you DO have to accept it. Because it’s called the 1st Amendment. And while that same 1st Amendment may let you make the comments you’ve been making, it also gives Troy, and me, and anyone else who so wishes to call you out for being a hateful bigot.
November 23, 2014 @ 9:34 am
Overall, you’ve made some good points in this discussion, but now I’m growing a little weary of your stridency. Also, comparing Blackwater to Clint and calling him a “hateful bigot” is BS, in my opinion. And saying “noboy here” wants to Blackwater’s or anyone elses views is presumptious. This isn’t your web site.
November 23, 2014 @ 11:51 am
Call me a bigot all you want, but all that does is water down the term. I don’t know how a bigot can possibly respect homosexual views, but oh well.
November 23, 2014 @ 1:53 pm
Here’s the problem, Blackwater. If you truly “didn’t care” about his sexual orientation, why did you bother commenting at all? In fact, why did you even bother clicking on the story? Because, clearly you care enough to comment and tell other people how much you don’t care.
You can say “I’m not a bigot” all you want, but the things is, anytime someone prefaces something they say by saying, “I’m not a bigot, but…” 99% of the time, what they’re about to say is in fact, very bigoted.
So, tell us, Blackwater, if you truly “don’t care,” then why did you bother to take the time to post a comment at all? Why didn’t you just let the story pass and ignore it?
November 23, 2014 @ 2:23 pm
Of for f- sake’s, I don’t think you guys are even reading what I’ve been saying at all. Why did I click on the link and why did I comment: I clicked on the link because I wanted to see how this article pertained to “saving country music”. Which it doesn’t. Why I commented: because I wanted to voice my opinion that I don’t care about people’s sexuality and felt it wasn’t news worthy for this site.
So instead of looking at substance, you sensed some resistance to your pro-gay views and labeled someone who you thought was anti-gay (who is not) as a bigot. So kudos to your stupidity and your lack of ability to respect my views. Obviously your views are the only ones that matter.
November 23, 2014 @ 2:45 pm
So, again, you cared enough to let people know you don’t care at all.
That just seems a bit contradictory, to me.
But, hey, if that’s the story you want to stick to, even though your comments about “people liking dicks in their mouth” clearly indicates otherwise, hey, keep sticking to it. Just know that you’re not fooling anybody.
November 23, 2014 @ 1:13 am
This has been quite an entertaining thread and I just want to thank you for responding to Blackwater as much as you did, because it’s the kind of thing I used to do in comment threads but don’t have the patience for anymore. I appreciate you going straight for the humor in his hissy fit. It is blatantly hysterical when people clearly can’t hear the word “gay” without images of genitalia and sex flooding their brains so overwhelmingly that they are unable to change a channel or close a window and are compelled to spill all over a blog article (so to speak). It’s also blatantly hypocritical, because I’d say “Country Girl Shake it For Me” would have ruffled Blackwater and co.’s feathers a lot more with the sole change from “girl” to “boy”. Could you imagine? Cheers, Troy.
November 23, 2014 @ 3:13 pm
You’re quite welcome, Ethan. I don’t expect to change people’s beliefs or how they feel. I’m not God, nor to I have the patience to even try to do so.
Its quite easy to say “I don’t believe in homosexuality due to my beliefs” or something along those lines. I would’ve been more than happy to agree to disagree. But such views are expressed with negativity behind them, then that’s when I’m going to take a stand and let them know that is not okay. Yes, my delivery needs a lot of work and I’m working on addressing that issue.
On the topic of this thread, my best friend said it best: “its a part of who I am but I don’t let define who I am.” And that is how I look at everyone. I judge based on a person’s character. I don’t care what you do in bed. It ain’t with me, so as per my attitude: no fucks are given.
November 22, 2014 @ 10:57 pm
No problem, Trigger. I do apologize for going off. I just can’ sit back and let folks make disparaging comments and slurs about people whose lives don’t affect their own in any way. Personally, I dont have anything against someone who is gay. If they’re happy and not being a danger to themselves or others, who the hell cares? If they’re happy, they’re happy. I’d rather just keep the focus on the music and keep it moving.
November 22, 2014 @ 9:07 am
Geez… This site sure turned gay for a few days.
November 22, 2014 @ 9:50 am
This site did not “turn gay,” it covered the biggest news story in country music arguably all year, if not in the last half decade. When historians are erecting the country music timeline, the “Follow Your Arrow” Song of the Year win, followed by the numerous male stars coming out of the closet will be a big mark, whether you like it, or not. You may agree or disagree with these men’s decisions, but that doesn’t mean it’s not news that is significant to country music.
Also, for the people who think I should have ignored the story, 1) That wouldn’t have in any way materially changed the impact these men’s decisions had, it just would have meant this site wouldn’t have covered it. 2) It would have announced to dozens, maybe hundreds of people that Saving Country Music is a closed-minded, bigoted site, whether it’s true or not. Trust me, there were MANY people who came here specifically just to see if I would cover this story. Covering a news story is in no way an endorsement or repudiation of anything. It is my job as a journalist to remain impartial and simply convey the facts to my readers, which I have done. As you can see, I’ve stayed curiously silent in the comments section, aside from offer a few small clarifications and insight.
November 22, 2014 @ 10:35 pm
Just bustin’ your balls Trigger… I enjoy your site and appreciate that the articles in question were written without an agenda. Hey… How bout a “Billy Gilman most badass moments” article in the near future?
November 22, 2014 @ 11:27 pm
I think he already did one, you probably just didn’t notice because the list was so short.
November 23, 2014 @ 9:13 am
Ethan, your articulate posts are always intelligent and insightful.
….”I used to do in comment threads but don”™t have the patience for anymore.”
Who would have the patience to continually try and enlighten those who won’t change their opinions without an education.
Trace threw everything down the river for his own personal issues.
Stick a fork in his singing/career…it’s pretty much done.
November 23, 2014 @ 9:14 am
Have compassion. Love everyone.
November 24, 2014 @ 9:55 am
people, look at yourselves. How can you waste your lives becoming so stressed out about the lives of people you’ve never met, and the comments of people you never will meet? This page is heavy with stress and hard feelings, and if I may paraphrase Bro-Country, our beloved Triggerman works his sugar-shaker off providing countless positive articles and reviews, many of which are lucky to reach ten or fifteen comments, while this article here, which fosters bad feelings and resent, gets over a hundred. Look in the mirror folks, the problem is not Clint, Blackwater, Troy Turner, or Billy Gilman; but you.
November 24, 2014 @ 11:01 am
I prefer to blame Billy Gilman. I’ll consider it retribution for the night back in about 2000 when my truck broke down and a friend gave me a ride, and I had to listen to his daughters sing “One Voice” over and over for nearly an hour.
December 16, 2014 @ 9:55 am
Actually, country have become more Liberal in recent years. Dixie Chicks, Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Reba, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Big Kenny, Willie Nelson and others I have seen comments that they support the gay fans. Even Dierks Bentley even said he don’t mind the gays either. With many big name stars coming out in support, the big shots behind the scenes of country music need to thread carefully on this issue. It could be a big back lash at them. I do think Ty is a much bigger name artist than Chely Wright with more hits, and many artsts and people behind the scene battled demons that Ty went through.
Ty Herndon had Steam back in 2001 and other songs.