Gay Country Singer: 12 Picks To Rock Your Local Honkeytonk

The world may be changing, but no matter who you are, a cheatin’ heart or a Jolene somewhere is making somebody walk the line toward feelin’ so lonely they could cry.

Just ask any Gay Country singer from among the 12 we’ve picked and you’ll see. Country music is about people, and that includes anyone with a heart and a need for love and a roof over their head.

So, join us to meet the new wave of gay music artists in the country and western genre. Can you hear the train a comin’, it’s headin’ round the bend.

Top 12 Gay Country Singers

Chely Wright: The Trailblazer

First on this list is a place Chely Wright is used to. From her #1 hit “Single White Female” to being the first gay female country singer to come out, she has always distinguished herself. And now Chely’s giving back to others, creating opportunities in her role as chief diversity officer at Unispace, a global workspace strategy firm.

Ty Herndon: Leading With Love and Acceptance

Ty Herndon has never shied away from a challenge. With 17 hit singles on the Billboard charts (3 number #1’s) and several successful albums, he has also stood tall in real life, becoming the first mainstream male country singer to come out as gay in 2014.

Billy Gilman: The Child Star

Billy Gilman has always faced the music. From a precocious start at age 11 with a single on the Billboard charts, to a courageous comeback on The Voice after a 10 year absence from music, he’s never quit. Add to that his honest coming out in 2014, marrying his husband in 2024, and his selfless charity work along the way for causes like Muscular Dystrophy.

Brandi Carlile: American Star Turned Grammy Winner

Artistically, Brandi Carlile is hard to pin down. Her music spans several genres (including Country) and she has won 11 Grammy and 2 Emmy awards. She also gives back through the Looking Out Foundation, a charity she founded with her brother-in-law and musical collaborator, Phil Hanseroth. Carlile came out in 2002 and married her wife in 2012. She has two daughters.

Orville Peck: The Masked Country Singer

Orville Peck is a mystery to many due to the mask he always wears in public and the down-low appearances he has made on other folk’s records, but not to himself. When it comes to his identity, Peck was always out and proud, which is attested by the fact that Queerly magazine has listed him as one of 50 heroes leading the nation to equality and acceptance for all.

Trixie Mattel: Drag Meets Country

It’s no exaggeration to say Trixie Mattel has brought country music to a new place. A winner on Ru Paul’s Drag Race, Mattel’s flamboyant style has resulted in the appearance of multiple albums on the Billboard Country charts, a cosmetics line, and ownership of Wisconsin’s oldest LGBTQ bar.

Shane McAnally: Nashville Songwriting Powerhouse

Known primarily as a songwriter, McAnally built a career in the closet during the good old boy days of Nashville. Four Grammy’s and multiple CMA awards later, he finally came out in 2000 while living in West Hollywood, California. McAnally finally returned to Nashville triumphantly in 2012, marrying his partner in a ceremony officiated by the city’s mayor, Megan Barry.

Brandy Clark: Subtle Storytelling

Brandy Clark is a singer-songwriter and musical comedy composer for the Broadway show “Shucked” who has been nominated for 16 Grammys and a TONY award. A frequent collaborator with Shane McAnally, her songs have been performed by top mainstream and country artists like Sheryl Crow and Reba McEntire. Brandy is openly and proudly a lesbian.

Lil Nas X: The Gender Bender

Was Nashville ready for a gay black country singer? For that matter, was Hip-hop open to gay? Lil Nas X’s debut 2018 mega-hit “Old Town Road” put both genres on notice. Yet while the people seemed pleased, the old guard of both genres showed that homophobia and racism are still alive in business. But Lil Nas X didn’t let them off the hook, coming out in 2019 on the last day of Pride Month. Now that’s a mic-drop.

TJ Osborne: Mainstream Country’s Historic Moment

Recently cited by Billboard in their list of the 100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time, the Osborne Brothers are known for their earthy, passionate country-rock featuring strong vocals and guitar. The duo is also known for vocalist TJ coming out as gay in 2021, making him the first openly gay artist signed to a major country label.

Cody Alan: The Voice On CMT

Raised Christian and Mormon, Cody Alan married, raised two children, and climbed the career ladder to being the host of CMT’s After Midnight and the CMT Television show Hot 20 Countdown. Yet he wasn’t honest with himself until he came out in 2009 to his family, and then publicly to People Magazine in 2017. Now he feels he’s broadcasting the truth God meant him to speak.

Patrick Haggerty (Lavender Country): Pioneer Of Gay Country Songs

Back when it was dangerous to be openly gay in public, Patrick Haggerty and his band Lavender Country were out there doing it in 1973 for whoever would listen. A soldier of the cause, Haggerty ran unsuccessfully for political office twice and remained a staunch gay activist until his music experienced a resurgence in 2000, allowing him to rock on until he passed in 2022.

Breaking Stereotypes In Country Music

Country music is generally thought of as a phenomenon of the southern United States reflecting multiple influences, such as English folk music and African based blues rhythms.

Despite this apparent eclecticism, as it grew commercially, country music settled into a formula that often excluded women, non-white people, and non-heterosexuals.

As of late, LGBTQ+ performers have sought to expand the boundaries of the genre and offer  greater inclusivity in terms of subject matter and the social makeup of country music’s audience.

Why Representation Matters

For any type of art to grow and be effective, the people who partake in its experience need to recognize themselves in the art’s practice and form.

Seeing more gay artists and artists of color in country music makes it possible for people of these previously excluded groups to feel the music is actually accessible to them, both as a source of inspiration and a form of expression.

The Future Of Gay Country Music

Because more gay artists are coming out in country music, it suddenly seems more inviting to those who might have previously felt excluded by the genre’s conservative and religious trappings.

Featuring diverse storytelling, more open collaborations, and a more inclusive approach, we might actually be looking at a popular renaissance for this traditionally conservative music.

Gay Country Singer FAQs

Here are some questions that readers have been asking about gay music artists and gay country songs.

Are There Any Gay Country Music Singers?

Yes, more and more gay artists are coming out in country music and helping to expand the form’s reach to include a broader audience looking to hear its stories told with openness and compassion.

Who Is The Most Famous Gay Singer?

There’s no one “most famous” gay singer. Many performers such as Elton John and Freddie Mercury in Rock and Brandi Carlile in Country have given gay audiences a chance to see themselves in their favorite music.

Who Was The First Gay Country Singer That’s Male?

Many believe that Patrick Haggerty, the leader of the band Lavender Country back in 1973 was the first unapologetic, out in public,  gay country music singer who was male.

Are There Any Young Gay Country Singers?

Yes, there are numerous young gay male country singers out there. Both Billy Gilman and Orville Peck are 37, and Lil Nas X is 26, with each already quite successful and sporting a large fan base.

Who’s The Most Famous Gay Country Singer On TikTok?

Dixon Dallas Gay, also known as Jake Hill, with his song “Good Lookin’” is the top gay country singer on TikTok.

Gay Country Singer Final Thoughts

Long cornered by stereotypes of good ol’ boys who were hard on women and people of color, country music is finally sporting a new image for the 21st century.

The subject matter is still the same, life’s difficulties, love, heartache, hating your job, drinking too much, and more, yet the performers are more progressive socially and sexually.

That’s why we’ve put up our list of 12 gay country singers you need to know about if you want to hear something that’s relevant to you and your lifestyle.

Check ‘em out, you might find a new fave for your ear buds.