Chely Wright Comes Out; Will Be Country Music's First Openly Gay Artist

May 02, 2010 06:02 PM EDT (Updated: May 02, 2010 07:36 PM EDT)

Chely Wright, singer, songwriter, and 1999 Academy of Country Music Awards New Artist of the Year, is gay, according to TMZ.  Rumors have been flying for the past week or so that People magazine was going to reveal an upcoming cover a country music star proclaiming that they were gay. There were several guesses but most were going with Shelby Lynne. But TMZ reported Saturday night that Chely Wright would be the country artist coming out in People magazine this week.

It’s a brave move for a country music artist, considering that country music fans are pretty conservative.  But it is 2010 after all and perhaps it is time for country music to have an openly gay artist.

And, yes, Chely Wright would be country music’s first openly gay artist.

Along with the big news of being country music’s first gay artist, Chely Wright also has a new book and album coming out as well. Like Me: Confessions of a Heartland Country Singer, will be available in bookstores on May 4, the same day her album, “Lifted Off The Ground,” launches.

Source : http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978211263