My Big Gay Country Playlist

Country music has never been known as a culturally progressive genre. 

This is why it serves as such an important touchstone to measure social change. If country music is becoming more inclusive, that means there is hope for the rainbow flag even in the deepest set, most traditional parts of our nation.

Here is my Big Gay Country Playlist - full of the queer artists, allies, and game-changing innovators making it happen.

Girl Next Door by Brandy Clark

I'm really just the perfect mess

And I ain't nothing less or nothing more

Brandy Clark is a proud lesbian, and also an outspoken advocate for celebrating yourself exactly as you are. In this song, she refuses to be anyone else's idea of the perfect woman. She claims her identity - the good parts, the bad parts, and everything in between - as her own to define. Preach on, sis.

All Night by Brothers Osborne 

What good is a saint if you ain't got the sinnin'?

What good is a life if you don't get to livin'?

In an interview with Time Magazine, Thomas John Osborne agreed that country music might not be the most popular genre among gay people. “But is that just because they’ve never had the opportunity to relate to it?” As an openly gay artist stepping into the spotlight, T.J. - one half of the Brothers Osborne duo - just might be the perfect man to help us find out.

“Others will now feel invited to the country music party for the first time,” explained T.J.’s close friend and fellow country artist Kacey Musgraves in the same article. “Country music deserves a future even more honest than its past.”

Jolene by Dolly Parton

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

I'm begging of you please don't take my man

Country music's past is not without its bright spots, though. Dolly Parton is, perhaps, the greatest LBQTQIA+ ally in the genre. She has long been an enthusiastic advocate of gay marriage, drag artistry, and trans rights. As an indisputably powerful force in the country community, her outspoken support has offered hope to many children who may not have otherwise been exposed to rainbow allies. As Dolly herself explained, “I think everybody should be allowed to be who they are and to love who they love.” Isn't it that simple?

The Joke by Brandi Carlisle

You're feeling nervous, aren't you, boy?

With your quiet voice and impeccable style

Don't ever let them steal your joy

And your gentle ways

To keep 'em from running wild

In this hopeful and heart wrenching "it gets better" style anthem, Brandi Carlisle sings encouragement to young people who don't quite fit in amongst small minds.  Brandi herself is a happily married lesbian woman and mother of two. She has found her rainbow at the end of the storm. The joke's on them, she explains. Your world will expand. You'll outgrow this season. You'll leave those narrow minded people in the dust. Someday these things that make you stand out will help your life to take a turn for the spectacular. Just you wait.

Old Town Road by Lil Nas X

Can't nobody tell me nothing

You can't tell me nothing

If a single artist represents the potential for cultural change in country music, it's Lil Nas X. As a queer man of color, he goes into the genre as an anomaly. Refreshingly, he has never once apologized for that. Instead, he implores us to “live your life to its fullest potential, and don’t really care too much about what other people think of you.” 

Lil Naz X is as bright and glittery and loudly queer as they come - and his breakout single "Old Town Road" was arguably the biggest country music hit of the year. He is a joker, a good timer, and a total wild card. He also represents hope for queer youth in the future of country music.

We Shall Be Free by Garth Brooks

When we're free to love anyone we choose,

When this world's big enough for all different views,

When we all can worship from our own kind of pew,

Then we shall be free.

Garth Brooks has a deep, classically masculine voice and an old-world cowboy's demeanor. His name and music are synonymous with tradition. For country music leaders like Garth Brooks to proudly identify as LBGTQIA+ allies is not only courageous - it's a necessary component of cultural progress. 

Any society can change for the better. Country music is proving it. They are often the last musical genre to embrace something new - so when they do, you can be sure it's taken hold deep in our cultural psyche. If a genre so firmly rooted in tradition can start to fly the rainbow flag on occasion, then surely there is hope for all of us. 

After all, none of us are perfect allies. We're just learning and growing and doing our best.