Queering country: 10 LGBTQ+ musicians who have changed the genre, from Lavender Country to Orville Peck
While LGBTQ+ artists are making advances left and right, there are still some areas where not everyone is accepted, and those who identify as being part of the community face obstacles when they’re honest and open.
Country music is notorious for being closed off to anything other than what it’s used to—white, Christian, cisgender, and straight. Musicians who don’t fit that mold in any way are often not given the same opportunities, and they usually don’t reach the heights of their counterparts who do adhere to the “norm.”
That being said, things are changing for the better. Sure, country music is moving more slowly than other sectors of the entertainment industry, but any progress is good. Those in positions of power seem more open to accepting all different types of artists these days, and there are now a handful of acts who have shown that an LGBTQ+ musician can make it big and do incredible things, even in the conservative world of country music.
Here are LGBTQ 10 musicians who show that a country artist can be anyone:
Brandi Carlile
Brandi Carlile is one of the most successful LGBTQ+ artists in not just the country music scene, but the entire industry at this point. She’s achieved remarkable commercial success and earned widespread critical acclaim, which not everyone can claim. With nine Grammys already under her belt, she consistently garners numerous nominations whenever she releases new music. Known for her Americana-leaning sound, the singer-songwriter recently ventured into rock, further expanding her artistic repertoire and garnering additional accolades in the process (and showing she can really do anything).
Throughout her career, Carlile has remained open and unapologetic about being a lesbian. She and her wife Catherine Shepherd have been happily married for over a decade and together they are raising two daughters, creating a loving and supportive family unit. They even introduced Carlile this past Grammys when she performed in what turned out to be an incredibly sweet moment.
Brandy Clark
Much like Carlile, Brandy Clark has been making major moves in the world of country music as a lesbian. Although she may not have achieved the same level of commercial success, Clark has captured the hearts of industry insiders. Despite being a seven-time Grammy nominee, she has yet to secure a win, but the fact that she is consistently recognized speaks to the immense respect her colleagues have for her. She was even nominated for Best New Artist in 2015, and since then, many of her releases have received nods in the country music sphere, further solidifying her influence.
Adding to her accomplishments, she is currently nominated for a Tony Award for co-writing the score of the musical Shucked. Like Carlile, Clark fearlessly embraces her same-sex attraction, embodying a sense of authenticity and openness in her artistry, while not letting it define her.
Chely Wright
During the mid-to-late ‘90s and early 2000s, Chely Wright emerged as a rising star in the country music scene. She achieved success with several memorable hits on Billboard’s country chart—most notably her single “Single White Female,” which reached the coveted No. 1 position.
Behind her growing career, Wright grappled with a deeply ingrained belief that her sexual orientation was immoral due to her devout Christian upbringing. From a young age, she made a personal commitment to never pursue relationships with women. Despite this promise, she later revealed that she did not strictly adhere to her own rule, but chose to keep her true self a secret.
It wasn’t until 2010 that Wright made the courageous decision to come out publicly, choosing People magazine as the platform to share her truth. Prior to this pivotal moment, she endured years of internal struggle, battling with her identity to the point where she contemplated suicide, but since then, she’s lived a healthier life and continued to make music.
Lavender Country
Lavender Country stands alone on this list as the only true band featured. In the realm of country music, groups are not particularly prevalent, and those with openly gay members are even rarer.
Their self-titled album, released in 1973, holds a significant place in country music history as the first known gay-themed album. Given the prevailing attitudes of the time, no one thought it would be a success—and they were right. Only 1,000 copies of the album were initially pressed. The LP featured tracks such as “Cryin’ These C*cksucking Tears,” which still wouldn’t be readily embraced by mainstream audiences today, let alone decades ago.
The Seattle-based group—another rarity in country music—disbanded after the release of their debut album. As societal attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community evolved, Lavender Country’s name resurfaced, and their music found a new audience. In a remarkable turn of events, nearly 50 years after their debut, the band released their second album, Blackberry Rose, in 2022. Tragically, their frontman, Patrick Haggerty, passed away in the same year, and it seems the band has once again split, though their legacy is discussed more today than ever before.