Never Wrong Time to Try the Chely Wright Thing
May 3, 2010 by admin
Filed under Entertainment, LGBT, Music, Politics, What's Featured
Well, the big gay news came out today; country music singer, Chely Wright, revealed she is a lesbian. OK. I have to admit, I am not a new country music fan, so last night when a good friend and her reliable hotline of gabbin’ gays speculated with certainty the name of the heavily hyped celebrity homo, I said, “Who?” My bad I guess. The way the media has been carrying on, my money was on Oprah…or at the very least, Hillary. Condoleeeza Rice? Sarah Palin?
Other than providing a news cycle of actual gay content to the niche entertainment sites (don’t worry Megan Fox, you’ll be front-page again real soon), what does this really mean? I give Chely Wright deserved credit and high praise for living her personal truth, but the stark truth is that thousands of men, women, and teens make this very difficult decision daily without the political cover of People magazine. Make no mistake, there is a definite correlation between her book, her new CD, and her sexuality all coming out at the same time. And I say more power to you…work it if you got it.
Some are saying that by Chely Wright coming out, those ultra-conservative country music fans can now say they know a homosexual because her music is played in their car, their home, and their honky tonk. And that may be so, but before you and I make repeated trips to the post looking for that next tea party invitation, two words…Dixie Chicks. Natalie Maines was practically plucked by merely mentioning that George Bush was an embarrassment, something nearly 70% of the country eventually agreed with in 2008.
My point is, celebrity coming out stories make for fun media speculation and girl gossip, but when used as a barometer to test the frontal boundaries of everyday people, it just doesn’t measure up. Sure that sweet little lady from Mississippi will dance for America with a dykey daytime talk show host, but don’t ask her to extend her tax dollars for a home town high school senior dance that includes a lesbian in a bad tuxedo. And on a much smaller scale, “You know, Schmootz, you are kind of amusing sometimes, but I’m never going to vote to allow you to get married. It’s just not right” And that’s my next door neighbor who borrows the big gay cup of sugar, the occasional big gay beer, and shovels my big gay sidewalk every other time. She knows me…I hum 80’s tunes while riding in her car, I sing stuck-on-the-brain Glee selections in her home, and at times, I even get Haggard in her honky tonk. I’ve done the Wright thing, but it just hasn’t made a difference…I’ll keep trying.
I like it. And I like that you give her credit for doing the same as you – you slap the media but you do give her credit for living real – even if it is tied to a record or book — although the loss of the conservative album buyers for a small percentage of lesbian buyers I can’t imagine will rocket her back to the success she had in the late 90′s.
The real question I have —- will country radio play her now? Or has her honesty equalled career suicide except for women’s festivals?
At the same time this news does make me angry at all the people who we know to be and thought this news might be about…. How many VIABLE predictions were made by all kinds of ‘news’ media as to the mystery LGB or T?
If only others whose names were realistically tossed around could do the same. If a few more of them…. yes I am talking to you —- Mr Newsman, or Ms. Pop Star, or Mister Musical Legend or Ms. TV A Lister ….. maybe the wall could start coming down in the ways you describe in your day to day life.
Chely saying her truth – she’s from ‘Dixie’ and she likes ladies – is a lot more then other mainstream country artists have ever done (Yes, I know KD Lang – but KD is a different story as she wasn’t born from the Nashville Country Music elite.) One can’t deny that Chely combined with others who had the balls to put their life out there (Lambert etc) maybe do make tiny dents. If only to give courage to others living a lie to do the same whether famous country singers or a young woman in Duluth who knows she’s not alone.
Will Chely have baring on the conservative community – hell no! But the good to those who need heros in their community could have a lasting effect.
Two things about this news I will be interested to learn:
1) hearing her tell of how she had to change her country sound to include the ‘correct’ pronouns in order to sell records…. Single White Female (which won her a ton of awards and was a catchy little tune in my car growing up) was a HUGE hit – but about finding a guy. Was she pushed back into the closet by Nashville or did her art help bring her out?
2) How much the song that is pointed out in the photo above will be brought up in the coming weeks?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZdq62ThVQM&feature=related&fmt=22
For another interesting spin on her – The Huffington atticle on her today was also very interesting.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-willman/chely-wright-comes-out-as_b_561103.html
Oh and trying to download the CD on Itunes…. album is marked explicit.
Really???
Can’t wait to give a listen tomorrow
Today show today.
http://glaadblog.org/2010/05/05/chely-wright-talks-about-coming-out-on-the-today-show/
Great blog mind, you know I have read press clippings these past couple days in regards to Ms. Wright and let me tell you some of the stuff she talked about like her breakdown and almost suicide attempt just broke my heart and how bravely she spoke about her life before coming out i find very inspiring and who knows maybe she might have helped a young woman or young man who is in the same spot actually be able to be inspired and be at peace with themselves
but I too give her credit for living her truth and being proud
unfortunately those conservative fans will chew her up and spit her out like yesterday’s dinner but for those who struggle with this in their lives perhaps they just found someone they can relate to and that to me is never a bad thing at all
Very interesting interview she did with EW.com which speaks to what you are saying Maegan. So sad that she believes artists that were booked for and ticket buyers might back out of her charity event because of this announcement.
Just sad!
http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/05/05/chely-wright-comes-out-qa/
thanks for the link chele, and yeah it is awful she thinks that and I certainly hope that it does not happen to her because what she is doing for the schools is wonderful anyone who backs out of it because of the fact she is a lesbian is pretty damn pathetic IMO and shows me they are a bunch of cowards
Earlier in the week when the news broke that it was Chely Wright coming out, I, not being much of a country music fan went to Google to learn more about Chely and find an article or two about her coming out. I thought most likely I would read an interview or two and have my curiosity about Chely and her music satisfied, and move on with a sincere but casual, “Welcome to the family and Best Wishes.”
Instead I have read, watched,and listened to quite a few Chely Wright interviews, ordered her book, watched a lot of her videos and become a fan, because along with her candor and moving story, not only has she come out she had already jumped in with organizations like GLSEN and Faith in America. And as a lesbian and Army veteran her support of our troops and her opposition to and call for the repeal of DADT made me smile.
Yes of course, she has a new book, new album and new documentary all timed with her coming out, and as you said Schmootz more power to her. I would be wondering why someone in the entertainment industry wouldn’t utilize their time in the media spotlight to market their wares, and I can’t wait to read Like Me.
..just a thought, but maybe having a book and album to sell has worked to serve more than just the commercial aspect of Chely’s announcement. If she had just made the announcement of her being gay and not had any commercial properties to promote, how long or how big do you think the story would have survived or grown? I don’t fault her at all for linking the two, like previously said, when in the spotlight you need to make the most of it. I’ve still not become a fan, but certainly appreciate all she’s done for our troops, I’m also an Army vet, and have known of her work in that arena for a while. I congratulate her on having the courage to go public unlike so many others. I hope that her predictions of being shunned by country fans and conservatives don’t pan out, but the good she’s done far outweighs anything I can imagine that they might have done with their lives.