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Chely Wright on how she has been frozen out of Country music since coming out as a lesbian
These days, Chely Wright isn’t often seen at major country music events. She tells CBS This Morning says since she came out, she’s experienced a subtle rejection by the industry establishment.
“As my friend said, ‘I don’t think (the rejection is) going to be fire and brimstone, I think they’re going to freeze her out.’”
“It’s not my belief that I should be performing on every awards show. … Now it’s the new Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood and Lady Antebellum, that’s a natural part of entertaining. (But) there’s an institutionalized friendship within country music, once you’re in, once you’re one of us, you’re always invited to certain things to present or be a part of it or chair a committee for the Country Music Hall of Fame, which I used to do things like that.”
She added: “And so, it’s…a rejection mostly because I would like to hear a country music artist, the big ones, not just say, ‘Well, I like Chely. I like her even though she’s gay.’ I need a country artist who is a big deal, like Jay-Z in his community; He came forward and said, ‘I believe in equality for all.’ I’m struggling because I have not heard that from the big stars in country music.”
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Michael says:
These country stars are hypocrites including the so called gay friendly ones they never do or say anything thats supportive of this community they just hide and claim they support us like hypocritical cowards.Whilst at the same time getting people who are extremely anti gay ignorant intolerant and conservative to buy their cd’s go to their concerts and listen to their music.These are not FRIENDS of the lgbt community if they were they would prove it they would not be afraid to say something but they are they are afraid of losing their bigoted fanbase and I am quite frankly sick and tired of their hypocrisy.The Dixie Chicks were one of the few who came out in support of the LGBT community years ago and Ive always respected them for that as well as been a fan of them as well especially after that. If they have no self respect dignity and are willing to sacrifice what THEY believe in in order to satisfy their bigoted fan base then to hell with them period.I for one will never buy any of their music much less listen to any of them.