Country music’s Ty Herndon comes out as gay

Reminder: Even if it is widely known that someone is gay, they are not out until they publicly share the news themselves.

Ty Herndon has taken that step today.

After years of struggle, the singer has come out publicly as a gay man at the age of 51.

Herndon made the revelation to People Magazine this week: ‘My mother probably knew I was gay before I did. I remember sitting down with her and having the conversation.’

Country music has not been seen as welcoming to openly gay artists and Herndon kept his secret when he first hit the charts in 1995 with the single What Mattered Most.

He says his mom was worried about his career choice.

‘She was more concerned about me having a happy life. You have to be able to do that in your own skin, and [my family] has seen me struggle with being gay my whole career.’

After five years of riding high, the strain took a toll. By 2000, Herndon was no longer being played on radio and by 2002 he had stopped touring.

His professional and personal slide that included a divorce from his second wife, bankruptcy, gaining 75 pounds, financial and legal problems and two stints in drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities.

Five years ago, Herndon had an epiphany.

‘During an Anthony Robbins seminar, I realized I had an incredible story that could possibly help someone’s son or daughter or grandchild’s life not be as difficult as mine has been. Maybe they wouldn’t have to go through as much pain and suffering. It’s time to tell my truth.

‘I was 10, sitting in church and horrified that I might be a homosexual. Whatever that word meant, I knew that I probably was one. And I know there’s a lot of those kids still out there. Telling my story is an opportunity to help just one of them.’