Country Star Chely Wright Done Hiding, Comes Out

By PopEater Staff Posted May 3rd 2010 12:05PM

The speculation is over, the rumors confirmed: The star coming out in this week's PEOPLE magazine is country singer Chely Wright, the first artist to rock her conservative-leaning genre with such news.

"Nothing in my life has been more magical than the moment I decided to come out. I hid everything for my music," Wright tells PEOPLE. The 39-year-old songstress behind the hit 'Single White Female' was raised in the South in "a community in which homosexuality was shunned."

Wright was hesitant to make the announcement for many years. "There had never, ever been a country music artist who had acknowledged his or her homosexuality," she says in PEOPLE's story, on newsstands Friday. "I wasn't going to be the first."

Wright recorded 'Hard to Be a Husband, Hard to Be a Wife' with Brad Paisley, to whom she was once romantically linked.

The announcement is part of a big week for Wright: Her memoir, 'Like Me,' and her first record in five years, 'Lifted off the Ground,' will both hit stores.

Various sources are beginning to speculate how Wright's announcement will play with conservative listeners in the country music community.

Watch the video for Wright's 1999 hit, 'Single White Female,' below:

Tags: Chely Wright

Comments

(73)

Monday 03 May

By BronxKid

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TMI

By Mikki

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Why is this world so obsessed in knowing about another persons sexual orientation?

Why are people so concerned in knowing what goes on behind someone's bedroom door?

Because they have a lousy sex life or don't have one at all!

Tuesday 04 May

By Spirit

I don't think anyone IS interested. If people would keep their business private, then there wouldn't be any issue. Why does anyone need to announce to the world their sexual preference? Its stupid. Keep your sex life private whether you are hetero or homosexual. Its putting it on the table and making it an issue that makes it an issue...then the very ones making it an issue get upset because it is. Its crazy!! lol

By Marjon

Congratulation Chely! Way to be yourself and stand strong!

By Bfrjds1981

Well I am one for sure that is done wuth her music. I don't go around talking about my sex life and can't understand why gay people make sure we hear about their sex life everytime they speak. Keep your private life just that, private.
I bet in a few months she will have wished she had kept her mouth shut. Lets wait and see.

By BCS

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When ALL people have EQUAL rights there would be no need for anyone to step "out" Until that day, every gay/lesbian human being needs to speak out & have their voices counted.

By jerry vinson

She Is is a beautiful woman respect her honesty.I think she is a plus to country music looking forward to her new music her personal choices should be of no concern to anyone .

ROCK ON BABE
JV

By Robin

I still like Chely Wright she sings my all time favorite song BUMPER OF MY SUV What she chooses to do with her life is personal I for one support her actions and will continue to support her by buying her music

By guadsterg

Same here robin.

Semper Fidelis

By Terry aka skinnydude

NO WONDER she wouldnt go out with me ! lol

By Greg

What a waste of a good looking woman! That is such a shame, I have always really liked her, it's a loss to the male world and to country music as a whole.

By AnnaLRichard

Incidentally, I forgot to mention that, though, I used to be a Country Music fan,still am to some degree, but I have never heard of Chely Wright. Her life is her life and no one else's. Nosy people, I detest!

By Tom

You shouldn't have to be straight to be able to sing about rabbit huntn', cat-fishing, and beer drankin'!

By True Christian Conservative

I consider myself a "True Christian Conservative" and have "understanding and forgiveness". But I also know that as Christians we are to call sin what it is. The Bible spells it out pretty clearly as to the punishment for homosexuality. Just because some are tolerant of the behavior does not make it right.

By Frank

Wrong prove it

The proof is in the first chapter of Romans. Read it. And I do not claim to be perfect. The fact that I sin daily does not change the fact that homosexuality is a sin. You can choose to be tolerant of it and celebrate it. I personally will not support the lifestyle.

Thursday 10 June

By Glen Weeks

Are you retarded?

By jo

Kudo's Chely. Im sure it wasnt easy being the first but maybe you'll help other existing CW artists or future ones with the courage to live the truth. It's not just CW indsutry BTW, most know that Hollywood is FULL of closeted gays and lesbians...from the A-list down. Good luck to her and though Im Christian I do agree with Angelia as Im sure most will.

By spirit

Cheley isn't the first, kd lang was. It ended her country career.

By Teresa

Fans of Country Music need to be given more credit! Someones sexual prefrence doesn't dictate if they are a talented artist!
I personally love all kinds of music but prefer Country! I don't choose the music I listen to based on the individual and their personal status~I listen because of their vocal ability!

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