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TJ Osborne, half of the country duo Brothers Osborne, is publicly discussing being a gay man for the first time.
Together, the duo have won four CMA Awards and been nominated for seven Grammys. As a result, TJ’s release makes him one of the most established country singers signed to a major label for being openly gay.
Speaking in an interview with Time, the country artist explained that he was “very comfortable being gay,” having dated close friends and family for a while. He himself knew from a young age how he identified himself. However, given the reputation of country music fans for being somewhat ruthless towards people whose values differ from theirs, he has been afraid to go public with his sexuality for years.
“I find myself being guarded not to want to talk about something that I personally have no problem with. It just seems so strange to me,” he explained.
OSBORNE BROTHERS THANK YOU FOR GIVING A SLAPPED HALF-TIME SHOW AFTER THE FEED OUT IN CASE OF TECHNICAL PROBLEMS
The 36-year-old noted that there is an inherent risk that an announcement like this will cause him to lose fans. Although he notes that he may give too little credit to his followers.
TJ Osborne has publicly discussed his release for the first time.
(Rodin Eckenroth / WireImage)
“People will ask, ‘Why do we even have to talk about this? “And personally, I agree with that,” he explained. “But for me, going to an awards show with a man would be mind blowing to people. It wouldn’t be like, ‘Oh, cool!’
He continued, “I don’t think I’m going to be kicked off the stage in Chicago, but in a rural town playing a county fair? I’m curious how it’s going to go.”
COUNTRY DUO BROTHERS OSBORNE ARE NOT AFRAID TO TALK ABOUT THEIR SPIRIT
TJ explained that the coronavirus quarantine gave him some perspective and brought him to the conclusion that there is no great time to go out and that it was important for him to be honest about who he is to value any future success.
“I want to reach the peak of my career being completely who I am,” he told the outlet. “I mean, I am who I am, but I kept a part of me silent, and it choked.”
Although hitmakers like Lil Nas X, Brandi Carlile, and Orville Peck have been open about their sexuality in the past, Osborne feared that his well-established footing in the genre would not only give him a lot to lose, but his brother, John, too.
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For his part, John told Time, “If I had to have all my money and my success wiped out for my brother to truly thrive in life, I wouldn’t even think about it. Not for a second.”
TJ concluded his interview by noting that he hopes his decision to go out publicly will make country music more accessible to the gay community rather than shutting down existing fans.
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“You know that thing – stand up for something or will you fall for something?” he said. “It sounds like something someone in country music would say. But if you’re for something and it’s not what they stand for, then they hate it.”
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