Inspired by Ty Herndon’s public coming out, fellow country singer Billy Gilman followed suit hours later in an emotional YouTube video. “Being a gay male country artist is not the best thing,” Gilman says in the clip. “It’s difficult for me to make this video, not because I’m ashamed of being a gay male artist, or a gay artist or a gay person. But it’s pretty silly to know that I’m ashamed of doing this knowing that because I’m in a genre and an industry that’s ashamed of me for being me.” He adds, “I can honestly say I’m scared to death.”
In 2000, Gilman made his debut when he was just 11 years old with the single “One Voice,” which hit the top 20 on Billboard’s Country music chart. His album of the same name went double platinum later that year. In the video, Gilman also details the whispers around his sexuality and said that he wanted to get ahead of them and come out on his own terms. Congratulations, Billy. Now maybe Nashville’s Will Lexington will finally come out?
