The New Rebels: These Diverse Country Artists Are Embracing Their True Selves In Their Music

Tom Roland

May 29, 2024

Billboard

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Artists like Chris Housman, Tiera Kennedy, and Frank Ray are breaking barriers in country music by embracing their true selves and incorporating diverse influences into their music, challenging industry norms and fostering inclusivity.

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Tiera Kennedy Black Woman with long Auburn braids wearing a black hat and blazer, smiling in front of a red and white CMT backdrop.

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Hubert Vestil/Getty Images

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Chris Housman, Tiera Kennedy, Frank Ray

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Rainey Day Fund

to support artists of color, artists with disabilities, artists in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in the roots music sphere.

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Gay Ole Opry

Why queer country music? Because sometimes you love a culture that doesn’t love you back. And when everyone came to the first Gay Ole Opry in April of 2011 in all their country finery, we knew we weren’t alone. We do it because we love the music and want to build a community to support queer country musicians.

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Country Universe

The longest-running country music blog, Country Universe was founded on and remains committed to the fact-based notion that country music has never been the exclusive purview of artists who are straight, white, Christian, Southern, and (mostly) men. When focusing on either the genre's history or its present, CU takes a "big tent" approach to the broader country universe and believes that a foundation of empathy makes country music an essential part of our shared popular culture.

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