Country singer Ty Herndon: Support after coming out ‘blew my mind’
Country singer Ty Herndon has thanked well-wishers for the wave of support he received after coming out as gay.
The ‘Living in a Moment’ singer came out as gay last week, just hours before fellow country singer Billy Gilman did the same.
Ty Herndon, 52, has been a country singer for nearly two decades, and built up a loyal following in the genre.
Coming out in a TV interview last week, he said: “[My biggest regret] is that I couldn’t be gay and be in country music.
“I’ve dreamed about being in country music since I was six years old and it’s my life, it’s what I do, it’s who I am and I went to great lengths to cover up that fact to be a country star.
“And today I get to tell the world I am an out, proud, and happy gay man.”
After support from fellow singers including Ricky Martin, Kristin Chenoweth, and Lance Bass, he told People today: “My mum says I need to send thank-you cards, so I’ve got a long list!
“My life feels open. It feels free, like the weight of the world’s been lifted off my shoulders.
“All that keeps running through my mind is: It’s time to get to work
“There’s so much work to be done in the South with all these kids that are struggling so greatly with finding love and support and finding a place to go to feel loved and supported.”
However, he said he wouldn’t jump into activism immediately, adding: “I’m gonna get my footing with all this.
“I think if you’re going to speak to something, you need to be as knowledgeable as you can. Right now, I’m just gonna sing about it.”
Of homophobic responses, he said: “There are, of course, a few haters out there, but as we say in the South, ‘Bless your heart. We’re gonna pray for ya!'”
