By Bridget Sinden
Happy Pride month from all us at Wildhearted! To celebrate we thought we’d highlight some of the great queer artists of country today.
Orville Peck
Starting off strong with Orville Peck, who is one of countries current most innovative voices. His debut album “pony” released in 2019 and it quickly gained attention for its blend of traditional and alternative country elements. His voice and lyricism cut deep as his work explores themes of love and identity, his signature fringed mask has made him a recognizable country icon.
Marren Morris
Who doesn’t know Marren Morris? The Grammy award winner is constantly pushing the boundaries of country. She’s always used her voice to stand up for change in both her music and online presence. In 2023 she released “The tree” a ballad calling for change in the industry and the genre, since then she’s dominated the country pop space. Her work is authentic and extremely influential which is why she is always one of our Wildhearted favourites.
August Ponthier
August Ponthier is everything you could want, folk, country, alt pop, they do it all. Their deeply personal storytelling put them on the map as an essential new voice in country. Born in Texas, their music is composed of many elements like self discovery and belonging. Their debut album “Everywhere isn’t Texas” released earlier this year.
Lydia Von Hof
Songwriter, Producer and multi instrumentalist Lydia Von Hof is known for her blend of rock, pop and country influences. Based in New York City her distinctive voice and writing explores the human experience.
The Cowgays
Nashville based country music trio The Cowgays is made up of acclaimed artists Brooke Eden, Chris Housman, and Adam Mac. Their artistry and storytelling is fresh, joyful and unapologetically queer. Known for high energy performances and rich harmonies they perfectly capture the spirit of country.
Brandi Carlile
One of country’s most influential voices, Brandi Carlile has always been a passionate advocate of social change and a champion of emerging and developing artists. Since the early 2000’s she’s gained critical acclaim for her genre spanning work and musical storytelling.
Olive Klung
Contemporary folk singer Olive Klung has earned much traction online for their heartfelt deep personal storytelling and rich acoustic sound. They’re known for their deeply poetic remarks about community, mental health and themes of coming of age across their two acclaimed modern folk albums.
Country has always had a longstanding queer history, we hope you add some new queer artists to your country playlists this pride month and always!
Stay Wild, Stay Free, Stay Country
