Proud To Be Country
Award Winning Country Star Celebrates Pride Month
Country music’s newest star, Tommy Atkins, is celebrating Pride Month with the launch of his newly curated playlist, Proud to Be Country, featuring the very best country artists who identify as LGBTQ+.
“It’s a vibrant mix of household names and independent artists, with everything from country-pop to honkytonk. We’ve got a ways to go until we’re well-represented on mainstream country radio, but I hope this playlist proves LGBTQ+ artists are thriving and producing world-class country music.”
The playlist features Tommy’s latest hit, a cover of Wham’s 1984 classic, Freedom, which has enjoyed international chart success (#2 New Zealand iTunes Country, #4 Q32 Chart Canada, #5 U.K. iTunes Country, and #6 LGBTQ Music Chart), widespread radio play and critical acclaim. Freedom features 2020 GRAMMY winner, Michael Cleveland, on fiddle, and legendary steel guitar player, Smith Curry (Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift).
“To bring this song into the country genre, change the pronouns to reflect an openly gay relationship, and for it to be so well received has been an absolute joy. Audiences are ready for openly gay lyrics in country music and I’m proud to be doing my part in normalizing them.”
Proud to Be Country is available exclusively on Spotify
“It’s a vibrant mix of household names and independent artists, with everything from country-pop to honkytonk. We’ve got a ways to go until we’re well-represented on mainstream country radio, but I hope this playlist proves LGBTQ+ artists are thriving and producing world-class country music.”
The playlist features Tommy’s latest hit, a cover of Wham’s 1984 classic, Freedom, which has enjoyed international chart success (#2 New Zealand iTunes Country, #4 Q32 Chart Canada, #5 U.K. iTunes Country, and #6 LGBTQ Music Chart), widespread radio play and critical acclaim. Freedom features 2020 GRAMMY winner, Michael Cleveland, on fiddle, and legendary steel guitar player, Smith Curry (Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift).
“To bring this song into the country genre, change the pronouns to reflect an openly gay relationship, and for it to be so well received has been an absolute joy. Audiences are ready for openly gay lyrics in country music and I’m proud to be doing my part in normalizing them.”
Proud to Be Country is available exclusively on Spotify