Now that she’s out of the closet, Chely Wright isn’t holding anything back.
The country music artist is aware that many critics will see her homosexuality admission as a PR move in light of her new book and new album, but simply tells Entertainment Weekly:
“I can’t stop people from throwing that dagger my way. And quite frankly I’m not going to spend a lot of time trying to defend myself against that.”
That’s far from the only thing Wright told the magazine. Sit back and read her thoughts on everything from ex-boyfriends to George W. Bush…
On her country fans: “I want [them] to stay with me. I’m not giving the finger to country fans. By all measure, they already like me. They voted me ‘most philanthropic,’ ‘country star with the biggest heart,’ People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful, Kansan of the Year. I’m still all those things. I just happen to be a lesbian. I have been the whole time. I wasn’t confused.”
On her view of herself: “I’m proud of who I am. I’m not necessarily proud of being gay. I’m proud that I’m about to live my life honestly. I won’t be a whisper. I’m too proud of who I am. I’ve been too good a steward of my life.”
On religion: I don’t have a religious inclination. I can’t even identify myself necessarily as Christian. When I’m in Kuwait City and I hear the chants in the morning, I feel something. Anyone who gets on their knees and looks up, that moves me. And quite frankly I don’t begrudge anyone who doesn’t get on their knees and look up. I don’t have a problem with that. I like the Golden Rule.”
On Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: “I’m so angry about it. I’m so angry with George Bush and Dick Cheney, and if President Obama doesn’t do something – I know he’s trying and it takes time, I know he can’t flip a switch – but if he doesn’t get this done quickly, I’ll be angry with him. I know the military.
“I’ve been playing in military hospitals since I was a kid. I know these people. I know what they’re about. They’re about valor, integrity, teamwork, honor. We have instructed them to lie, to say they are something they are not, which is the antithesis of what the military is supposed to be. I’m so angry about it.”
On ex-boyfriend Brad Paisley: “Brad is a really good person. I feel like Brad respects me. I don’t know if he ever hated me at some point. If he did, I wouldn’t blame him. Although I imagine his Christian beliefs would lead him to condemn my homosexuality, he might fall into the “love the sinner, hate the sin” category. He’s wickedly smart, which is one of the reasons why I made the decision to spend time with him.
“I loved Brad. I never had the capacity to fall in love with him, but I figured if I’m gonna live a less than satisfied life, this is the guy I could live my life with. If I’m gonna be with a boy, this is the boy. He’s funny as crap, he’s talented. He’s a good person. He is as fair as he knows to be. And I respect his beliefs. He walks his walk. And he’s not a hypocrite. If his religious beliefs tell him to condemn my homosexuality, I can’t let that rent a room in my head.
What is your reaction to Wright coming out?