Chely Wright's 2010 CD, Lifted Off The Ground. Photo courtesy of Vanguard Records.

In publicly announcing her homosexuality, Chely Wright has stepped over a figurative line that was drawn in the sand in country music years ago. She is not the first star who’s been rumored to be gay, but she is the first to publicly admit it, and it’s a step that leaves some observers scratching their heads.

It’s tough enough to get a recording deal. Tougher still to have hits. And it’s enormously difficult to hold a fan base together when there’s always a bevy of new artists attracting attention from consumers who only have so much money to spend.

The industry has long believed that country’s fan base won’t support a gay man or woman. Chely is essentially testing that theory with her admission in her new autobiography, Like Me.

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Chely Wright's 2010 CD, Lifted Off The Ground. Photo courtesy of Vanguard Records.

Chely Wright has announced to People magazine she is gay. Chely, who topped the charts with her song, “Single White Female” in 1999 and was the ACM’s Top New Female Vocalist in 1994, tells the magazine why she’d previously hidden her sexuality.

“There had never, ever been a country music artist who had acknowledged his or her homosexuality,” she explains. “I wasn’t going to be the first.”

Chely adds, “Nothing in my life has been more magical than the moment I decided to come out.”

The singer songwriter – who will release her new CD, Lifted Off the Ground,  and her memoir, Like Me, tomorrow – grew up in Kansas and always knew she wanted to be an artist. She also knew she should probably hide her sexuality. “I don’t have a memory in my life that doesn’t include the dream of making music.” She tells People. “I hid everything for my music.”

Chely will appear on the Today Show this Wednesday to discuss her decision to come out. For more on Chely, look for an interview with her on GACTV.com soon.

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