One half of country music’s uber-popular sibling duo Brothers Osborne is opening up about a part of his life he had kept out of the public eye – and sharing why he believes being authentic with his fans is important…especially now.
View this post on Instagram
TJ Osborne, one half of Brothers Osborne, and sibling to bandmate John Osborne has opened up to the world and shared a new part of himself that he had previously kept out of the picture: he’s gay.
The 36-year-old hitmaking country singer had been cautious about this being public for a long time, but he’d never been secretive about it and most that know him personally knew that he was open with it.
“I’m very comfortable being gay,” he told Sam Lansky in an article for Time Magazine. “I find myself being guarded for not wanting to talk about something that I personally don’t have a problem with. That feels so strange.”
In the past, the few country singers who have come out as gay have noticed shifts in their career and changes in the dynamic afterward. Even Taylor Swift acknowledges that one simple revelation about yourself can spell doom for your career – citing her decision to remain silent on her political leanings for so long.
“You’re always one comment away from being done,” she said in a 2020 piece with Variety.
But for TJ, he has a different outlook – and is keeping an open mind for the future.
“I don’t think I’m going to get run off the stage in Chicago…But in a rural town playing a county fair? I’m curious how this will go.”
“Maybe,” T.J. said, “Country isn’t the most popular genre among gay people. But is that just because they’ve never had the opportunity to relate to it?”
His brother, John, says that he would give all his success and money up for his brother to be able to be authentically himself and live his life.
“If I had to have all my money and success erased for my brother to be truly fulfilled in life…I wouldn’t even think about it. Not for a second.”
It’s an incredible thing for artists to be truly authentic because that often translates directly to their music – especially in country and we can’t wait to see what’s next for Brothers Osborne.
Read his full interview with Time here. And listen to his statement to his fans below.