Today we celebrate the birthday of Country singer Chely Wright. Chely was a thriving star in the Country world, both as a performer and a songwriter. In fact, her songs have been recorded by Brad Paisley, Richard Marx, Indigo Girls, Mindy Smith and Clay Walker, among others. But it was her announcement in 2010 that she is a lesbian that garnered her the attention of many, from the people who embraced the talented singer/songwriter, to those small-minded bigots who felt the need to spew anger and fear to cover their own insecurities. It was during this time Chely met Lauren Blitzer, and last summer, the couple married.
About the same time she was coming out, Chely released a new album, 'Lifted Off The Ground'. It is a beautiful 12-song collection that is still in rotation on my iTunes. So, in celebration of her birthday, I thought we could listen to a couple of the songs from the album. I will start with the sixth cut on the album, "Like Me".
I also love the song steeped in memories, "Snow Globe". It has a haunting beauty, a sweetness and innocence that can touch my soul in a delicate way.
I also love the complex and delicious "Heavenly Days". The song was co-written by Nashville legend Rodney Crowell, who also played on the song. Not long after coming out, Chely was joined by Rodney on the stage at the 21st GLAAD Media Awards.
Chely also participated in a documentary about the process of coming out in Country music. 'Wish Me Away' has been a strong presence on the Festival circuit. Check out the trailer for the film.
You can purchase 'Lifted Off The Ground' from iTunes and Amazon. You can also purchase the documentary 'Wish Me Away' from Amazon, and also from the artist's website. For more about Chely, visit her official website. You can also "follow" her on Twitter.
