When Ty Herndon came out of the closet courtesy of People magazine in 2014, it was obvious why it was big news. When the handsome country singer emerged in 1995 with the hit single “What Matters Most,” female fans clamored for Herndon. Much of Herndon’s fan base was shocked to learn of his sexual preference.
Gay and country are typically mutually exclusive adjectives when it comes to describing singers out of Music City. A handful of country singers have come out (Billy Gilman, Shane McAnally) but it’s still uncommon, and that’s part of the reason the character Chris Carmack plays on the ABC series “Nashville” is so compelling.
“I believe there is room for a gay country star,” Carmack said while calling from Clearwater, Fla. “I think there should be no issue in this day and age. How can we not be tolerant?”
Carmack portrays Will Lexington, a country star on the rise, who is openly gay.
“I’ve had people come up to me and say, ‘You play the gay guy on “Nashville,”‘ Then I tell them what the character is going through and they’re just blown away,” Carmack said. “It’s a complex role I’m playing.”
Carmack is thrilled to be part of “Nashville” since he’s always been an actor and a singer and he gets to work most of his creative muscles on the show. “I studied theater at NYU,” Carmack said. “I love it but I’ve always been a musician. I always had a passion for music.”
Not only does Carmack get to sing on the prime-time soap opera but he also made “Pieces of You,” his solo debut album, which comprises mainstream country pop.
“I love making music for the show and it was amazing making my album,” Carmack said. “And now I get to perform it live.”
Carmack is particularly appreciative of the latter since he’s constantly on the set of “Nashville.” But the concept of “Stars of ‘Nashville’ Concert Tour,” which performs Saturday, May 7, at Mohegan Sun Arena, has enabled Carmack to hit the road.
Carmack, Clare Bowen, Charles Esten, Jonathan Jackson and Sam Palladio will perform alone and with each other Saturday.
“We’re doing songs from the show and other tracks,” Carmack said. “We’ll play the hits. I’ll do ‘What If I Was Willing,’ which always goes over really well.”
Aside from delivering songs their characters sing, each of the solo artists will offer original material and some covers as well.
“I like throwing my curveball at the audience, which is a version of B. B. King’s ‘Sweet Little Angel,'” Carmack said. “Yes, it’s a blues song, but I love it. We can mix things up a bit and have a little fun.”
Carmack is looking forward to taking the next step as a singer-songwriter but hasn’t made much progress due to his schedule.
“I’ve been writing a bit but not as much as I would like because I’ve been so busy shooting this show,” Carmack said. “But I would like to write more and try it the Nashville way and co-write like how it’s done here. That’s going to be interesting since I like to write by myself. I’ll try writing with someone and still hold on to my voice.
“I’m just thrilled that I have so much going on. It’s a good thing not to be able to write new songs in a way because I’m doing well. I’m on this amazing journey. Who knows what’s ahead. All that matters for an actor/musician is that there is work to do and I have plenty of that. I love playing this role. Maybe someday more gay country artists will come out.”
Maybe someday Tennessee will be more tolerant of those leading an alternative lifestyle. The Volunteer state recently made it legal for mental health professionals to turn away patients if they violate the therapist’s “sincerely held principles.” Despite protests from LGBT advocacy groups and medical organizations, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam signed the bill into law last week.
“That is coming from a biased and bigoted place,” Carmack said. “The South has a loud voice when it comes to not being accepting. It’s awful. You can see why any country musician would be reluctant to come out.”
“ABC’S ‘NASHVILLE’ IN CONCERT” featuring Chris Carmack, Clare Bowen, Charles Esten, Jonathan Jackson and Sam Palladio, appears Saturday, May 7, at the Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville. Tickets are $35. Show time is 8 p.m. For more information, 860-862-8499, mohegansun.com.
