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Highlights from GLAAD + Ty Herndon Concert for Love & Acceptance: Rita Wilson, Daughtry, Gavin DeGraw, Hunter Hayes & More Come Together to Support the LGBTQ Community in Nashville During CMA Fest
Last evening, GLAAD hosted its 5th Annual GLAAD + Ty Herndon Concert for Love and Acceptance in Nashville, Tennessee. The concert, co-hosted by Ty Herndon and CMT’s Cody Alan, took place at the iconic Wildhorse Saloon during CMA Fest.
Megastar Daughtry performed a special acoustic set at the event, which featured a coalition of artists and celebrities appearing and performing to accelerate acceptance for LGBTQ people. Singer, songwriter, actress and producer Rita Wilson performed several hits from her album “Halfway to Home.” Surprise guests included Gavin DeGraw and Hunter Hayes, who took the stage to perform two hits each.
Backstage, iconic country couple Faith Hill and Tim McGraw stopped by to show their support for LGBTQ acceptance and for their personal friend Rita Wilson.
On the red carpet, Rita Wilson also shared powerful words for the LGBTQ community in honor of Pride Month: “The number one thing is to be true to yourself, whatever that means. Being true to yourself allows you to be honest with other people. If you’re honest with other people, I think the world is a better place generally.”
“This has become the world’s largest LGBTQ country music event, and this year’s incredible lineup sent a powerful message of allyship to kick off LGBTQ Pride month,” said Zeke Stokes, Chief Programs Officer at GLAAD and Executive Producer of the 2019 Concert for Love & Acceptance. “Each year, the Concert for Love & Acceptance gets bigger and better, and some of the biggest names in country music as well as up and coming artists are making it a priority stop on their CMA Fest schedule.”
Co-host and performer Ty Herndon closed the show with his recently re-recorded 1995 hit “What Mattered Most.” Herndon came out in 2014 and chose to update the lyrics of the song with male pronouns to reflect his true identity and to make a powerful statement within country music in honor of Pride Month. The video for the new version of “What Mattered Most” was released this past week.
The 2019 Concert for Love & Acceptance also included appearances and performances by Herndon, Chely Wright, Harper Grae, Tayla Lynn, Billy Gilman, Brody Ray, Brandon Stansell, Antigone Rising, Lee Brice, Tyler Rich, Mickey Guyton, and WWE Superstars Sonya Deville, Paige, and Mandy Rose.
During last year’s Concert for Love & Acceptance, GLAAD also announced the Ty Herndon Rising Stars Grant, bestowed upon young people for their commitment to enhancing LGBTQ inclusion and representation in music. The grant is eligible to LGBTQ young people who are working to accelerate acceptance in the music industry. Applications for the grant are now available at glaad.org/risingstars.
The inaugural Concert for Love and Acceptance was held in 2015 to kick off GLAAD’s Southern Stories Tour. The event has been supported by artists including Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Tanya Tucker, Michael Ray, Billy Dean, Cale Dodds, Chris Carmack, Crystal Gayle, Cassadee Pope, Calum Scott, Dana Goldberg, Kree Harrison, Levi Hummon, Runaway June, Ryan Kinder, Meghan Lindsey, Street Corner Symphony, Thompson Square, and Trent Harmon.
The 2019 Concert for Love and Acceptance partners include presenting partners CMT, Ketel One Family-Made Vodka, and Southwest, community partner The Weissmann Group, and media partner Billboard.
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