Country music’s newest star, Tommy Atkins, is celebrating Pride Month with the launch of his newly curated playlist, Proud to Be Country, featuring the very best country artists who identify as LGBTQ+.
“It’s a vibrant mix of household names and independent artists, with everything from country-pop to honkytonk, and I hope this playlist proves LGBTQ+ artists are thriving and producing world-class country music. I'm so proud to be representing for the UK along with Emilia Quinn.”
The playlist features Tommy’s latest hit, a cover of Wham’s 1984 classic, Freedom, which has enjoyed international chart success (#2 New Zealand iTunes Country, #4 Q32 Chart Canada, #5 U.K. iTunes Country, and #6 LGBTQ Music Chart), widespread radio play and critical acclaim. Freedom features 2020 GRAMMY winner, Michael Cleveland, on fiddle, and legendary steel guitar player, Smith Curry (Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift).
“To bring this song into the country genre, change the pronouns to reflect an openly gay relationship, and for it to be so well received has been an absolute joy. Audiences are ready for openly gay lyrics in country music and I’m proud to be doing my part in normalising them.”
Proud to Be Country is available exclusively on Spotify and features the track list below:
Tommy Atkins – Freedom
Orville Peck – Summertime
Brandy Clark – Girl Next Door
Michael Todd – Stay a While
Chris Housman – Long Story Long
Ty Herndon – That Kind of Night
Chely Wright – Jezebel
The Highwomen – If She Ever Leaves Me
Sarah Shook & The Disarmers – Dwight Yoakam
Trixie Mattel – Heavy Crown
Cameron Hawthorn – Cowboy Take Me Away
Brandon Stansell – I Just Want You (To Be Happy)
Emilia Quinn – Mistakes
K.D. Lang – Constant Craving
Jaime Wyatt – Hurt So Bad
Mercy Bell – Black Dress
Paisley Fields – I Could Be Drinkin’
Karen and The Sorrows – Guaranteed Broken Heart