Brothers Osborne lead singer comes out

Osborne becomes the first artist at a major label to do so with an act that is part of the mainstream Nashville country music business, being on a major label (EMI Nashville)

Osborne joins a few other artists in the country and Americana genres, who have come out including Brandy Clark, Ty Herndon, Brandi Carlile, Orville Peck, Billy Gilman, Chely Wright and Lil Nas X.

"I'm ready to put this behind me," Osborne said in the Time interview.

Osborne, 36, told Time that he has known since he was young that he is gay and told family and friends years ago.

"I'm very comfortable being gay," he said. "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."

"People will ask, 'Why does this even need to be talked about?' and personally, I agree with that," he said. "But for me to show up at an awards show with a man would be jaw-dropping to people. It wouldn't be like, 'Oh, cool."

"I don't think I'm going to get run off the stage in Chicago," he said. "But in a rural town playing a county fair? I'm curious how this will go."

After the article came out, Osborne posted on his Instagram page, "This story always seemed too mountainous to tell but now that it's been told I am at a loss for words as to how clear the path was all along. Thanks to all of the pillars of people I have in my life."

Brothers Osborne formed in 2012 with T.J. and his brother, John, who plays guitar. They have enjoyed seven Top 40 singles including "Stay a Little Longer," "IT Ain't My Fault," "21 Summer" and "All Night."

They have released four CDs and one Ep. "Skeletons," their most recent disc, came out in October 2020.