In 2010 Chely Wright became the first major country music star to come out as gay.
In this episode Gearoid talks to Chely Wright about the struggle to be authentic and the price you pay when you are not. Since the age of 4 Chely has wanted to be a country music star. At 18 she moved to Nashville to follow her dream. Her dreams came true and she achieved more success than she had ever dreamed. But in her personal life Chely was struggling. She was secretly gay and this was at odds with her profession and her religion.
In 2007 she almost paid the ultimate price but instead decided to honestly tell her story. A secret three year plan was put in place for Chely to come out to the world. The process was documented in her multi award winning documentary “Wish Me Away”.