Country music stars Vince Gill, Tanya Tucker, Cody Alan, Terri Clark, Billy Dean, Michael Ray, and more speak out for LGBTQ Acceptance

Country Music royalty shows its support to the LGBT community at the 2018 Concert for Love and Acceptance in Nashville at the Wildhorse Saloon.
NASHVILLE, TN – JUNE 07: (L-R) Tanya Tucker, Ty Herndon and Presley Tanita Tucker attend the GLAAD + TY HERNDON’s 2018 Concert for Love & Acceptance at Wildhorse Saloon on June 7, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for The 2018 Concert for Love & Acceptance)

The significance of country music legend Vince Gill surprise performance at the 2018 Concert for Love and Acceptance in Nashville at the Wildhorse Saloon last night is not going unnoticed. Following an iconic performance from Tanya Tucker, Vince Gill received a standing ovation as host Ty Herndon introduced him to close the show. Gill said, “As a young child I always heard the words that we are all created equal. I believed that as a little boy and I believe that as a grown man.” Amen to that!

Vince Gill performs at the 2018 Concert for Love & Acceptance

The Love and Acceptance event was co-hosted by Ty Herndon and Cody Alan, with appearances and performances by Terri Clark, Billy Dean, Cale Dodds, Parson James, Temecula Road, Thompson Square, Cam, Anita Cochran, Shelly Fairchild, Cassadee Pope, Michael Ray, Calum Scott, Brandon Stansell, and WWE Superstars Lana and Sonya. The concert organized by GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, is held annually and coincides with CMA Fest.

During the event, GLAAD also announced a new initiative: the Ty Herndon Rising Stars Grant. It will be bestowed yearly upon LGBTQ young people for their commitment to enhancing LGBTQ inclusion and representation in the music industry. The recipient will receive $2,500 to help them fund their work.

NASHVILLE, TN – JUNE 07: Ty Herndon performs at the GLAAD + TY HERNDON’s 2018 Concert for Love & Acceptance. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images)

GLAAD was founded in New York city in 1984 by a small group of journalists in response to a grossly inadequate story in the New York Post about the HIV/AIDS crisis. Since its inception, it has grown to be a major force of cultural change, accelerating acceptance for the LGBTQ community and hosts multiple events throughout the year to raise awareness.

“At GLAAD we know that music has the power to change hearts and minds and all of the country music superstars who spoke and sang at the Concert for Love and Acceptance did just that,” said Zeke Stokes, GLAAD’s Vice President of Programs and Executive Producer of the 2018 Concert for Love and Acceptance. “Last night’s concert was one for the record books with an amazing lineup of talent, and we can’t wait to do it again next year.”

Photos courtesy of GLAAD.

Feature photo credit -NASHVILLE, TN – JUNE 07: Shawna Thompson, Keifer Thompson of Thompson Square perform at the GLAAD + TY HERNDON’s 2018 Concert for Love & Acceptance at Wildhorse Saloon on June 7, 2018, in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for The 2018 Concert for Love & Acceptance)


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