Queer artists won big at the Country Music Awards

A gay man and a lesbian walked away with two coveted prizes at the Country Music Awards.

TJ Osbourne, half of The Brothers Osbourne duo, shared the Vocal Duo of the Year with his brother. Icon Tracy Chapman took home the Song of the Year with her 1988 hit, “Fast Car.” The song was rerecorded by singer Luke Combs earlier this year and shot to the top of the charts for a second time.

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The last one is a little different though.

Osbourne was the first star signed to a major label to come out as gay. Being out hasn’t harmed his career in the least, as the duo has continued to rack up awards over the years. Osbourne hasn’t been shy about being gay, either. He kissed his boyfriend on stage after winning other major awards in 2021 and 2022.

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Chapman, a multi-platinum singer/songwriter, has won four Grammy awards. Two of her songs have reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and her first No. 1 hit, “Fast Car,” was named one of the best songs of all time by Rolling Stone.

During the mid-1990s, she had a romantic relationship with author Alice Walker, kept secret until after it ended.

While Chapman took home the Song of the Year award for “Fast Car,” Combs snagged the trophy for Single of the Year for his rendition of the song.