Posted on 08/07/2003 4:45:16 PM PDT by sarcasm
NEW YORK (Reuters) - America's country music scene isn't exactly known for its gay artists, but a colorful pack of wanna-be stars pulled out their best rustic twangs and wailing guitars on Thursday to try to change all that.
Scores of country music hopefuls auditioned in New York for what is being billed as a television show to pick an openly gay country music star from about 50 contestants.
The musicians -- most of whom wore jeans and spit-polished boots -- wailed through Willie Nelson songs, crooned like Lyle Lovett and belted out ballads like Garth Brooks.
Livening up the day was The Dixie Chicks with Dicks -- singing drag queens in frilly petticoats and wigs big enough to make Dolly Parton envious.
Despite the gags and quips, most were serious musicians looking for a break, said Darren McDonnell of Baltimore.
``I hope it's not some kind of a joke. It could open up a lot of doors,'' he said, waiting on line.
``At the same time, it's a risk for everyone here,'' he added, calling the country music industry ``homophobic.''
Mark Taylor, who works in the design industry in Philadelphia but auditioned in cowboy regalia, said appearing on the show could be a bigger risk when it comes to facing his conservative family.
``If I make it onto the show, this will be the most silent Christmas we've ever had,'' he joked.
Producer Larry Dvoskin, who has not found a network to run the show tentatively called ``America Pride,'' declared himself pleased at the quality of talent. Final choices will be made in the coming months, he said.
With the success of gay-themed television shows, this one could be well-timed, said Scott Seomin, entertainment media director for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, or GLAAD, a non-profit media watchdog.
``The music industry with rare exception has been a bastion for homophobia, and the closet is still a place that artists who are gay are told to remain by record label executives, managers and publicity agents,'' he said.
Singer Matt Alber, who traveled across the country from San Francisco to audition, said: ``Country music record companies are scared America won't like a gay artist.
``I think it's ridiculous,'' he said. ``Don't they just want to hear really great songs? I hope this show will show America there's nothing to be afraid of.''
You mean "Country Music Doesn't Light Up Your Life" at all.
Two words: DREAM ON
What about Ty Hearndon ? I thought he was married with kids.
By DAVID VEITCH
Calgary Sun
Ty Herndon broke down and cried when he received the news two weeks ago: Living in a Moment, the title track of his second album, had shot to No. 1 on the country singles chart.
He had a chart-topping tune the year before with What Matters Most, but the latest one was special because he had just emerged from a particularly unsavory sex-and-drug scandal that many people -- including Herndon -- thought would put a premature end to a promising career.
"You probably couldn't convince me there was a career after I got out of rehab," Herndon admits over the phone. But Sony Music continued to support its artist and put Herndon back in the studio where "we closed the door on that (scandal) and went in to make some good music."
Apparently he succeeded. Living in a Moment -- a virtual carbon-copy of his debut CD, What Mattered Most -- is currently lodged in the top-20 country album charts, while its No. 1 single has been "a stamp of approval from radio," Herndon says.
"The jury's still out on me and every day something good happens to me, I think the tension is easing and people are coming back to the music. And that's all I want."
Still, Herndon, 34, admits it'll take a while before people forget the events of June 13, 1995, when he was arrested in Fort Worth, Tex., on charges of drug possession and indecent exposure. The media reported Herndon masturbated in front of a male undercover cop in a park notorious for male prostitution. Herndon has claimed he was just urinating.
The indecent exposure was dropped in exchange for his pleading guilty to possessing 2* gm of methamphetamine. He was sentenced to five years probation. He also had to perform 200 hours of community service and pay a $1,000 US fine.
The indecent exposure charge continues to be "the toughest part" of the scandal, says Herndon, whose marriage has not quelled rumors that he's gay.
"We do a lot of straightening out in that area," he says.
"Yeah, I was pretty bothered by it at first. But I have a little bit of patience in the area ... because my wife and I certainly have relationships in our lives with people who are gay. So I'm not offended by the fact that someone would say I am gay.... I would never in a million years speak out against any kind of gay or lesbian group."
Although Herndon does not have a writing credit on Living in a Moment, the album does allude to his problems over the past 12 months, particularly on Returning the Faith, a thank-you card to all those people who stood by him in his darkest hour.
Says Herndon: "Everything I went through made me a more in-depth person.... I tried to make the things I learned from a very horrible situation and turned them into a positive and use them on the album."
Still, he's anxious for people to once again concentrate on his music and not on the scandal. "That," he says, "will be a rewarding day."
"The Dicksee Chicks"
Possible new screen name?
;o)
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