Exclusive: Musicians Who Made the ‘Out’ 100
The announcement of
Out
magazine’s annual 100 People of the Year is always a big event in the gay community. Here are some of the musicians who made it this year.
Michael Stipe: “There is a whole queer revolution going on online on sites like Tumblr,” the R.E.M. frontman tells Out. “For someone who is 50 years old, I think it”s really thrilling to see our younger generation taking things into their own hands and redefining who they are — and opening it up to everyone”s idea of who they are and not what someone else says they are.” He also talks about the next R.E.M. album: “I just fucking finished the record. It was a really hard record … [I’m] happy to be done with it.”
Chely Wright Chely Wright became a Nashville star on the strength of singles like “Shut Up and Drive” and “Single White Female.” But she made the biggest headlines earlier this year when she became the the first major country star to come out. Her announcement was part of a media push — an album, a book (Like Me: Confessions of a Heartland Country Singer) and an appearance on Oprah — but it was a landmark moment all the same.
Scissor Sisters: In addition to releasing their long-awaited third LP, Night Work, Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears did a promotional video for “It Gets Better” in which he talked about the harassment he suffered after coming out when he was 15. The group will open for Lady Gaga on the next U.S. leg of her Monster Ball tour, beginning in February.
Sia: The singer made last year’s Advocate list of “Forty Under 40,” so her addition to the Out 100 naturally follows. Her latest LP, We Are Born, was released in September.
Rufus Wainwright: The singer’s still basking in the success of this year’s All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu LP and the ongoing tour to promote it. He’ll be performing the album and other material at New York’s Carnegie Hall on December 6.