Music & Concerts

Rebuilding and reconnecting

Lesbian country singer Chely Wright to play the Birchmere

Published

15 years ago

January 20, 2011

Joey DiGuglielmo

Chely Wright

with Deep River

Tonight, 7:30 p.m.

The Birchmere

3701 Mount Vernon Ave.

Alexandria

Tickets: $25

Wright performs at last year's Capital Pride, her first such appearance since she came out last May. (Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Chely Wright is sick.

Nothing major but it’s her third day of a cold she picked up last weekend at a songwriter’s festival in Florida. It’s bad enough that a doctor’s visit is planned. She’s at home in Manhattan, where she moved nearly three years ago to finish her autobiography. She’s confident she’ll be recovered enough to play the Birchmere in Alexandria, Va., Friday night.

“Several of us were kind of passing it around at the festival,” she says sounding clear-voiced during a phone interview.

This is her first show at Alexandria’s Birchmere but she knows the venue from other singer/songwriter friends. Tickets were still available as of Blade press time Wednesday.

“It’s a very discerning audience there,” she says. “I’m excited.”

The venue doesn’t regularly book country acts but has hosted shows by Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, the late Johnny Cash as well as current acts like Sugarland and the Zac Brown Band.

Michael Jaworek booked Wright several times at the Alexandria country club Zed in the early years of her career and is excited to have her play the Birchmere where he’s been booking acts since 1988.

“Musically, her current work fits the club, plus she has an audience,” he says. “It’s made up of her old fans from her Top 40 country career and the new ones who have discovered her since coming out. The new album shows that she can write solid songs and is produced by one of the best songwriters today, or any day, Rodney Crowell. We don’t book many country acts but we do book those we think can fill the venue.”

It’s been, of course, a life-altering time for Wright, who came out last May with a high-profile media blitz that included the Crowell collaboration album “Lifted Off the Ground,” the aforementioned memoir “Like Me” and appearances on “Oprah,” at Capital Pride and more. She’s known for a string of late ’90s/early ’00s country hits that found her charting about 15 singles on the country radio charts including the No. 1 cut “Single White Female.” “Ground” is the 40-year-old Kansas native’s seventh studio album.

“I’m still having what Oprah calls those ‘a-ha’ moments,” Wright says. “Time is still revealing what this freedom brings even just in simple things like going to my girlfriend’s house for the holidays. I’m still in my first year of doing all those once-a-year things. The holidays are a stressful time for a lot of gay couples because they’re often split up. With my ex-partner, it was a stressful time.”

Wright has been dating someone since last summer but they don’t live together. She spent last summer pushing her book with in-store appearances to which she’d bring her guitar and sing a few songs. She spent the fall writing songs, touring some and doing behind-the-scenes advocacy work with several national LGBT advocacy groups. She says the chance to positively impact young LGBT people was one of the reasons she came out.

At one time suicidal herself, she says last year’s spate of teen suicides brought a bevy of mixed emotions.

“I felt incredibly thankful to be out. It would have really devastated me to be in the closet when that happened and know I was still locked into silence. It really galvanized my mission. This isn’t a new phenomenon. It’s happening every single day. America just paid attention this time and it got out of hand. Kids were feeling hopeless. And while yes, there has been an upside to it, dare I say that, in that people started paying attention, the downside is that the negative volume gets turned up to and out in the schools each day, gay kids are still being bullied.”

So what’s life like for Wright now that the initial coming out hoopla has calmed?

She says she’s found herself more “lyrically free” as a songwriter.

“I do have a liberty and a freedom that wasn’t there before. I don’t have to stop and think about how I can make this sound like it’s not about a girl.”

Wright enjoys living in Manhattan but since she’d spent lots of time there before, it wasn’t a big adjustment. She still has her house in Nashville and says she likes both cities. One thing that hasn’t changed for her is her sense of style.

“That’s just the way I am,” she says. “I never wanted to have short hair and the way I dress suits me. I never felt any pressure. Sure, if I’m doing a show or a photo shoot, I dress up while I am perfectly comfortable in tennis shoes and jeans on other days, but I just happen to be a feminine lesbian.”

Wright, who’s said in other interviews that Mary Chapin Carpenter was the only other celebrity who made a public statement of support when Wright came out, says there have been some quieter statements of solidarity. She spent “a little time” with Melissa Etheridge, perhaps the most famous lesbian singer/songwriter in the U.S. who’s in the midst of a not-so-amicable split from Tammy Lynn Michaels.

She says Etheridge “had some great mentoring words and very supportive words — she was lovely.”

And she knows k.d.lang’s management team whom she says “reached out in support.”

She hasn’t spoken to Brad Paisley, whom she once dated briefly, since last year but says he made a donation to one of her LGBT charities, which she described as “a beautiful gesture.”

And in terms of other celebrity happenings she says seeing the backlash against the Dixie Chicks several years ago, especially on country radio, made a huge impression on her and, at the time, cemented her resolve to stay in the closet.

“Oh yes, I was definitely watching that situation and it had a huge effect on me,” Wright says. “Yes, it’s apples and oranges, but it’s all fruit. I’m very well aware of how our industry works. It’s commerce. It’s like McDonald’s selling hamburgers. You don’t want to anger your sales demographic. … I saw the repercussions and just thought, ‘Holy crap, I might get outed at some point, but I’m never gonna do it myself.’ I steeled myself against it then because I saw the nastiness they faced.”

Wright feels the support from the LGBT community — playing her first Pride date at last year’s Capital Pride was “very emotional” — but she knows that solidarity won’t necessarily translate into record sales.

“There’s a big difference between hitting ‘like’ on Facebook and coming out to a show, but that’s what rebuilding is all about and this is a time of rebuilding for me. I’d love it if they say, ‘I want to hear music that’s great so I’ll go hear her,’ if those dots connect, but it’s two different things. And we actually have a fairly robust LGBT following in country music generally though I certainly have been made aware of the new consciousness.”

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FUND LGBTQ JOURNALISM

Music & Concerts

Queer mega stars (and allies) ready to take D.C. stages this fall

Watch LGBTQ icons light up stages across the DMV as they sing, dance, and drag their way through spectacular shows.

Published

2 months ago

September 9, 2025

Joe Reberkenny

Doechii performing at WorldPride 2025's closing concert in June earlier this year. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

One of the best ways to welcome fall is by catching LGBTQ performers (and their allies) lighting up some of the D.C. area’s biggest stages. From country and pop to drag and rock, the season is packed with shows you won’t want to miss.

Maren Morris – The country, rock, and pop diva—known for hits like “The Bones” and for standing up against Nashville’s anti-LGBTQ voices—takes the stage at Wolf Trap (1551 Trap Rd, Vienna, Va.) on Friday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $64.

RuPaul – The mother of modern drag and host of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” will spin a DJ set at Echostage (2135 Queens Chapel Rd NE) in Northeast D.C. on Sept. 20. Before RuPaul swaps wigs for headphones, Trade and Number 9 owner Ed Bailey will warm up the decks. For tickets and details visit echostage.com.

Conan Gray – The queer pop prince, celebrated for his Gen Z anthems like “Heather” and “Maniac,” brings his Wishbone Pajama Show to EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, VA, (4500 Patriot Cir) on Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $113. For more info visit shop.conangray.com/pages/tour.

All Things Go Music Festival – With a lineup that includes Noah Kahan, Lucy Dacus, Kesha, Clairo, Doechii, and more, the beloved LGBTQ-friendly festival takes over Merriweather Post Pavilion (10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia, Md.) Sept. 26–28. For tickets and details visit allthingsgofestival.com.

BERTHA: Grateful Drag – This unique tribute brings drag artistry and the sounds of the Grateful Dead to The Atlantis (2047 9th St NW) on Sept. 27. Tickets start at $47 at theatlantis.com.

Peach PRC – Rising Australian pop star and out lesbian, whose confessional tracks like “Perfect for You” and “Forever Drunk” have made her a queer TikTok darling, performs at The Atlantis on Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m. The show is general admission only. Additional details are on theatlantis.com.

Addison Rae – The TikTok star-turned-pop princess, who’s crossed over into music with glossy hits like “Diet Pepsi” brings her sold out show to The Anthem (901 Wharf St., S.W.) on Sept. 30. Tickets are sold out, but resale options start around $80. For more info visit theanthemdc.com.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th Anniversary – Celebrate the cult classic that’s been a queer midnight-movie staple for decades, with Barry Bostwick (a.k.a. Brad Majors) at the Warner Theatre (513 13th St., N.W.) on Oct. 2 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $41 via Ticketmaster.

Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight & Stephanie Mills – Four legends, one stage. Between Khan’s funk, LaBelle’s soul, Knight’s R&B, and Mills’ powerhouse vocals, this concert at Capital One Arena (601 F St NW) on Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. promises pure diva magic. Tickets start at $103. For more details visit capitalonearena.com.

Lorde – Joined by The Japanese House and Chanel Beads, the Grammy-winning New Zealand singer-songwriter behind “Royals” and “Solar Power” returns to The Anthem on Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. Lorde has long been embraced by queer fans for her dreamy pop and subversive lyrics. For more info visit theanthemdc.com.

Andy Bell (of Erasure) – The British queer rock icon, best known for synth-pop classics like “A Little Respect” and “Chains of Love,” brings his Ten Crowns Tour to the Lincoln Theatre (1215 U St., N.W.) on Friday, Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $90.45.

Doechii – The self-described queer “Swamp Princess”—and WorldPride 2025 headliner—continues her breakout year with the Live from the Swamp Tour at The Anthem on Oct. 21 at 8 p.m. Known for blending rap, R&B, and avant-garde performance art, Doechii is one to watch. Tickets start at $153.

Neon Trees – The out-and-proud Utah rockers behind “Everybody Talks” and “Animal” perform at the Lincoln Theatre on Friday, Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. Lead singer Tyler Glenn, who came out publicly in 2014, has become a strong queer voice in alternative rock. For tickets and info visit impconcerts.com.

Sasha Colby – The “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 15 winner strips down on the Stripped II Tour at the Warner Theatre on Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. Tickets available now on Ticketmaster.

Lola Young – The bisexual indie-pop sensation, whose raw songwriting has earned her millions of TikTok fans and multiple chart soaring hits visits The Anthem on Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. Tickets are still available.

Opera Lafayette

Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas

Featuring Mary Elizabeth Williams as Dido

+ Elijah McCormack, Chelsea Helm

Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m.

Sixth & I

PostClassical Ensemble

The Pale Blue Do: A Musical Voyage Inspired By Nature

Featuring National Geographic’s Enric Sala, Guest Curator

Wednesday, November 19, 7:30 p.m.

Terrace Theater

Washington Concert Opera

Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride

Starring Kate Lindsey, Theo Hoffman, John Moore, and Fran Daniel Laucerica

Nov. 23, 6 p.m.

Lisner Auditorium

Washington Master Chorale

Sacred Jewel Box

An intimate a capella concert taking place in an architectural jewel, featuring cherished choral gems from Anglican and Catholic tradition and early American hymns. The concert will also present the world premiere of Christopher Hoh’s Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God of Hosts, and hymn singing featuring Robert Church, organist and choirmaster at St David’s.

Oct. 18, 7:30 p.m.

October 19, 5 p.m.

St. David’s Episcopal Church

Music & Concerts

Cyndi Lauper ready to have fun in Virginia

Superstar to bring final leg of farewell tour to Jiffy Lube Live

Published

4 months ago

July 18, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

Pop icon Cyndi Lauper brings her farewell tour to Jiffy Lube Live on July 24. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Superstar Cyndi Lauper will bring the final leg of her farewell tour “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” to Bristow, Va., on Thursday, July 24 at Jiffy Lube Live.

Lauper’s international Farewell Tour – her first major headlining run in a decade – kicked off in North America last October, and included her first time ever headlining (and selling out) Madison Square Garden. Lauper’s performances have earned raves from the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and many more, and surprise guests have included Chaka Khan, Sam Smith, and Hayley Williams. The tour just visited the U.K. and Europe, and will head to Australia and Japan in April.

Tickets are available on Live Nation’s website.

Music & Concerts

Red, White, and Beyoncé: Queen Bey takes Cowboy Carter to D.C. for the Fourth of July

The legendary music icon performed on July 4 and 7 to a nearly sold-out Northwest Stadium.

Published

4 months ago

July 9, 2025

Joe Reberkenny

Beyoncé performs on July 7. (Washington Blade photo by Joe Reberkenny)

Just in time for Independence Day, Beyoncé lit up Landover’s Commanders Field (formerly FedEx Field) with fireworks and fiery patriotism, bringing her deeply moving and genre-defying “Cowboy Carter” tour to the Washington, D.C. area.

The tour, which takes the global icon across nine cities in support of her chart-topping and Grammy-winning country album “Cowboy Carter,” landed in Prince George’s County, Maryland, over the Fourth of July weekend. From the moment Beyoncé stepped on stage, it was clear this was more than just a concert — it was a reclamation.

Drawing from classic Americana, sharp political commentary, and a reimagined vision of country music, the show served as a powerful reminder of how Black Americans — especially Black women — have long been overlooked in spaces they helped create. “Cowboy Carter” released in March 2024, is the second act in Beyoncé’s genre-traversing trilogy. With it, she became the first Black woman to win a Grammy for Best Country Album and also took home the coveted Album of the Year.

The record examines the Black American experience through the lens of country music, grappling with the tension between the mythology of the American Dream and the lived realities of those historically excluded from it. That theme comes alive in the show’s opening number, “American Requiem,” where Beyoncé sings:

“Said I wouldn’t saddle up, but
If that ain’t country, tell me, what is?
Plant my bare feet on solid ground for years
They don’t, don’t know how hard I had to fight for this
When I sing my song…”

Throughout the performance, Beyoncé incorporated arresting visuals: Black cowboys on horseback, vintage American iconography, and Fox News clips criticizing her genre shift — all woven together with voiceovers from country legends like Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson. The result was a multimedia masterclass in storytelling and subversion.

The “Cowboy Carter” tour has been a social media sensation for weeks, with fans scrambling for tickets, curating elaborate “cowboy couture” outfits, and tailgating under the summer sun. At Commanders Field, thousands waited in long lines for exclusive merch and even longer ones to enter the stadium — a pilgrimage that, for many, felt more like attending church than a concert.

One group out in full force for the concert was Black queer men — some rocking “denim on denim on denim on denim,” while others opted for more polished Cowboy Couture looks. The celebration of Black identity within Americana was ever-present, making the concert feel like the world’s biggest gay country-western club.

A standout moment of the night was the appearance of Beyoncé’s 13-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy Carter. Commanding the stage with poise and power, she matched the intensity and choreography of her mother and the professional dancers — a remarkable feat for someone her age and a clear sign that the Carter legacy continues to shine.

It’s been nearly two decades since Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child parted ways, and since then, she’s more than lived up to her title as the voice of a generation. With “Cowboy Carter,” she’s not just making music — she’s rewriting history and reclaiming the space Black artists have always deserved in the country canon.