Press Release: New Artists Added to June 7 Concert For Love & Acceptance Lineup

Nashville Pride, Black Opry, and Tennessee Equality Project Named

Official Community Partners to access concert and artist visual assets, click here

(Nashville, Tenn. - May 22, 2023) – GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, and groundbreaking country music artist Ty Herndon announced the addition of Chrissy Metz, Brooke Eden, Jada Cato, AUTI, and Jason Catron to the performance lineup of the Concert For Love & Acceptance. Metz, Eden, Cato, and AUTI join the main show lineup. Catron will be the featured pre-show performer, beginning at 6:45 p.m. with a special set of country classics.

Set to take place Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville on the eve of CMA Fest, previously announced performers include Maddie & Tae, Terri Clark, Pam Tillis, Desmond Child, Wendy Moten, Billy Gilman, Shelly Fairchild, Justin Fabus, Chapel Hart, Sam Williams, Jamie Floyd, Brandon Stansell, and Bryan Ruby.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.F4LA.org.

“We’ve come a long way in Nashville and in country music since GLAAD and I came together to host this show for the first time in 2015 — but we still have a long way to go, as evidenced by the onslaught of attacks against our LGBTQ community by politicians. Love and acceptance should never be up for debate at the courthouse or at the state house, and I’m so proud that this event has grown year over year to become what it is today. I feel like we need it now more than ever,” said Herndon.

Herndon and GLAAD joined together for the first time in 2015 to create the Concert For Love & Acceptance to promote LGBTQ visibility and acceptance among the country music community and artists, industry leaders, and fans. Held as an annual live event until 2019, the Concert was staged as a virtual event in response to the COVID pandemic in 2020 and 2021. The event has featured performances and appearances by LGBTQ artists and allies, including Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Brothers Osborne, Jake Owen, Kristin Chenoweth, Chely Wright, Tanya Tucker, Brett Young, Michael Ray, Mickey Guyton, Chris Daughtry, Lily Rose, and many more.

“Right now it is more crucial than ever to take a stand in Tennessee and show love and support for LGBTQ people, and so many amazing artists in country music are joining The Concert for Love & Acceptance and stepping up to the plate to do so,” said GLAAD’s Vice President of Communications and Talent, Anthony Allen Ramos. “This show will serve as an important reminder that LGBTQ people have a place in country music and that we must be treated fairly and with respect.”

Herndon also announced three Official Community Partners — Nashville Pride, Black Opry, and Tennessee Equality Project — each of whom will receive complimentary blocks of tickets to the event and be spotlighted for their important work during the show and throughout the venue on June 7.

The 2023 Concert For Love & Acceptance is presented by GLAAD and Ty Herndon’s Foundation For Love & Acceptance with Platinum Sponsor support from M&M’S®, Alton Sherick | Compass Real Estate, and Pivotal Moments Media. Gold Sponsor support is provided by OpenPlay, Southern Pride Process, and Veva Collect.

The event will take place at Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, Tennessee on Wednesday, June 7 at 7:30 pm. Click here for ticket information.

ABOUT GLAAD: GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org or connect with GLAAD on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.

ABOUT TY HERNDON: Ty Herndon burst onto the country music scene and made his chart debut in 1995 with “What Mattered Most,” which became his first No. 1 song and garnered a Song of the Year award (Music Row Magazine). It was also the title track to his first album, which debuted on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and had the biggest first-week shipment in the history of Epic Records Nashville.

Between 1995 and 2002, Herndon charted 17 singles, including his three No.1s and numerous top 10 hits, such as “I Want My Goodbye Back,” “Loved Too Much,” “A Man Holding On,” and “Hands of a Working Man.” He topped the charts in 1996 with the single “Living in a Moment” and again in 1998 with “It Must Be Love.”

In 2014, Herndon became the first major male country artist to publicly come out as gay in an exclusive with People magazine. Shortly after, he made history when he hosted a first-of-its-kind country music event, The Concert for Love and Acceptance, now an annual event that provides a stage for LGBTQ and allied artists.

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION FOR LOVE & ACCEPTANCE: The Foundation For Love & Acceptance, founded by groundbreaking country music artist Ty Herndon, is dedicated to harnessing the power of music and media to support mental health and addiction recovery, LGBTQ and other at-risk youth, and Nashville’s country music community.