To be honest, I have an encyclopedic knowledge of the ills of the current Nashville industry than I do for country music lyrics, so I had to Google country songs about mistakes (yeah I know there are a zillion) and this latter-day George Jones number fit the bill (but also, it rips so you should listen.)

A big appeal of country music is the feeling that you can cry into your beer and then get up the next day to keep it moving. But that attitude is for, like, drinking too much — not repeatedly protecting sex criminals and people who openly spew hate.

The two biggest country news stories this week are Jimmie Allen getting suspended from his label and agency after a former manager accused him of sexual assault last week. Yesterday, Allen broke his silence by claiming the relationship was consensual and apologized to his wife, who is now filing for divorce and is pregnant with their third child. “Suspend” is a key word here: that’s the word everybody used after Morgan Wallen got caught screaming a slur. Whatever happens, and if there is a case, we won’t be seeing the last of Allen. (It should be noted that Allen was one of the first to embrace Wallen in the aftermath, and has been on record saying stuff along the lines of “maybe there’s racism in country music but it all worked out for me! Everyone else is making excuses.”)

Speaking of slurs, Dolly Parton is releasing her rock’n’roll album to justify her being inducted in the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame. Whatever. Everyone says Dolly could do no wrong but I’ve been really suspicious of this PR onslaught we’ve received in the last few years. Is she dying? Did she commit tax fraud? Is she in huge credit card debt? Why is she suddenly all over the place and why is everyone fawning over her? Nobody’s perfect!!!

Well, here’s a rare misstep: Dolly is collaborating with Kid Rock on a song. For those born in the ’90s, Kid Rock is not just the guy who fired — and missed — a bunch of rounds at the Dylan Mulvaney Bud Light cans, he also got famous for appropriating rap music and country music and mixing them together. As discussed on the Rainbow Rodeo Discord*, he grew up in a giant McMansion in Michigan so he has no credibility anywhere whatsoever.

He’s also washed up, so why is Dolly including him here? It’s not like anyone would even notice if he wasn’t. But that’s what happens when you want to appeal to “both sides” I guess. The Advocate ran a piece outraged at this betrayal, but the key lesson here is: Nashville will protect its own, because wrong is what they do best.

*Want to join the Discord? DM us on social media!

Album Releases

Here are all of the queer country album releases this month! Let me know if I should add something to the list!

• 5/10 — Jude Brothers (Reviewed by Carla Frankenbach)
• 5/12 — Michelle Malone (Reviewed by Rachel)
• 5/19 — Brandy Clark
• 5/19 — Gracie and Rachel

Rainbow Roundup

• Saddle Mountain Post is a new independent country music website! Welcome!
• Maren Morris had a sick burn for Tucker Carlson at the GLAAD Media Awards
• Discord user Mal has a zine about Irish punk available for purchase
• Support disabled artists when you support Rampd
• What do you mean you don’t want this $2 comic about butch cowgirls and gender rolemodels???

• If you’re here, you like music zines. Longtime Wide Open Country contributor Addie Moore is taking pre-orders for their indie punk zine No Spectators
• Did you know that artists at SXSW get paid in virtual pennies and still have to buy a festival pass if they want to see someone else’s show? That sucks! Demand fair pay for SXSW
• You can get almost 50% off the book Queer Country using this code: F21UIP
• This thread gives advice on self-managed transition in Alabama and other states that restrict our bodily autonomy
• Eli Conley is running a queer songwriting circle

Events

• 5/7 – 6/4 — Eli Conley is doing a short West Coast tour
• 6/3 — Brittany Ann Tranbaugh is playing at a community garden in Philly with Liv Green and Eliza Edens! Come through!
• 6/7 — Ty Herndon’s annual Concert For Love and Acceptance is at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon
• 6/12 — Brian Falduto will be playing City Winery’s pride show in NYC
• 6/23 – 25: Melissa Carper, Alisa Amador, Maya deVitry, The Faux Paws, and Amy Martin are playing the Red Wing Roots Music Festival in Mount Solon, Virginia
• 7/8 — Margate, UK — The Queer Cuntry Summer Fair will feature a whole slew of queer country performers!

Artist Resources

• Rampd supports disabled artists and music industry professionals
• DEADLINE 5/20: Braver Angels Music is launching a songwriting contest to “inspire citizens to appreciate their differences and to look above social divides”
• Todd Farrell Jr., lead singer of the Benchmarks and sideman for Sammy Kay Jr and Two Cow Garage, is fielding songs for a comp album to fight voter suppression in Tennessee. Apply here!
• Apply to play a street stage at IBMA, the premiere bluegrass festival! (Stacy Chandler says that all roots music artists are encouraged to apply)
• DEADLINE 5/19: The Amador Arts Council has put out a call for artists of all media to submit works with the theme WAY OUT WEST, celebrating LGBTQAI2S+ history throughout the western frontiers
• We Are Moving the Needle is looking for women and non-binary audio engineers and music producers
• Eli Conley is teaching Unlock the Song Inside: Beginning Songwriting Class for Queer & Trans Folks & Allies, and he also offers an online LGBTQ+ songwriter circle!
• Are you on Mastodon or another part of the Fediverse? Get your music on RadioFreeFedi! https://radiofreefedi.net/
• PS — If you’re thinking of joining Mastodon, make an account on musician.social and read my tips for making Mastodon work for you!
• Submit your music and events to The Q LGBTQ Creative Network
• This Twitter thread has a whole list of places to find jobs in the music industry
• And here’s a list of resources for “women” entering the music industry — presumably they also encourage nonbinary participants
• Submit your profile to the Country Everywhere which seeks to unite BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disabled artists and professionals
• Sign up to the Black Opry Revue’s interest form!
• Check out the weekly Queerfolk Fest show in Nashville