The 2025 Rainbow Rodeo Reader's Survey

It may feel like ten years have happened since this year began, but we're still stuck on all of last year's amazing music. (Plus, work got busy for Rachel.)

We asked and you answered – these are your favorite queer country albums of 2025....and what you're looking forward to in 2026. (Interestingly, the readers pick a pretty different field than our staff did!)

4: Bonnie and the Mere Mortals – Take Me to the Moon + Vandoliers – Life Behind Bars (Tie)

"Bonnie and the Mere Mortals have a cheerful brightness that can never quite be beaten down – not out of defiance, per se, but out of a warm optimism that things will in fact get better." – Rachel Cholst

"While the Vandoliers and Life Behind Bars are both more than the story about Jenni Rose finding her way, they are the band and the album of defiance the world needs today. Sure they remain a honky-tonk, punk rock, bar band on a mission to make sure you have a good time. However, they also reach down your throat and grab you by the heart strings and make you think. We should all be grateful for this album and this band." – Richard Marcus

3: Brandi Carlile – Returning To Myself and Orville Peck – Appaloosa (Tie)

"Returning to Myself is as deeply personal as it is universal. When you honestly dig into your chest, you find truths to be eternal. It's a marvelous thing—that the meaning of life has been with us this entire time. It's not some glorious revelation found in religion or vices or even the exhilaration of taking big, bold risks... it's simply to be." – Bee Delores

"[Peck]'s never sounded so soul-baring and honest on record - in a catalog that's already fairly good/strong. As Jonathan Keefe over at Country Universe writes, "only he and [Tami] Neilson are operating in that exact space at this level," in regards to that haunting Bronco-like musical and lyrical sandbox of yesteryear. (Peck-Nielson collab album, when?)" – Bee Delores

2: Bandits on the Run – The Shakespeare Tapes

"Even as the Bandits incorporate the Bard into their lyrics, there is a refreshing sense of modernity in The Shakespeare Tapes. With these songs, Shakespeare's characters come to us with a level of insight – and rebellion – that feels more legible to modern listeners. It doesn't hurt that the trio have finely honed the ways their voices play off each other: distinct, but perfectly suited to a larger whole." – Rachel Cholst

1: Secret Emchy Society – Queen of Assholes

"Emch delivers her songs with ease, unfurling her tales of hard-up characters and supernatural occurrences with roguish aplomb. Her new album Queen of Assholes is Emch at her best: whether she's commemorating her punk house days, declaiming about the romance of touring, or taking a stand for herself, Emch has never been more confident." – Rachel Cholst

What do you think was the biggest story in the queer country world this year?

"[Tiberius Wright's] troubador saving my life"

"The biggest story in the queer country world this year (2025) has been the ongoing conversation and debate surrounding the mainstream country music industry's continued exclusion of openly LGBTQ+ artists"

"The several anti-LGBTQ+ pieces of legislation passed in Tennessee."

"orville peck taking off his mask and reminding us he's just a boring hot dude"

"How much less of it I saw in the press"

"Vandos skyrocketing BUT relatedly moreover the continued suppression of marginalized voices, especially trans ppl and Black people, in Americana."

"Brandi Carlile's continued ascendance, from the Oscar nom to the Elton album (2 Grammy noms) to the Rock Hall of Fame performance and the spot on the 2026 Super Bowl lineup."

What are you most excited for in the queer country world in 2026?

"Secret Emchy Society"

"Less fascism"

"Mya Byrne’s new freaking album that nobody knows about yet" [I know about it and it rips – Rachel]

"Queer artists banding together - more collective tours, festivals and Pride events!"

What are you hoping to see from Rainbow Rodeo in 2026?

"More interviews - they are always awesome."

"More local listings that include queer line dance events, and encourage queer line dance groups to come up with line dance choreography that works with queer country artists. I think Adam Mac's music totally lends itself to lot's of line dance opportunities."

"Perhaps becoming more active in person - presenting or sponsoring perhaps; the link between publications and producers was strong in past decades and helped fortify the indie and queer music scenes. Let’s get back for that heyday in a new way!"

[Stay tuned for an announcement regarding live shows! – Rachel]

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