Country Queer Explained

Country Queer
Type:Online magazine
Language:English
Founded:2019
Country Of Origin:United States
Owner:CQ Media LLC
Founder:Dale Henry Geist
Editor:Lilli Lewis
Current Status:Inactive

Country Queer is an online music magazine that focuses on LGBTQ+ musical artists in Country and Americana music.[1]

History

Country Queer was founded by former No Depression staffer Dale Henry Geist.[2] The publication launched in September 2019.[3] Geist founded Country Queer in response to what he described as a noticeable absence of queer people in the music media he consumed, particularly in Country and Americana music.[4] In describing how the publication began, Geist wrote:[5] Shortly after its launch, folk rock singer-songwriter Aaron Lee Tasjan began following the publication on social media, and LGBTQ+ Country singer-songwriters Orville Peck and Brandy Clark agreed to interviews with Country Queer.

At its launch, Oakland musician Cindy Emch served as Country Queer's first editor-in-chief.[6] [7] A year later, Emch left the position to focus on her music. Geist assumed the role of editor-in-chief and led an editorial team that included Americana LGBTQ+ singer-songwriters Adeem the Artist (Editor) and Mya Byrne (Staff Writer), as well as Sydney Miller (Associate Editor), Rachel Cholst (Editor and Podcast Producer), Eryn Brothers (Staff Writer), and James Barker (Staff Writer).[8]

In October 2020, Country Queer began publishing a bi-weekly column by editors Adeem the Artist and Annie Parnell entitled "Buried Treasure".[9] The column focused on a selection of new releases by lesser known LGBTQ+ musical artists whom Country Queer described as "important but under-heard voices in queer country." Notable artists who have been featured in the column include Adrianne Lenker,[10] Becca Mancari,[11] Big Thief,[12] Chris Housman,[13] Ginger Minj,[14] Girlpuppy,[15] John-Allison Weiss,[16] Meg Duffy,[17] Terry Blade,[18] and Waylon Payne.[19]

On December 29, 2020, Country Queer launched a directory consisting of Country and Americana musical artists who publicly identify as LGBTQ+.[20] On February 10, 2021, BillBoard reported that the publication had grown to 13,500 monthly visitors in January 2021–a 67% increase from December 2020. In September 2021, Country Queer presented a Rainbow Happy Hour showcase at the 2021 Americana Music Festival & Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. The showcase featured artists Jett Holden, Izzy Heltai, Joy Clark, Lilli Lewis, Lizzy No, Mya Byrne, Paisley Fields, and The Whitmore Sisters.

In November 2021, Lilli Lewis accepted an invitation to be Country Queer's interim editor-in-chief.[21] Notable artists who have interviewed with Country Queer include Aaron Lee Tasjan,[22] Amythyst Kiah,[23] Brandy Clark,[24] Jake Blount,[25] Kattie Pruit,[26] Ryan Cassata,[27] and Terry Blade.[28]

References

  1. Web site: Lind . Lonnie Lee and J. R. . 2021-09-24 . Country Queer’s Showcase Inspires, Brittney Spencer & Co. Invigorate . 2024-08-21 . . en . 2024-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822030845/https://www.nashvillescene.com/music/thespin/country-queer-s-showcase-inspires-brittney-spencer-co-invigorate/article_8f17a460-1d7b-11ec-a910-b39685255e77.html . live .
  2. Web site: Chandler . Stacy . 2021-05-28 . BONUS TRACKS: Honoring What John Prine and Levon Helm Gave Us, and Celebrating LGBTQ+ Music and History . 2024-08-21 . . en-US . 2023-10-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231021043416/https://www.nodepression.com/bonus-tracks-honoring-what-john-prine-and-levon-helm-gave-us-and-celebrating-lgbtq-music-and-history/ . live .
  3. Web site: Hurt . Edd . 2021-02-04 . Untangling Queer Country’s Many Connections to Country Music . 2024-08-21 . . en . 2024-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822030846/https://www.nashvillescene.com/music/features/untangling-queer-country-s-many-connections-to-country-music/article_4580c682-30af-5487-a031-2d0d4cb9412b.html . live .
  4. Web site: Amable . Jody . 2021-04-06 . Country Queer Documents the Genre’s Shift to LGBTQ+ Inclusivity KQED . 2024-08-21 . . en . 2024-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822030843/https://www.kqed.org/arts/13895247/country-queer-documents-the-genres-shift-to-lgbtq-inclusivity . live .
  5. Web site: Geist . Dale Henry . 2020-09-10 . One Year of Country Queer: Greatest Hits • Country Queer . 2024-08-22 . Country Queer . en-US . 2024-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822030843/https://countryqueer.com/stories/list/one-year-of-country-queer-greatest-hits/ . live .
  6. Web site: 2019-09-30 . About - Country Queer . 2024-08-22 . . 2019-09-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190930061514/http://countryqueer.com/about/ . bot: unknown .
  7. Web site: 2020-10-27 . To Country Queer, With All My Love • Country Queer . 2024-08-22 . . 2020-10-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201027005410/https://countryqueer.com/stories/letter-from-the-editor/emchy-goodbye/ . bot: unknown .
  8. Web site: 2020-10-19 . About • Country Queer . 2024-08-22 . . 2020-10-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201019210549/https://countryqueer.com/about/ . bot: unknown .
  9. Web site: 2020-10-27 . Buried Treasure: Our Pick of Under-heard Artists • Country Queer . 2024-08-22 . . 2020-10-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201027024409/https://countryqueer.com/stories/column/kristian-veech-katie-lyon-dorjay-the-singing-shaman-kenyth-mogan-great-aunt/ . bot: unknown .
  10. Web site: Parnell . Annie . 2021-08-21 . Buried Treasure, August 21 • Country Queer . 2024-08-23 . Country Queer . en-US . 2024-08-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240823012606/https://countryqueer.com/stories/buried-treasure/buried-treasure-august-21/ . live .
  11. Web site: Parnell . Annie . 2021-08-29 . Buried Treasure, August 29 Buried Treasure • Country Queer . 2024-08-23 . Country Queer . en-US . 2024-08-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240823012604/https://countryqueer.com/stories/buried-treasure/buried-treasure-august-28/ . live .
  12. Web site: Parnell . Annie . 2021-08-21 . Buried Treasure, August 21 • Country Queer . 2024-08-23 . Country Queer . en-US . 2024-08-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240823012606/https://countryqueer.com/stories/buried-treasure/buried-treasure-august-21/ . live .
  13. Web site: Bingham . Adeem . 2020-09-11 . Buried Treasure, September 11 • Country Queer . 2024-08-23 . Country Queer . en-US . 2024-08-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240823012604/https://countryqueer.com/stories/buried-treasure/buried-treasure-september-11/ . live .
  14. Web site: Parnell . Annie . 2021-09-04 . Buried Treasure, September 4 • Country Queer . 2024-08-23 . Country Queer . en-US . 2024-08-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240823012605/https://countryqueer.com/stories/buried-treasure/buried-treasure-september-4/ . live .
  15. Web site: Parnell . Annie . 2021-07-03 . Buried Treasure, July 3 • Country Queer . 2024-08-23 . Country Queer . en-US . 2024-08-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240823012603/https://countryqueer.com/stories/buried-treasure/buried-treasure-july-3/ . live .
  16. Web site: Bingham . Adeem . 2021-08-14 . Buried Treasure, August 14 • Country Queer . 2024-08-23 . Country Queer . en-US . 2024-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822233713/https://countryqueer.com/stories/buried-treasure/buried-treasure-august-14/ . live .
  17. Web site: Parnell . Annie . 2021-09-18 . Buried Treasure, September 18 • Country Queer . 2024-08-23 . Country Queer . en-US . 2024-08-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240823012606/https://countryqueer.com/stories/buried-treasure/buried-treasure-september-18/ . live .
  18. Web site: Bingham . Adeem . 2021-04-02 . Buried Treasure, April 2 • Country Queer . 2024-08-23 . Country Queer . en-US . 2024-09-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240916042828/https://countryqueer.com/stories/column/buried-treasure-april-2/ . live .
  19. Web site: Parnell . Annie . 2021-10-16 . Buried Treasure, October 16 • Country Queer . 2024-08-23 . Country Queer . en-US . 2024-08-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240823012604/https://countryqueer.com/stories/buried-treasure/buried-treasure-october-16/ . live .
  20. Web site: Roland . Tom . 2021-02-10 . Country Queer Publisher On T.J. Osborne, Morgan Wallen & Moving the Genre Forward . 2024-08-22 . . en-US . 2024-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822030843/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/country-queer-website-lgbtq-nashville-9523687/ . live .
  21. Web site: 2021-11-15 . Statement from Interim Editor-In-Chief • Country Queer . 2024-08-22 . . 2021-11-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211115160347/https://countryqueer.com/stories/letter-from-the-editor/statement-from-interim-editor-in-chief/ . bot: unknown .
  22. Web site: Geist . Dale Henry . 2021-02-17 . Episode 6: Aaron Lee Tasjan Plants His Flag • Country Queer . 2024-08-22 . Country Queer . en-US . 2024-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822152737/https://countryqueer.com/podcast/episode-6-aaron-lee-tasjan-plants-his-flag/ . live .
  23. Web site: Geist . Dale Henry . 2020-09-21 . Amythyst Kiah Stars in Episode 2 of Our Podcast • Country Queer . 2024-08-22 . Country Queer . en-US.
  24. Web site: Geist . Dale Henry . 2020-08-25 . Brandy Clark Gets Personal • Country Queer . 2024-08-22 . Country Queer . en-US . 2024-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822152738/https://countryqueer.com/stories/interview/brandy-clark-gets-personal/ . live .
  25. Web site: Geist . Dale Henry . 2021-04-07 . Episode 8: Jake Blount Reclaims "Old-Time" As Black, Queer Art • Country Queer . 2024-08-22 . Country Queer . en-US . 2024-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822152738/https://countryqueer.com/podcast/episode-6-jake-blount-reclaims-old-time-for-black-queer-art/ . live .
  26. Web site: Geist . Dale Henry . 2020-10-21 . Episode 3 of Our Podcast Features Katie Pruitt • Country Queer . 2024-08-22 . Country Queer . en-US . 2024-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822152739/https://countryqueer.com/podcast/episode-3-of-our-podcast-features-katie-pruitt/ . live .
  27. Web site: Emch . Cindy . 2018-11-08 . QueerCuts: Ryan Cassata at the SF Transgender Film Festival! • Country Queer . 2024-08-22 . Country Queer . en-US . 2024-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822152738/https://countryqueer.com/reviews/queer-cuts/queercuts-ryan-cassata-at-the-sf-transgender-film-festival/ . live .
  28. Web site: Treacy . Christopher . 2023-01-05 . Q&A With Terry Blade • Country Queer . 2024-08-23 . Country Queer . en-US . 2023-01-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230118152722/https://countryqueer.com/stories/interview/qa-with-terry-blade/ . live .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Country Queer".

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