... are definite bonusses when it comes to artists - even if you don't like their music.

I don't think her open support of the LGBT community will hurt her sales. For every redneck fan she upsets and loses over that, she'll (probably) gain a new queer fan.

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"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." (Dr. Seuss)

As a little girl, before discovering other music, there were a few country artists that really spoke to me. It's been like, 12 years or so since I've really liked country, and while I don't follow Reba's music consistently, she's always been one of the top telents in the genre. I think it's wonderful that she's supporting love of all kinds, and respect her more now, which I didn't think was possible, than when I was singing "fancy" as a kid.

 I was never a mess. I was just faking it.

Anyone who comes out in support of the LGBT community is a winner, as far as I'm concerned. She also probably has enough money at this point to buy a small country, so what does she really have to lose?

www.SeekingSaraSummers.com

there were many reasons why I like her. I am not the biggest country fan, but she is one of the exception. I hope people are not that petty, and that they follow her philosophy/message. Don't judge. It's that simple. Imagine, being friends with someone because you like that someone... what will people think of next. In all seriousness, I hope her live and let live way is catching because this world sure needs more people like that. 

___________________________________________________

"Come fly away with me, right in the land of eternity"

Oh, Reba.  I've loved her since the 80s.  She is a fantastic lady.

i love reba - the heart wont lie is my all time fave country song ever. could she be any more fantastic?

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tunes, snark and such: http://rightmindleftcoast.wordpress.com

I also choose my friends for the people they are, and not because they are gay.  It always amazes me when other lesbians assume we should be friends just because, and for no other reason than, we are both lesbians.  My friends are both gay and straight because I don’t judge them, I only know who I like and who I don’t.

She tore the Dixie Chicks apart more than once when they were being boycotted for speaking the truth about Bush. Plus I saw her in concert years ago and she literally did not say ONE word to us. She's a stuck up hypocrite!

On the other hand I LOVE Martina Mccbride and had no idea she gave an interview in Out mag! Remember her song I Love You from "Runaway Bride"? Man I was obsessed with that song AND movie LOL!

Let's ride the queer train guys!

Is it just me or accepting of homosexuals is either you do or you don't type of thing?

I am not understanding the whole running up and down streets having my PR and myself yelling "I LOVE HOMOSEXUALS" (if you play it to an acoustic tune this might sound better)

What is the point this should be understood information. I can see if she was at a No on Prop 8 rally but seriously this screams I need queers to pay my house note.

Not cool at all!

Matt's world you just live in it!

but, isn't Reba gay herself?

really, since the first time i saw her i thought that, and it only got 'worse' through time

I like her music, I liked her show, and I like her honesty in this interview. I also love Martina McBride and didn't know she'd given an Out interview too, so thanks for the notice on that one too!

There was a funny ep of the sitcom in which her character ends up with another divorced mom who is gay and thinks Reba is too and that she's hot. Don't remember the details, but it was hilarious and well-handled - Reba is understandably uncomfortable with the fact that her friend has mis-read the situation but at no point is there any concept that there's anything wrong with the other woman being gay.

As for the previous few posters who think she is a "hypocrite" for judging the Dixie Chicks...first of all, what did she say? I honestly don't know, and a couple commenters on the Out page make it seem like it was just a maybe slightly in poor taste joke at an awards ceremony, not a serious insult.

Second, how is it hypocritical to say you can't judge someone for their sexual orientation but that you can judge someone for saying things you deem to be unpatriotic or just stupid? I judge people all the time - for things they do, not for who they are. In fact, you are judging her about something she said - how is that different from her judging the Dixie Chicks?

I doing think it was what I would call the boldest support for her LGBT fans I have ever heard.  It's a very safe response to keep both sides happy.

And ditto to the person who pointed out the Dixie Chicks controversy.  She sat firmly on the side of the more conservative members of the country music 'family'

I've been a fan of hers since I was little. Having grown up mostly in Oklahoma and having parents who were rabid country music fans, she was one of the very few from that genre that I actually liked and bought my own copies of her music.

I listen to classic rock these days but still reserve a small space in my heart for Reba, and going by this article, that space is very well deserved. 

I'm a big Reba fan and always will be.  She is very gracious to her fans and I love the fact that she did interviews with Out and New, Now, Next.  Yes, these interviews are part of a press tour for her new album, but who cares? 

As for the Reba vs Dixie Chicks war...I think the media probably made it bigger than it was.  Here's an article for anyone unfamiliar:  http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1534793/reba-mcentire-shares-views-on-vegas-renewed-sitcom-and-dixie-chicks.jhtml  It is an interview with Reba, so I'm sure there is somewhat of a bias, but she plainly states her feelings on the subject. 

As for her being stuck up...in my opinion, that is hardly the case.  We are talking about a woman who would sign autographs for HOURS until her hand was cramped and she was in tears...and then she would take a quick break and come back out until she had met with everyone in line.  Awesome.

And I'll step down from my soap box now.  :)

Reba is one of the few that can bring straigh, gay, bi, trans, etc... all together under one roof- you have to love her.

I've been to two of her concerts (both were her and Kelly Clarkson)- one in Mississippi and the other in Alabama- and I've never seen so many gays and straights in one room getting along, especially for the South.  

 I hardly see her comments to us as being supportive more like non-judgmental. I'm sure she has a lot of gay friends and family and that she supports them and of course being overtly supportive would have hurt sales so maybe it is a little courageous but not that much.

I find that entertainers in  homophobic countries who clearly stand up for gay rights and same sex marriage more courageous but thats just me. For example, I think Celina Jaitley, an Indian actress and gay rights activist, has more guts and courage. Although Reba's audience is mostly conservative, as a past Miss Universe contestant Celina was representing an entire conservative, homophobic country. You know the type where people get sent to gaol for being gay. Standing up for a minority group when you would get death threats, boycotts, lost fans, hate mail and require extra body guards means more to me. But of course Out, 365gay and other white lgbt magazines/media would never cover these straight allies in that much depth.  Never interview them. No way.  A non judgemental white straight ally beats a vocal straight ally  of colour anyday or so it seems. No wonder LGBT of colour complain of racism in LGBT bars and events.

These gay magazines spent 1% of the time reporting on people of colour or their straight allies. That might be a reason why their sales are so rapidly falling. Did out mention the African AMerican gay Iraq war vet running for congress in any detail? Did they have an interview with him?

These  mainstream gay newspapers dont have the courage to report on issues or interview courageous straight allies of colour. The best they can do is someone who is so ambivalent on gay rights but at least she's non judgemental at least she can understand why we would want rights. Yay. Extra brownie points for that. It felt like she was ducking most of the questions.

I'm not a country fan so maybe I shouldnt have commented. But i kind of hate it when my emails to white LGBT publications get ignored when i talk about courageous straight allies they could be interviewing. 

For those wondering this is what she said for the Dixie Chicks it was in response to Natalie when she said she didn't want the same fans as other country artists. So maybe not so inflammatory but still it wasnt exactly supportive of views outside the mainstream. Although I think Martina McBride lost a lot of fans after that interview and maybe Reba would have as well if she had been honest. But then again why would you want to have bigoted fans anyway. Honesty, integrity and support for minorities should be more important than money making.

McEntire: "Dixie Chicks were supposed to sing tonight ... but that's hard to do with your foot stuck in your mouth."

The way country fans in America treated the Dixie Chicks for exercising their right to speak in a foreign country and criticise their president was quite sickening. Their records were burnt, they were sent death threats, record  stomping protests,banned from radio stations and hate mail. All for saying the war in Iraq was illegal, which it was. Too bad the money you wasted in Iraq wasnt spent elsewhere.

I mean how many of those country AMericans, including public figures, are criticizing Obama in overseas countries. I'm sure quite a few Republicans are. How hypocritical!

The Dixie Chicks have long supported gay rights. LIke equivocally and not in a non-judgemental way.

DIXIE CHICKS - DIXIE CHICKS EMBRACE GAY FANS

 http://www.advocate.com/issue_story_ektid31686.asp

The Dixie Chicks

Three years ago the country music industry pitched a hissy fit when Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines said, “Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas.” The Chicks didn’t just get blackballed, they got death threats. Now they’re back with a rocking new album of self-penned songs, Taking the Long Way, and a fierce first single, “Not Ready to Make Nice.” We spoke to Maines and Robison, and just so you know, we’re proud they’re from Texas.

Click the byline to view more stories by this author.

By Michele Kort

From The Advocate  June 20, 2006

Dixie Chicks

You’re really breaking the genre mold for country music. “Not Ready to Make Nice” could be a gay anthem.
Robison: Yeah, I think there’s a certain defiance to our music. These days—correct me if I’m wrong—you almost have to be defiant in the gay and lesbian community just to stand your ground.

That part in “Not Ready To Make Nice”—where someone writes you a letter saying “Shut up and sing / Or [your] life will be over”—gives me the chills.
Maines: People get mad that we’re saying that, but every single word is true. Because of “the incident,” as we like to call it, we really felt we had something to say. It made us mature, made us grow as women and people, and inspired us for this record. Rick Rubin, our producer, had seen us at the beginning of our career and thought we were really good but that no one took us seriously. Emily said the other day, “I don’t know if it was the glitter or what.” [Laughs]

I think you’ve gotten a whole new crowd of gay fans because you were so outspoken.
Maines: We’ve wiped the slate clean as to whom we think our fans are, but we do think we have more liberals and more gay men behind us. We have a gay hairdresser and gay makeup artist who are with us every single day, so they fill us in.

You must see a lot of lesbians at your shows.
Robison: They’re usually on Martie’s side. [Laughs] We always tease her that she gets all the lesbians.

You all had babies since the last album—what are you going to teach your children about tolerance and about speaking out?
Maines: When all this was happening, I had a 2-year-old, and Emily had a baby, and that was one of the things that crossed my mind. I know a lot of people would have just said “Sorry.” But I had to think about when my son gets old enough to ask me what they were talking about. I could never say, “Oh, I said this thing about the president because I didn’t agree with us going to war, but then I took it back.” I wanted him to know that I stood up for what I know to be right.

 

....when country wasn't cool. I absolutely adore Reba McEntire! I have all of her albums and seen her in concert quite a few times. It never mattered to me one way or another what she thought of my lifestyle. I just thoroughly enjoy her music...and her beautiful blue eyes ;)

 -The  Redneck Lesbian