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Chely Wright Pleads for Brad Paisley's Forgiveness

Chely WrightChely Wright made headlines earlier this month with the surprising announcement that she is a lesbian, marking the first time in history that an award-winning country artist has publicly come out of the closet. Now, Chely is revealing even more details of her story -- including her relationship with one of country's biggest stars -- from the comfort of Oprah Winfrey's couch.

"I was told in church that there were building blocks of sin and evildoing, and these words were strung together to scare me -- drunkard, thief, adulterer, homosexual. I thought, 'That's what I am,'"she told Oprah on Wednesday's episode of the popular talk show, explaining why she waited so long to come out. "I prayed every day for God to change me. And it was: 'Dear God, please don't let me be gay. I promise to be a good person.' I said that prayer every day, multiple times a day."

In and out of a relationship with a woman named Julia for several years, Chely tried to keep that aspect of her life hidden from those closest to her. Even her family and her best friend were unaware of her inner turmoil. "When you start telling people, it puts people in the position to lie for you, and I knew that," she says. "So I just didn't tell people. I wasn't just in the closet. I was behind the sheet rock in the closet. The duality of my existence was so much work."

So determined was the rising star to keep her sexual orientation hidden from everyone, she tried to date men, including country artists Vince Gill and Brad Paisley. It was a decision that she profoundly regrets. "My dating men was my giving it a Hail Mary toward normal," she reveals. "I ultimately just confused the heck out of them because I couldn't love them the way they loved me."

Chely's relationship with Brad happened about a decade ago but still haunts her today. "I have a lot of regret for how that began and had a middle and ended," she admits. "I had no business being in a relationship with him ... I was making a deal again with myself: 'Well, Chel, you'll forego love. You'll go without love. Find someone with whom you can spend your life that makes you laugh, that you like how they live their life, that you can share a life with.'"

Now, years later, she still hopes to someday set things right with her famous ex. "Doing anything with someone you shouldn't be doing something with -- having sex with him, kissing on him, going into a movie and holding hands with a man when you're a lesbian feels wrong," she says. "When you want to be with someone else, it's wrong. I wronged him ... I damaged [Brad], and I hope he forgives me. I hope this fills in some emotional gaps for him. I don't assume he's pining over how Chely Wright hurt his feelings a few years ago. I'm assuming he's happy and moved on, but I would welcome any chance [to talk to him]."

Resolved to tear down stereotypes, and willing to wear the title as the first openly gay country singer, Chely says she is still a bit shocked at her own boldness. "Had you told me in 2000, had you said, 'You're going to be the first chart-topping country music singer to step forward and acknowledge her homosexuality,' I would have laughed in your face," she admits.

Feeling support from her fans from all over the world, she admits the support from fellow stars has not been what she had hoped. "They all have my e-mail, and it's been a little disappointing that I haven't heard from more," she reveals. "That said, I have had hundreds of e-mails and phone calls and text messages from the country music community at large."

Ultimately, the timing was right. "I've been whispered about in country music for a long time," she says. The word 'lesbian' has been used as an insult ... You can say I'm ugly. You can say my songs are stupid, but I won't allow the word 'lesbian' to be used as an insult toward me anymore."

Chely released both a memoir, 'Like Me,' and a new CD, 'Lifted Off the Ground,' earlier this month. She's now prepping for her 10th annual Reading, Writing and Rhythm event on June 8, along with special guests Rodney Crowell, Sarah Buxton, Justin Moore and Bucky Covington.

Read more of Chely's interview with Oprah here.

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Drew

Kaat1220
Religion IS NOT MAN-MADE. I'd bet my life and even yours on it.

Whay everyone keeps saying is being gay is not a sin, or its a HUGE sin, or that God won't forgive people who are gay. First of all he will all you have to do is ask. Second of all, sin is sin. Thats it. Not one sin is bigger than another. If you lie thats a sin. If
you murder someone thats a sin too. No they're not the exact same thing but theyre both sin and that is the same thing. So those who say " I dont think gayness is wrong," Well when it comes down to it, its a sin just like lieing and murder. Sorry to burst your bubble.

December 29 2011 at 12:32 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
fdxdelboy

Live and let live I say. If she wants to commit career suicide, let her do it. She'll go by the wayside like the Dixie Chicks, K.D. Lang, etc.etc., to never be heard from again. It's not like she's some big time country star anyway. She'll have a pocket of lunatic liberal fans that will follow her and say how brave she is, but that's about it. For the life of me, I can't figure some of these so-called celebrities out. If they just keep their mouths shut and their opinions or lifestyles to themselves, then they might keep some sort of career going. Some of them just feel then need to express their political beliefs and viewpoints like their opinion really means something. I could care less who you vote for or sleep with or if you love Obama. Just shut your mouth, know your role, and get back in the closet.

May 25 2010 at 8:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to fdxdelboy's comment
kaat1220

It is attitudes like yours that cause "career suicide" for country artists in the first place. It is ok for a heterosexual star to discuss his/her love life, etc. No one tells these people to shut up and sing. However, gay people are supposed to lie about their lives to please the fans? I am sorry, but no one should have to "fake it" for the fans or to make people like you more comfortable. She is not just a singer; she is a human being. People want to know more about her; there is no getting around discussing certain personal aspects of her life. However, what you are saying is "shut up, sing" and fake who you are the rest of your life..............for me.

June 25 2011 at 2:58 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tom

I am proud of Chely. Furthermore, there are more country music artists who are gay; unfortunately, they do not have the courage Chely has shown. These peopld who are calling Chely a disgrace are the disgrace. They are disgrace to the human race. I get so sick and tired of holier than thou, superior attitude. I am sick of conservatives who believe they KNOW everything that is God. They have a huge awakening coming their way. They are the ones who should be begging God's forgiveness due to their arrogance and self-righteous judgement.

May 24 2010 at 10:53 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
treybb1952

campbell...think you should reread your bible. The same chapters that condemn homosexuals condemn (and say the punishment for both is death) those who do not obey their parents. So...do you kill your children, or cut off their hand if they steal. People can disagree of course, but there are many of us who love the Lord who believe that gay folks were created by the same One who created straight folks. i think there will be lots of surprises when we go to heaven, and I believe Chely Wright will be there. good for her for finally being honest.

May 22 2010 at 11:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jmharder22

i agree that she should not brought her past male lovers into this whole thing.

I want to applaud her for coming out. It's hard to do when your a teen in some mid-west state but to do it after so long is amazing. I don't think most straight people can imagine how hard it is to know that your different and want to deny that. It's not like changing your hair color or getting a tan. It's somthing that eats at you until your brain wants to explode.
Chely came out and thats a huge deal for a Counrty music star.
It doesn't matter if it's wrong or right. What matters is that she had the courage to tell the truth and show people who she really is instead of blow her brains out or live a lie anymore.
Stop hating something your don't understand people.

May 22 2010 at 2:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
kc

I find it interesting that before she "comes out" she has to bash the church & therefore God!! She is not looking to come clean about anything.. She is just looking for affirmation that what she is doing is O.K. BAD church BAD BAD BAD!! God, through His Son, can forgive a repentant sinner ANYTHING. But she seeks neither forgiveness OR repentance! I am sick of the world trying to shove its own wisdom and filth up God's nose (and the churches) and demanding that He (and we) accept it. He doesn't. And He won't.

May 21 2010 at 2:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to kc's comment
Tom

You are the sick one. You think you speak for and know all that God is. She did not condemn God nor the church. Did you even bother to read it?

May 24 2010 at 11:11 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mark

JeepGuy425 It is people like you who are making this world go down the tube. If any of you really believe in God the way you say then you cannot judge people the way you do. THINK ABOUT IT. Remember it is man who wrote the bible.

May 21 2010 at 2:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to mark's comment
kaat1220

Mark, I agree. Religion itself is man-made, and the bible was written by people who presumed to claimed to know what God wanted. Back then, all you had to do was say that God is speaking through you and people believed it. Nowadays, people know better. I am simply amazed at how many people try to live their lives according to a book written years ago by human beings. God does not condemn or condone one religion or another. This is what humans do. Too many people are attempting to judge. Sorry, guys but that job is filled and you are not qualified.

June 25 2011 at 3:03 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
peapers

People often confuse love and lust. Although it is not an exclusive trait to homosexuals, it is homosexuality that bases it's definition of love on a feeling of lust.

Sexuality can be included as an expression of love in a loving relationship, but it is not love. It is lust. So, when Chely says she couldn't love Brad Paisley the way that he loved her, what she meant was that she couldn't lust for him the way he lusted for her.

This is the big confusion people have in relationships today. Sex has become the measuring stick for love and that is why most relationships, including many heterosexual ones, fail. Lust fades and often times very quickly.

Perhaps this is why God chose to make sex outside of wedlock a sin. It confuses the issue of truly loving someone.

Human sexuality seems to leave us with quite a conundrum.

May 21 2010 at 2:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Hello Tiffany

I think it's safe to say that Brad Paisley has moved on.

May 21 2010 at 2:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
katydid579

What I'd like to know is when brad paisley is going to fess up and come out of the closet, too.

May 21 2010 at 1:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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