health
Country star Ty Herndon: ‘The drugs could be forgiven. Being gay definitely could not’
In an honest new memoir, the musician opens up about being closeted in country, sexual assault, and finding love in his 60s
TL;DR
- Ty Herndon was arrested in 1995 on drug and indecent exposure charges, a scandal his record company managed by focusing on his alleged drug use rather than his sexuality.
- Herndon publicly came out as gay in 2014, becoming the first major male country music star to do so, highlighting the deep-seated homophobia in Nashville.
- His memoir, 'What Mattered Most,' details his battles with bipolar disorder, dyslexia, OCD, ADD, porn addiction, sex addiction, and drug addiction.
- A childhood experience in a Pentecostal church and a sexual assault in his early career significantly impacted his self-esteem and mental health.
- Despite career setbacks and personal struggles, Herndon eventually found sobriety, effective therapy, and married a younger man in his 60s.
- Herndon now works with GLAAD to promote acceptance of LGBTQ+ artists and reflects on his past experiences as foundational to who he is today.