Brooke Eden Talks Queer Representation in Country Music

GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, hosted the 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on March 30, where stars spoke out against LGBTQ legislation and stood in solidarity with transgender people.

Vocal powerhouse, Brooke Eden, who came out in January 2021, spoke to Billboard’s Tetris Kelly about queer representation in country music on the event’s red carpet.

Eden said, “Being a queer human and a country artist, for so long I never thought my lives would be able to collide, so, to be here as exactly who I am means so much. It means that we’re moving forward and that we’re moving forward as a community, as a genre and as a humanity of people.”

“I feel we move a little slower than other genres,” she continued. “But I feel so embraced by country music and I’m just so excited that now kids in small towns who feel queer and feel under-represented now feel like they can be represented. Not only by me but by T.J. Osborne [and] Brandi Carlile, and it’s just so great to see queer people in the country music space.”

This year, Eden was nominated for her first GLAAD Media Awards for ‘Outstanding Breakthrough Artist’ – the sole female Country music artist nominated across all categories.

“As a country artist, I aim to reach beyond the norms of our genre and connect the dots between small town living and real life love of all forms,” Eden said of her nomination. “Although there is still more understanding and progress to be made, I’m so proud to see the forward movement in the country music space. The LGBTQ+ community belongs everywhere music is made, and I’m honoured to be amongst these icons are making strides toward a more inclusive world.”

In 2015, Eden began dating radio promoter, Hilary Hoover. They announced their engagement in 2021 and were married the following year in Nashville, Tennessee, officiated by Trisha Yearwood. Garth Brooks also sang them down the aisle.

“That’s just another moment of like ‘wow’,” she told Kelly. “It’s incredible to watch these icons, that, literally, when you say Garth Brooks, you mean country music, so to have someone that influential stand behind marriage and love of all kinds is really putting action to the words ‘Love is Love’.”

Eden also revealed that she will release an EP titled Outlaw Love in June. 

“This is kind of like my protest EP,” she announced. “It’s just about coming out and what that was like and really embracing love.”

The Los Angeles ceremony for the 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards was hosted by Emmy and Grammy nominated comedian and actress Margaret Cho and featured special performances from FLETCHER and Orville Peck.

Angelica Ross, Betty Who, Billy Eichner, Brian Michael Smith, Chase Joynt, Geena Rocero, Harvey Guillen, Isis King, Jen Richards, Joel Kim Booster, Jordy, Rafael Silva, Ronen Rubinstein, Sarah Michelle Gellar, TS Madison and Zackary Drucke were among the stars on hand for the event.

The GLAAD Media Awards will stream on Hulu beginning April 12. Remaining winners for select categories will be announced at GLAAD’s New York Ceremony on Saturday, May 13.

------------------------------

Keep up to date with Brooke Eden on her Facebook page here.