Los Angeles, CA – Thursday, June 24, 2021 – GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, today released an exclusive interview with T.J. Osborne from country music hitmakers Brothers Osborne ahead of their guest appearance in “Miley Cyrus Presents Stand By You,” an hour-long Pride concert event which will be available June 25 on Peacock.
In the interview, Osborne talks about working with Cyrus on the special, how they came to decide on what they would perform, reflects on his life since coming out publicly as gay nearly 4 months ago, and what he and his brother are doing to fight for LGBTQ acceptance in Tennessee and beyond. The singer also talks about being surprised at the amount of public support he received after coming out in February in an exclusive interview with TIME.
Watch GLAAD’s exclusive interview with Osborne here: https://youtu.be/flQFYhPF7bk
Brothers Osborne are also performing at Ty Herndon’s “The Concert for Love & Acceptance” benefitting GLAAD, MusiCares and Nashville’s Oasis Center. The event will stream exclusively on CMT’s Facebook and YouTube on June 30 at 8 pm ET.
T.J. Osborne on working with Miley Cyrus on “Stand By You” Pride special:
“I was extremely impressed with her. When we walked in she was incredibly kind. All of the speeches and the songs that were chosen, it was all her little baby that she came up with.”
“We did Pat Benatar ‘We Belong…’ at first I was like, ‘I don’t think this is a song for me to sing…singing that higher Pat Benatar range clearly isn’t going to work for me,’ and then I messed with singing it an octave under and it sounded really cool! It was fun for John and I to step outside of what would normally be Brothers Osborne music and do something a little bit different.”
“When Miley requested that we come to join her, she didn’t just request me, she requested us and really found it to be a lot more important to do it that way. Ultimately, the reason why I came out was for inclusion…To me, It’s about [my brother and I] being on equal playing fields. How do I project that message to people if I am pulling myself away from my brother? I think it really has put us in a unique position.”
T.J. Osborne reflecting on his decision to come out publicly in February:
“It’s been a whirlwind, mostly in the best way. I have had nerves and anxiety around doing public, in person things, for one because we haven’t done them in a year and a half [due to the pandemic] and two I just came out, and there is a lot going on. It was really a beautiful ice breaker for that, to walk out into that night to celebrate queer rights and visibility, to walking out there to a bunch of queer fans…and I thought man this is a really beautiful, incredible introduction to the community in the most sweet way…I want more fans like that!”
T.J. Osborne on the support he received from Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town and more after publicly coming out:
“I think it was beautiful to experience as a person. There were a couple people that I didn’t know that well that publicly shared their support and I was moved by that. I think really what it takes to make things equal or where we don’t have to talk about this anymore is people stepping out who maybe aren’t gay or aren’t queer and are coming out and aligning themselves with people like us. I thought that was a really powerful thing…I don’t know what I expected entirely but when a lot of people were announcing their support, it really moved me in the best way…so for them to come out and support me like that, they were very well aware that some of their fans probably wouldn’t love that. What I have found is that there are a lot more people than I realized that are in these rural areas, country music fans that aren’t gay who are incredibly supportive. There were people who reached out to me and said ‘we love you still much, we are still coming [to our shows]’ and those comments made me feel just as good as any of them.”
T.J. Osborne on brother and Brothers Osborne bandmate, John, supporting him in his journey:
“For him, there was a lot on the line and at risk with me coming out. He’s been incredibly supportive from the beginning. I came out to my brother right as we were about to sign our record deal…and I told him before then that as we embark on this I just want to let you know that this is something that is a part of me and inevitably, I don’t plan on staying closeted forever, I do plan on coming out. He said that at any time and point that I wanted to come out, he was for that, and he did and it was really beautiful.”
T.J. Osborne on anti-LGBTQ legislatures being introduced in Tennessee and choosing to speak out:
“John and I just went out to lunch with one of our [Tennessee] lawmakers who is pretty conservative and I was explaining to him that I think that drives people away from Tennessee, I don’t think it brings people to Tennessee. As Miley is, I am proud in a lot of ways to live in Tennessee, but there are some things that make me feel embarrassed of some things that Tennessee does. It’s a really unique position for me to be in, in this state [of Tennessee]. I am needed here. She [Miley] is needed here and I thought many times that I would leave and go be around like-minded people that think the way I think, but at that point I am not really in a position to change anyone’s mind, but maybe I am able to give them a perspective that they were unable to have on their own. The fact that I can be here in a conservative state and still bring visibility and representation is an incredible advantage. I found it to be important that I don’t get driven out of state. John and I try to be active in making things better.”
T.J Osborne on the influence he has as an out country artist:
“Being able to make a difference in any person’s life, I think that is far more important than the car I have in my driveway or any of the possessions I have at home. Being able to have that impact on people is an incredible experience to have. A very rare experience to have on someone else…The only reason I care to have any fame is to be able to influence for the better.”
Earlier this year, Rep. Jeremy Faison and Tennessee House Republicans blocked a resolution to honor TJ Osborne weeks after he came out. Brothers Osborne responded on Twitter, writing: “We’ve lived in this state for over half of our lives…Jeremy, let’s have lunch one day. On us. Would really like to know more about you as a person.”
“Miley Cyrus Presents Stand By You,” which will be available to stream on Peacock starting Friday, June 25, features Cyrus onstage with many special guests including country music powerhouses Little Big Town, Maren Morris, Brothers Osborne, Mickey Guyton and Orville Peck.
The hour-long concert event, filmed at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, features the multi-platinum recording artist, songwriter and trailblazer performing an array of her hits such as “The Climb” and “Party in the U.S.A.” and putting her creative spin on beloved classics, including Cher’s “Believe,” Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors,” Pat Benatar’s “We Belong,” ABBA’s “Dancing Queen,” and a special Madonna medley featuring “Music,” “Express Yourself,” and “Like A Prayer” all in the spirit of PRIDE.
“Miley Cyrus Presents Stand By You” is produced by Den of Thieves and Miley Cyrus and Tish Cyrus’s production company, Hopetown Entertainment. Jesse Ignjatovic, Evan Prager and Barb Bialkowski serve as executive producers for Den of Thieves. Miley Cyrus, Tish Cyrus, Adam Leber and Adriana Arce also serve as executive producers. Samantha Brooke Green serves as co-executive producer. Jordan Barrow co-executive produces for Den of Thieves along with producer Alex Hiegel.
“Miley Cyrus Presents Stand By You” is available on Peacock starting June 25.