T.J. Osborne Comes Out As Gay

Brothers Osborne’s T.J. Osborne came out as gay in a powerful new interview with Time. 

“I’m ready to put this behind me,” the 36-year-old told the publication in an extensive feature story, out Wednesday (Feb. 3). 

While he’s known since he was young, only T.J.’s close friends and family knew about it… until now. 

“I’m very comfortable being gay,” he shared. “I find myself being guarded for not wanting to talk about something that I personally don’t have a problem with. That feels so strange.”

T.J. is sharing his truth and is now the only openly gay artist signed to a major country record label.

He admitted that he’s a bit concerned about the way country music fans will react to the news and even acknowledged that some may view this as an opportunistic move. 

“People will ask, ‘Why does this even need to be talked about?’ and personally, I agree with that,” he told Time. “But for me to show up at an awards show with a man would be jaw-dropping to people. It wouldn’t be like, ‘Oh, cool!”

T.J. is unsure what the future holds in the terms of potential professional ramifications.

“I don’t think I’m going to get run off the stage in Chicago,” he said. “But in a rural town playing a county fair? I’m curious how this will go.”

T.J. came out to his brother, John, shortly after they moved to Nashville. He said he will never forget the moment T.J. was able to share his truth and is happy that he’s now able to share it publicly. 

“He was very open and candid about it, and I was emotional, because my brother was finally able to be completely honest with me about who he was,” John recalled. “How often, in life, do we hold back parts of ourselves and wish that we didn’t?”

John added, “If I had to have all my money and success erased for my brother to be truly fulfilled in life, I wouldn’t even think about it. Not for a second.”

The duo said they will continue to make the same kind of music they’ve always made. Now, T.J. just feels more free. 

“Don’t get me wrong,” he said, “When I say I want to put it behind me, I want to put the coming out behind me. Because ultimately it’s a very small detail about me.”

Fans can read more of T.J.’s interview with Time HERE.