Country music artist and philanthropist Ty Herndon, in partnership with CMT, held his annual Concert For Love & Acceptance on Wednesday, June 30, 2021. Presented virtually as an exclusive live streaming event, performances included Brothers Osborne, Kristin Chenoweth, Cody Belew, Paul Cardall, Terri Clark, Gavin DeGraw, Brooke Eden, Shelly Fairchild, Jamie Floyd, comedian Dana Goldberg, Harper Grae, Ty Herndon, Jake Hoot, Chris Housman, Kathy Mattea, Rissi Palmer, Gretchen Peters, Michael Ray, Lily Rose, Tenille Townes, Walker County, Chase Wright, and Jaime Wyatt.
The show is now available to stream exclusively on CMT’s Facebook and YouTube channels, and at F4LA.org for the next 72 hours.
During the event, Kathy Mattea was honored with the second annual Foundation For Love & Acceptance R.A.L.Y. (Rescue A Life, Y’all) Award, presented by Herndon in recognition of her early advocacy for the LGBTQ community and HIV/AIDS awareness.
“Kathy Mattea was standing up for LGBTQ people in country music long before it was cool,” said Herndon. “I’m so proud that we could honor her tonight for her heroism and activism. Her voice made a difference when it really mattered.”
During the broadcast, Herndon also announced his Foundation for Love & Acceptance 2021 Rising Stars. This year’s honorees are ARLO, Brooke Eden, Jamie Floyd, Chris Housman, and Lily Rose.
“With LGBTQ Rising Stars like Brooke Eden, Chris Houseman, Lily Rose, and ARLO on the scene making great music as their authentic selves and allies like Jamie Floyd standing alongside them, I think we can say it’s a new day in Nashville,” said Herndon. 2021 class of honorees join last year’s recipients of the award, Shelly Fairchild, Harper Grae, and Brandon Stansell.
Produced by Herndon’s charitable foundation, The Foundation for Love & Acceptance, the Concert for Love and Acceptance returns as a star-studded online event, co-hosted by Herndon and CMT’s Cody Alan, who has hosted the event alongside Herndon since 2017. GLAAD, MusiCares, and Nashville’s Oasis Center are beneficiaries of event proceeds.
In its second year, The Concert for Love and Acceptance Red Carpet Countdown returned providing many more exclusive performances leading up to the main event. The Red-Carpet Countdown streamed online exclusively on Herndon’s Facebook channel, two hours preceding the official Concert for Love and Acceptance at 8 p.m. ET. Performances included Curtis Braly, Jada Cato, Exit 216, Justin Fabus, The Kentucky Gentlemen, Crystal Lewis, Kristen Merlin, Sarah Potenza, Brandon Stansell, Emily West, and Jaime Wyatt. Former Miss Mississippi America and USA Heather Soriano, who serves as Director of Pivotal Moments Nashville, will co-host the Red Carpet Countdown alongside Herndon.
GLAAD and Herndon created the first Concert for Love and Acceptance in 2015, shortly after Herndon became the first male country artist to come out as gay. Event appearances and performances have included Vince Gill, Tanya Tucker, Reba McEntire, Brett Young, Jake Owen, Lee Brice, Tyler Rich, Michael Ray, Rita Wilson, Chris Daughtry, Terri Clark, Chris Carmack, Gavin DeGraw, Crystal Gayle, Billy Gilman, Cassadee Pope, Calum Scott, Mickey Guyton, Levi Hummon, Cam, Cale Dodds, Runaway June, Chely Wright, Billy Dean, Hunter Hayes, Brandon Stansell, Meghan Lindsey, Thompson Square, WWE Superstars, Meghan McCain, and more.
Music City PrEP Clinic is the exclusive Presenting Partner of the 2021 Concert For Love and Acceptance. The organization serves to help Middle Tennesseans live an HIV-free life through PrEP medication, education, anti-stigma campaigns, and support. Additional support is provided by Analog at Hutton hotel, Veva Collect, and Lester Franzen.
