Out Grammy-nominated country singer Ty Herndon joined Antigone Rising's Kristen Ellis-Henderson (who also happens to be the wife of our CEO & President Sarah Kate Ellis) for a beautiful cover of Miley Cyrus' hit "The Climb" at Saturday's 26th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York City. Check it out below!
Herndon is teaming up with GLAAD to present the inaugural Concert for Love and Acceptance at City Winery in Nashville, Tennessee on June 12. The event will see artists and celebrities from across the country coming together to support LGBT acceptance, Herndon will co-host along with political commentator and author Meghan McCain. Performers and special guests include Melinda Doolittle, Shelly Fairchild, Billy Gilman, Jennifer Knapp, Jamie O'Neal, and Pastor Stan Mitchell of GracePointe Church. Additional performances and appearances will be announced. Tickets are available now at http://glaad.org/nashville with VIP tickets that include artist meet and greet available at http://www.citywinery.com/loveandacceptanceVIP. Proceeds benefit GLAAD’s work to accelerate acceptance.
Herndon came out last year in an exclusive interview with People Magazine. "I know there's a lot of those kids still out there. Telling my story is an opportunity to help just one of them. They can be loved by God, they can be married one day, they can have a family, they can give their parents grandkids," he said. "And they're not broken, they're not sinners and they're perfectly beautiful." The same day, Gillman, whose 2000 album One Voice went two-time platinum, posted a YouTube coming out video and thanked Herndon for making it easier for him to come out himself.
Ellis-Henderson is the guitarist and drummer of rock band Antigone Rising. She and wife Sarah Kate appeared together with their two children in the band's newest video for the single "Game Changer" as the band performs in front of a rainbow backdrop surrounded by #GotYourBack and Love is Love signs. The couple have been featured on the cover of Gay Parent Magazine, and kissing on the cover of Time Magazine for the cover story "How Gay Marriage Won" in 2013. The moms of "twins" (they each became pregnant on the same day and had Thomas and Kate three weeks apart) documented their unique story in their 2011 memoir Times Two: Two Women in Love and the Happy Family They Made.
Anita Cochran made her debut on the U.S. country charts that year with the release of her first album Back to You. It produced the hit single "What If I Said", a duet with country music artist Steve Wariner.
Anderson Cooper presented the Excellence in Media Award to Kelly Ripa. Lynda Carter presented the Vito Russo Award to journalist Thomas Roberts. Comedian Ross Mathews hosted the event. Out country singer Ty Herndon performed with Antigone Rising's Kristen Henderson and guitarist Anita Cochran. Other guests included: Jeffrey Tambor, Judith Light, Trace Lysette (Transparent); Rupert Friend (Homeland) and fiancé Aimee Mullins; Jonathan Groff (Looking); Laverne Cox, Dascha Polanco, Jackie Cruz (Orange Is the New Black); Janet Mock (So Popular!); Tituss Burgess (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt); Mark Consuelos (Alpha House); Rachael Harris (Suits) and her fiancé Christian Hebel; Karla Mosley, Scott T. Schofield, Crystal Chappell (The Bold and the Beautiful); out NBA player Jason Collins; out football player Michael Sam and fiancé Vito Cammisano; Craig Melvin (MSNBC Live) and wife Lindsay Czarniak (SportsCenter); Alicia Menendez (Alicia Menendez Tonight); models Andreja Pejić, Carmen Carrera, Rain Dove, Josephine Skriver, Cory Wade; Monifah Carter and her wife Terez Thorpe (R&B Divas: Atlanta); recording artist Maya Vik; Terry Artis, Jonathan Bodrick, Brandon Hood, JJ Langan, Devin Stokes, Kristen Brown (B.O.R.N. to Style); Josh Canfield, Reed Kelly (Survivor); Louise Sorel (Days of Our Lives); Sam Champion (The Weather Channel); out WWE wrestler Darren Young; designer Mitchell Gold; John Gidding, Theodore Leaf, Rob Younkers (Secret Guide to Fabulous); and GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis.
The Los Angeles GLAAD Media Awards were held on March 21 at the Beverly Hilton. For video, photos, and more, visit: http://glaad.org/mediaawards/recap. The 26th Annual GLAAD Media Awards are presented by Delta Air Lines, Hilton, Ketel One Vodka, and Wells Fargo; and Official Presenting Partners Amazon and Bud Light.
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