Chris Carmack, who plays newly out singer Will Lexington on ABC's country music drama Nashville, has joined the lineup for GLAAD's first Concert for Love and Acceptance which will kick off GLAAD's six-state Southern Stories bus tour. Carmack joins the previously announced Antigone Rising, Melinda Doolittle, Billy Gilman, Jamie O'Neal and more. The inaugural concert will take place June 12 at Nashville's City Winery presented by GLAAD and Grammy-nominated out country singer Ty Herndon. Tickets are available now.
"Chris Carmack is a star who is breaking barriers and changing the conversation for acceptance," said Zeke Stokes, GLAAD's Vice President of Programs. "His portrayal of openly gay country music star Will Lexington on ABC's Nashville sends a message to kids – wherever they may be watching – that you don't have to choose between doing what you love and being who you are."
Nashville's most recent season finale happily saw aspiring country star Will (Carmack) coming out publicly at a press conference. In the episode, a tabloid publishes pictures of Will and his boyfriend Kevin (guest star Kyle Dean Massey), an out country singer-songwriter, together on vacation. Will, under pressure from his father, arranges a press conference and begs Kevin to lie about their relationship. Kevin agrees to deny their relationship but once Will sees how upset he is, he steps up to the podium and says to the press, "The truth is I’m gay, and I’m not ashamed of it." The two end the episode together on Kevin's porch, holding hands, after Will tells him he loves him. Check out the clip of Will's coming out below. Nashville has already been renewed for a fourth season.