Chely Wright (born Richell Rene Wright; October 25, 1970) is an American country music artist, activist, author, and corporate executive. She initially rose to fame as a commercial country recording artist with several charting singles, including the number one hit, "Single White Female." She later became known for her role in LGBTQ activism after publicly coming out as a gay woman in 2010. She has sold over 1,500,000 copies and 10,000,000 digital impressions to date in the United States.
Raised in Kansas, Wright developed aspirations to become a country singer and songwriter. Yet, as a young child, she discovered her homosexuality and realized it conflicted with her Christian faith and her hopes of becoming a performer. Determined to become successful, she vowed to hide her sexuality and continued performing. Wright moved to Nashville, Tennessee, following high school graduation and was cast in stage productions at the now-defunct Opryland USA amusement park. She eventually signed her first recording contract in 1993 with PolyGram/Mercury Records and released two albums. With limited success, Wright switched record labels and had her first hit with 1997's "Shut Up and Drive". It was followed in 1999 with "Single White Female," and a gold-certified album of the same name.
At her commercial zenith, Wright continued living a closeted life and became increasingly unhappy. She engaged in a long-term relationship with a woman but ultimately separated at the risk of being outed by members of the Nashville community. In 2006, Wright began suffering an emotional collapse and nearly took her own life. She then realized she needed to come out publicly and started working on projects that would help her come to terms with her homosexuality. In 2010, Wright released the memoir, Like Me: Confessions of a Heartland Country Singer, and the album, Lifted Off the Ground. Both projects centered around her coming out process and the acceptance of herself.
Wright became involved in LGBT activism following her 2010 decision. During that time she moved to New York City and released a documentary which chronicled her coming out titled, Wish Me Away. She would later establish a charity "Like Me", which helped provide assistance to LGBT youth. She has since been a spokesperson for programs such as GLSEN. Wright would also marry and have two children. Wright also continued her music career, but transitioned more towards Americana and folk. She has since released 2016's I Am the Rain and 2019's Revival.
In recent years, she has held the role of Unispace's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion officer, and since March 2025, for ISS A/S, senior vice president and head of corporate social responsibility and new markets for North America.
Early life
Wright was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1970, and was raised in the nearby community of Wellsville, Kansas. She attempted to find other examples of people in her hometown who were also homosexual, but had no luck. In her childhood, Wright often blamed negative events on her homosexual thoughts. This included when her brother broke a bone and the death of her cousin, David. "It was God's punishment for my being gay," she recalled.
thumb|left|One of Wright's first jobs was as a performer at [[Opryland USA, a theme park in Nashville, Tennessee.]]
Wright developed a passion for music at a young age. Both her parents enjoyed country music and encouraged her to also appreciate it. Her father played acoustic guitar, while she often sang along. Her mother kept handwritten lyrics to her favorite songs in a binder. The family often entertained guests on Saturday evenings and would throw "pickin' parties." Wright often sang along with guests as they listened and played along to music. At age four, she began taking piano lessons. In her elementary years, she played trumpet in her school band. As a preteen, she started performing in singing groups. The summer of her final year in high school, she worked as a performing musician at the Ozark Jubilee, a long-running country music show in Branson, Missouri. The album helped Wright win Top New Female Vocalist at the 1995 Academy of Country Music Awards. Wright recalled in her memoir that she had low expectations of winning and was shocked to receive the accolade. "I had not prepared a speech for that night, but I'd been rehearsing one since I was a little girl," she commented.
In 1996, Wright released her second album titled Right in the Middle of It. Yet, the album was unsuccessful. With her lack of success, Wright was given permission to leave her contract with PolyGram/Mercury and she began exploring new options for commercial stardom. In 1997, Let Me In, was released on MCA. It received a four star rating from Thom Owens at Allmusic who highlighted its "clean acoustic arrangements." Owens also called it her "most accomplished and arguably best album to date." Meanwhile, Brian Wahlert of Country Standard Time gave it a less favorable response, finding some of the material to be fillers rather than quality music. Let Me In was her first to reach the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, peaking at number 25 and spent 44 weeks there. It was also her first to enter the Billboard 200 where it charted for seven weeks. The album spawned Wright's first major hit, "Shut Up and Drive." The album's next two singles would reach the Billboard country top 40. The album would eventually sell 500,000 copies and certify gold in sales from the Recording Industry Association of America. Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine praised the studio effort, calling it "a welcome addition to an already impressive catalog." Bill Friskics-Warren of The Washington Post noted that despite its country pop production, the record "hangs together as a sustained--and fairly compelling--song cycle about one woman's search for intimacy."
In the fall of 2000, Wright began choosing songs for her upcoming fifth studio album. She composed the songs by herself, with help from Tim Nichols and Brad Paisley. Wright also served as the opening act on Paisley's 2000 tour. Yet its two singles only reached the top 30 of the Billboard chart. Its highest-charting hit was "Jezebel," which reached number 23. while Country Standard Time called it, "a pleasant pop album, but hardly the sort of truly memorable work that Wright is so obviously capable of."
In 2001, Wright embarked on "The Coca-Cola Hometown Hero Tour," a 30-date set of concerts and presented at the CMT Music Awards. She also made her acting debut the same year in the Disney film, Max Keeble's Big Move. Wright was cast as the main character's homeroom teacher. In 2002, Wright won the "Fashion Plate Award" from the CMT Flameworthy Awards. She would also be rated among People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" during this time as well. In 2002, she recorded a song for the soundtrack of The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea and was asked to be the "guest of honor" at Disney World. In 2003, Wright left MCA Records. She also moved her recording career towards an independent direction. In 2004, she signed with the independent label, Vivaton, and also changed management. Her first Vivaton release was the 2004 single, "Back of the Bottom Drawer." The song peaked at number 40 on the Billboard country chart. Despite an intended album release, Wright exited Vivaton one month later, citing creative differences with label CEO, Jeff Huskins. Instead, she independently released an extended play titled Everything. She was inspired to write the song following a road-rage incident in which another driver was angry that Wright had a Marine Corps bumper sticker on her car. Following its release to radio, members of Wright's fan club were accused of calling radio stations, falsely portraying military people to help it gain airplay. The conflict caused the single to be re-released in 2005 and it eventually peaked at number 35 on the Hot Country Songs chart. It reached number 18 on the Billboard country albums chart and number 96 on the Billboard 200. Critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine concluded that it was "her best and most complete album to date".
thumb|right|170px|Wright in concert, 2014.
Wright then went into a career hiatus after deciding to publicly come out to her record-buying public. She started writing material which would later make up her next studio release titled Lifted Off the Ground. The album's sound contained a simpler arrangement that was comparable to folk music. It also contained material that alluded to her lesbian identity, particularly the track, "Like Me". The album reached number 32 on the Top Country Albums chart and 200th position on the Billboard 200. The record and her corresponding memoir were released both on May 4, 2010. Lifted Off the Ground received four stars from Thom Jurek of Allmusic who cited Crowell's production and Wright's songwriting as the reasons for its success.
With the exception of a guest appearance on a Rodney Crowell album, Wright took a five-year break from music. During her hiatus, she got married, started a family and dedicated additional time to LGBT activism. "I realize the power I had that I didn’t know I had", Wright said in response to her hiatus. Yet, she continued songwriting and brought new material to Crowell, who got her in contact with producer Joe Henry. Henry agreed to produce her and Wright formed a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the record. In 2016, she released I Am the Rain. The album featured collaborations with Crowell, Emmylou Harris and The Milk Carton Kids. It was considered a departure from her previous records, with roots centered in the Americana genre. I Am the Rain was her highest-charting album in ten years, reaching number 13 on the Billboard country albums list. It also reached number 181 on the Billboard 200. I Am the Rain received a positive response from Slate magazine, who compared the project to that of Carole King's Tapestry. Allmusic's Marcey Donelson positively commented that the album had an "intimate tone". In March 2019, she released her third extended play, Revival. In August 2019, Wright returned to the stage of The Grand Ole Opry after a decade-long absence. Her last invitation to play the venue had been before publicly coming out in 2010.
Musical styles
Wright's musical style is rooted in country, but also in the genres of Americana and country-folk. Critics have noted that Wright's MCA albums incorporated more contemporary styles, while also including the traditional country from her PolyGram days. Thom Owens of Allmusic found that 1997's Let Me In had "clean acoustic arrangements" and "only a few cuts [were] adorned with pop/rock instrumentation."
Activist career
2000–2010: Early activism
Wright first began her work with activism through music education. She was inspired to help public schools following the Columbine High School massacre. In 2000, she established the Reading, Writing and Rhythm non-profit organization. The program helps provide public schools with musical instruments and brings attention to the significance of music education. Wright holds a yearly concert for the organization in Nashville that has included numerous performers in its lineup. Musicians at previous events have included Jann Arden, Rodney Crowell, Taylor Swift and Tanya Tucker The concert has also helped raise significant amounts of money for the organization — in 2007 it raised $185,000. "I'm so proud of this charity and the difference we've been able to make in so many young people's lives," she said in 2010.
thumb|right|200px|Wright has performed with and supported US military troops overseas.
Wright has also been involved in working with military members and veterans. Following the September 11 attacks, she embarked on a USO tour performing for American troops in Iraq. She also met with servicemen in Germany and Kuwait. During the same period, she visited veterans and military servicemen recovering at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. In the early 2000s, also joined wounded and recovering troops at a private military service event hosted by former vice president, Dick Cheney. In 2003, she was named "Woman of the Year" by the American Legion Auxiliary
She has also spoken out against the former American military policy, Don't ask, don't tell. In her 2010 memoir, Wright wrote that the law "made no sense" to her and that she believed policymakers at the time were wrong for accepting it. In addition, she stated she believes it was put into practice due to a misconception that LGBT people are more likely to be sexually promiscuous. In her book, Wright further explained her reasoning: "Homosexuality does not make a person promiscuous, perverted, unprofessional, or without judgment." She later spoke out about it again in 2010 with Entertainment Weekly. Wright commented that she was "angry" that former president George W. Bush and former vice president Cheney had not spoken out on the law.
2010–present: LGBT activism
Wright became involved in LGBT activism following her decision to publicly come out in 2010. She received notable attention in the LGBT community with the release of her 2010 memoir, Like Me: Confessions of a Heartland Country Singer. The book was published by Random House, Inc. The book described Wright's rise to fame and struggle with being a closeted person in the country music industry. It also chronicles Wright's realization of her identity as a lesbian. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Wright explained that she chose to write the book for herself but also to encourage other LGBT individuals to accept themselves as they are: "...if I aid someone or comfort someone or help facilitate understanding for someone in the process, that’s a great byproduct of what I’m doing," she explained. The New York Journal of Books called the memoir "gut-wrenching" in their review of the book. Like Me later received recognition from the LGBT literature association, the Lambda Awards, in 2011.
thumb|left|225px|Wright and [[Cyndi Lauper at an event for the Gay and Lesbian Center, 2000s.]]
Shortly after coming out, Wright performed at the 2010 Capitol Pride parade in Washington D.C. She also made several national public television appearances to discuss her coming out story and LGBT rights on shows, including The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Oprah Winfrey Show. Wright also spoke out on CNN in 2010 to discuss the increased suicide rate by LGBT youth in the United States. Also included on program were Nate Berkus, Kathy Griffin and Wanda Sykes. In 2010, Wright was named the National Spokesperson for the organization GLSEN. Wright was named one of Out magazine's annual 100 People of the Year. Metro Source New York magazine named her as one of the 20 people We Love in 2010. In 2011, she appeared in the PBS documentary, Out in America, that discussed the LGBT experience in the United States. After U.S. President Barack Obama announced his support for LGBT rights, Wright endorsed his re-election campaign in 2012.
In 2011, Wright released a documentary chronicling her coming-out story titled Wish Me Away. The film was officially released to American markets in spring 2012. The film was directed by Bobbie Birleffi and Beverly Kopf. Both directors filmed Wish Me Away over a three-year span. The documentary was reviewed positively following its release. Los Angeles Times called it "a sympathetic, emotional portrait of a life at a pivotal transition." The New York Times concluded, "By the end you may not be a fan of her music, but it’s hard not to root for her rebirth." Wish Me Away was later nominated by the GLAAD Media Awards in the category of "Outstanding Documentary." It also won an accolade from the Los Angeles Film Festival Since its release, Wright stated that she still receives letters from LGBT individuals who said it has helped them acknowledge their own sexuality.
In 2012, Wright established an LGBT organization titled, "LIKEME." The nonprofit organization is designed to help educate and provide assistance to individuals in the LGBT community. This includes youth, adults and family members of those struggling with their sexual identity. In May 2012, Wright and the organization founded a "Lighthouse" center in Kansas City, Missouri. The community center includes resources, staff and counselors to help those in the LGBT community find support. Since its launch, the center has received funds from various events, including a 2016 live performance fundraiser.
In 2014, Wright spoke on the stage of the GLAAD Media Awards to discuss anti-bullying legislation with fellow activist Marcel Neergaard. She also introduced country artist Kacey Musgraves, who performed her song, "Follow Your Arrow." In recent years, Wright has been outspoken on transgender bathroom laws. She discussed her views against the laws on Twitter and on other social media platforms. In 2016, Wright appeared on CNN encouraging the country music industry to be supportive of laws that protect transgender Americans in the state of Tennessee.
Wright helped inspire the creation of the 2022 book My Moment, which included stories from various female entertainers and their experiences with the MeToo movement.
Business career
In 2021, Wright was announced as the Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer for the interior space company Unispace. She has since formed collaborations with the Women's Business Enterprise National Council and the National Minority Supplier Diversity Council. In describing her transition into the role, Wright commented, "I wanted to leverage my public capital in that way. That's when I began working in corporate spaces, higher education, faith communities, and, combining all of those strategies."
In 2025, Wright joined the facilities management company ISS A/S as a senior vice president of corporate social responsibility. From early childhood, she resolved to never confide her orientation to anyone or to pursue romantic relationships with women. Despite her resolution against having sex with women, Wright disclosed in her memoir that, by her early thirties, she had had sexual relationships with two women. She had her first same-sex experience at age 19 — "it was the first time I'd ever had a girl's body pressed against mine"—and the affair lasted the better part of a year.
From 1993 to about 2004, Wright maintained a committed relationship with a woman she described as "the love of my life;" in her memoir, Wright refers to the woman with the pseudonym "Julia". She met Julia shortly after winning her first recording contract. The era of their relationship overlaps Wright's rise to chart-topping stardom. They maintained their relationship even though Julia subsequently married a man, and even while both women briefly had relationships with men.
In 1998, Wright had a brief relationship with country artist Vince Gill. The pair had originally met as artists both signed to MCA Records. Although the pair had developed a friendship, Gill was also developing an affection for Christian singer-songwriter, Amy Grant. At the same time, Wright still had feelings for Julia. Gill and Wright eventually split, but remained on friendly terms. In the last months of 2000, Wright began a relationship with country singer Brad Paisley. Even though Wright and Julia had moved in together earlier that year, and Wright admitted she felt no sexual attraction to Paisley, she recounted that "he's wickedly smart, which is one of the reasons why I made the decision to spend time with him. I loved Brad. I never had the capacity to fall in love with him, but I figured if I'm gonna live a less than satisfied life, this is the guy I could live my life with. If I'm gonna be with a boy, this is the boy." She held him in high esteem and great affection in every way other than sexual attraction. In her autobiography she expressed remorse for how she treated Paisley.
In her memoir, Wright described being confronted about her sexuality for the first time. In March 2005, she met up with long-time friend, John Rich. After enjoying a night out, Rich drove her back. In the car ride, Rich confronted Wright about her sexuality: "You know people talk about you...they wonder if you're, you know, gay...You know, that's not cool. People don't approve of that deviant behavior. It's a sin." The confrontation caused Wright to become fearful of being outed and ultimately led her to end her 12-year relationship with Julia. The pair would soon split and Wright moved out of their home. After Wright's coming out in 2010, Rich issued a statement that stated his confrontation was "taken the wrong way." He also commented that he wished Wright "the best in her personal and professional life."
After moving out, Wright began to reach a personal breaking point in 2006. That year, she nearly took her own life while alone at her home in Nashville. She pointed a gun into her mouth, but changed her mind before pulling the trigger. Wright became one of the first members of the country music community to come out as gay; country artist k.d. lang came out in 1992 (though she later abandoned the country music genre), and Kristen Hall, formerly of Sugarland, was openly gay while working with that band.
Following her announcement, Wright received support from fellow country artists LeAnn Rimes, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Faith Hill, Naomi Judd, SHeDAISY and Trisha Yearwood. She found new fans that discovered her through the LGBT community and through social media platforms. However, Wright's sexuality caused her to lose a significant chunk of her fan base, with her record sales dropping by half. She also reported receiving daily hate mail, including death threats, due to her sexual orientation.
Two weeks after publicly coming out, Wright met fellow LGBT activist and Sony Music marketing director Lauren Blitzer. On April 6, 2011, Wright announced her engagement to Blitzer. The couple married on August 20, 2011, in a private ceremony on a country estate in Connecticut officiated by both a rabbi and a reverend. On January 23, 2013, the couple announced that Chely was expecting identical twins. In May 2013, Wright gave birth to two twin boys named George and Everett. Both children were named after their great-grandfathers, according to Wright.
In 2018, Wright suffered a stroke. After having a series of migraine headaches that felt unusual, Wright went to the emergency room at New York's Lenox Hill Hospital. Her doctor there confirmed that she had suffered a stroke. Wright made the news public a year later to help encourage other people to seek medical attention if they notice similar symptoms.
Discography
;Studio albums
- 1994: Woman in the Moon
- 1996: Right in the Middle of It
- 1997: Let Me In
- 1999: Single White Female
- 2001: Never Love You Enough
- 2005: The Metropolitan Hotel
- 2010: Lifted Off the Ground
- 2016: I Am the Rain
Filmography
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ Film appearances by Chely Wright
! scope="col" style="width:15em;"|Title
! scope="col"|Year
! scope="col"|Role
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| Notes
!
|-
| Max Keeble's Big Move
| 2001
| Mrs. Styles
|
| align="center"|
|}
Awards and nominations
Wright has received several awards and nominations for her work. This includes one win the Academy of Country Music Awards, three nominations from the Country Music Association Awards, and two nominations from GLAAD.