CMT and iHeartRadio host Cody Alan has come out as gay, via an Instagram post on Thursday.
In an open and heartfelt message, Alan wrote, “there is something I want to share with you. You see, I’m gay. This is not a choice I made, but something I’ve known about myself my whole life.”
Alan spoke with People Magazine about his struggle to finally come out publicly, doing so at the age of 44.
“Though my TV or my radio persona was always that of a happy guy, there was this underlying ache inside of me for years, so I decided either I was gonna do something about it, or I was gonna live with this layer of misery underneath that happy face on the TV,” he said.
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“Once I realized it was okay to accept the truth, that it wasn’t my choice, it was a lot easier to start figuring out where to go with my life next,” he continued. “I’ve wanted to share this part of my life, but I now have gotten to the point where it just feels right, and I’m at peace with where I am enough to be able to express it.”
“I struggled with my sexuality starting at a very young age,” he said. “I remember having distinct feelings early in my life. I knew this about myself, and I had a really hard time dealing with it. I was so ashamed of who I was.”
Alan got married at the age of 24 and started a family. He has two children, now 18 and 14, with his ex-wife.
“I felt like getting married was what I was supposed to do. It’s what everyone wanted me to do, and I felt, somehow, like maybe that’s what would make me straight — and obviously that’s not how it works! But I dreamed of that family, which I now have.”
He expressed what he was feeling and going through to his wife ten years ago, and they decided that they couldn’t allow the marriage to continue.
“Everyone needs to give 100 percent of their heart for a true, committed relationship,” Alan said. “But ultimately, my ex and I knew there was no way that could ever happen.”
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He began coming out to his close friends and family, and was met with support.
“You realize very quickly that people are very loving and accepting and supportive. And you feel like it’s good for you to share that most sincere truth about you.”
Alan is now in a relationship with an occupational therapist, named Michael Smith.
“He’s an amazing person — incredibly strong and confident and loving — and he’s really helped me face these battles,” Alan said. “He’s already battled so much of what I’ve been or am going through, so his strength has boosted my own confidence.”
As for why he felt it important to come out to the fans, the South Carolina native said he wants to be a change maker.
“I would like to be a voice that can speak to people who are facing challenges that we all face, for struggles that we all come across, because we’re all going through something. To be able to say: There is life, and you can find it, and take steps to improve yourself based on what you know,” he said. “If I could be someone who’s vocal about facing struggles and overcoming them, I’d like to be.”
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“Even if it’s just one person that hears it and says, ‘I like country music and maybe I’m not so different after all.’ There’s some person out there who’s loving country music and thinks they don’t fit in, and that’s not true: You do fit in here, and there’s a place for people who are different.
“That diversity is what we should celebrate.”
charlie_jackpot
shiny white teeth
rumpleforeskin
Perhaps the worst-kept secret in country radio. But props to him, it’s still potentially controversial to come out in that world.
joseph
BADAMN!! So Very PROUD…….Thank You and since you’re Coupled………Enjoy “LIFE” to the fullest with your Man…..
Stilinski26
Daddy!!!!
tdh1980
Good for him. Everyone in his own time and in his own way.
Jack Meoff
First I’ve heard of this guy but he sure is cute. Good for him hope is happier now.
Brian
To me, it seems that Cody is bi but may have been compelled to identify as gay by the resentment that women have towards male bisexuality. This is speculation but it often happens.
Cody’s homosexual emotions and feelings are obviously important to him but I have to say that it is a choice to identify as gay.
He chose to identify in this way.
He BGB
I’m glad he states that being gay was not A CHOICE. So important to say that because so much ignorance out there. And shiny blinding white teeth. So white they have a blue tinge.
ingyaom
CMT? Cody Alan?
DDstar1me
Awww… how perfect. Everything is perfect! It’s the perfect day. Happiness. Yes. Perfect.
wade.l
Hope he is happy with A CHOICE he made to deceive his wife for all those years.
Kieran
Since Cody doesn’t fit the gay stereotype, don’t expect this story to get much media attention.
Deepdow
Why would anyone identify as straight if they are homosexual? Weird how certain trolls expect that. Not surprising though. Homophobia breeds self-hate.
Prinny
@Brian: WTF are you talking about this time ?
lovesmiles
“Let us not judge others, because we simply don’t know that had we lived their life, we might be exactly the same.” I’m happy for him and I’m sure it will help others that are in a similar situation. LOVE IS LOVE
marcus_collack
@Brian: Too much.
Doughosier
Good for h!
Doughosier
@Brian: No, he lived a straight life because of where he grew up and because he wanted a show Business career.
Brian
@wade.l:
You are being very presumptive in your response.
It’s entirely possible that Cody had sexual feelings for his wife. You – and others – are in no position whatsoever to state that he had no sexual feelings for his wife. I’m not surprised, however, as many men seem to think they know exactly what exists in the mind of any man. Gay-identifying men are the worst creatures in this regard.
Memo to gay-identifying men: acting the presumptive, arrogant role is unbecoming. Learn some manners. Cody is entitled to have had sexual feelings for his wife and he is entitled to be free of your asinine presumptions.
Brian
Also, you’ve got to think clearly about what Cody reportedly said about his relationships with his wife:
“Everyone needs to give 100 percent of their heart for a true, committed relationship…but ultimately, my ex and I knew there was no way that could ever happen.”
To me, that is NOT a statement about Cody having no sexual feelings towards his wife. It is simply a statement about not being able to give 100%. There is nothing novel about this. Many men have not been able to give 100% to their wives, and have thus moved on to new wives.
I just wish that arrogant, presumptive queens who post on message boards would stop and think before making arrogant, presumptive comments about male sexuality.
Sluggo2007
@Brian: I assume you mean arrogant, presumptive queens like yourself?
Bromancer7
Please people, can we just ignore Brian? Maybe if we stop responding to the insane things he says he’ll go away.
He’s trolling. And you keep feeding him. Please do not feed the trolls.
Hussain-TheCanadian
@Bromancer7: I don’t think Brain is a troll, he just hates woman. Besides, he’ll grow on you 😉
Gawd knows I chuckle every once and awhile after reading some of his posts.
Dez
@Brian: You are just such a sad individual. And a hypocrite. You say gay men presume to know what’s going on in any mans mind which YOU demonstrated in your response, saying you believe Cody is Bi. Guess your one of those “gay male creatures” you were referring to.
Plenty of men live “hetero” lives with women and have children to try and be straight or put on the facade of being straight but it doesn’t mean that they’re ever actually “straight” in their heart and head.
Yes Cody CHOSE to COME OUT, but he didn’t CHOOSE his attraction to men. Sexual attraction isn’t a choice and anyone who doesn’t understand or admit that doesn’t have a fully functioning brain.
Brian
@Dez:
Who said that Cody chose to be attracted to men? I didn’t. If you can see anything in my posts to confirm that I did, I beg you to quote it.
I simply said that Cody chose to identify as gay. I did NOT say that he chose to be attracted to men. Learn to discern.
My main beef is with presumptive, fat-assed queens who go around judging men who are sexually attracted to men as if they know everything about them. Again, I ask these presumptive fat-assed queens: how do you know that Cody was not sexually attracted to his wife to some extent?
Presumptive, fat-assed queens have jello brains that don’t register beyond the words “oh, snap”.
fur_hunter
I hold a candle to anyone in the spotlight to do what he did. You risk so much. It takes guts to do it, even in this time. It also shows you who your real friends are, as well. Kudos to Cody and I wish him success and happiness. Jim Walker is another handsome man who was fired from his TV news anchor position, after 20 years, when they found out. He turned his whole life around and is very successful now. A Happy and Prosperous New Year to all of them.
wade.l
@Brian: A misogynist like you has no right to call anyone asinine.
ErikO
Congrats to him but I have no idea who this guy even is?
James Hart
Having homosexual feelings is ok. But living the gay lifestyle will cut himself off from the mercy of God. I hope he accepts Jesus as his Savior before it’s too late.
James Hart
@Brian: I’m sure that many of Cody’s Christian viewers will be unhappy with his choice.