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Country star Sam Williams wasn’t exactly in the closet before the premiere of his new music video, which finds him kissing another man (his real-life boyfriend) on camera for the first time. But with his “Tilted Crown” video, and upcoming interview with Apple Music’s Proud Radio, the 24-year-old artist is opening up about his sexuality on a whole new level.
Williams, who is a part of that Williams family–he’s the son of Hank Williams Jr., who once said Obama is a Muslim who “loves gays… and we hate him”–centers his video on his own, difficult road towards self-acceptance.
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Directors Alexa and Stephen Kinigopoulos brought up the idea of including a gay kiss, and after some deliberation, Williams agreed it was an important part of his story to tell.
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“I felt like I was promoting invisibility, like I wasn’t being visible and wasn’t being myself. And I just thought it was the perfect opportunity to just show who I was,” he told Apple’s Hunter Kelly.
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When Kelly asked about his sexuality, Williams said, “I identify as gay, and I’ve never said that to anybody else. I mean, people at my label know and people in my personal life know, but this is the first time that I’ve ever been, besides a show or two, that I’ve ever been this public about it. And it is scary, but it feels good.”
The singer hopes that by speaking out so publicly, he can help other small-town natives who are struggling in the closet.
Williams said it was “exhaustive” to conceal who he was when he was younger, and that, “if I was a kid, and I was younger, and I saw somebody like myself doing an interview like this and just saying that, ‘This is who I am and I’m proud to be who I am,’ that it would have been impactful for me. So I think at the end of the day, that’s one of the most important reasons why I’m being so open.”
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While many viewers have understandably interpreted the older, male character in the video who urges the young boy to behave more manly to be a stand-in for his father, Williams said that’s not exactly accurate.
“That’s not necessarily playing my dad, that’s playing society as a whole… pointing young kids in direction of like, ‘This is what girly girls do. You wear this pink bow and you go to Sunday service.’ Or, like with little boys, ‘You go hunting…’ [or] ‘This is what you’re supposed to be doing, son,'” he explained.
But some elements do seem to ring close to home. “[My dad] pushed me go to hunting, I do have to give him that. He did push me to go hunting,” he admitted.
Related: Country music star TJ Osborne posts sweetest message to his boyfriend
Williams joins other singers like Brandi Carlile, TJ Osborne, Cody Alan, Ty Herndon, Shane McAnally, Billy Gilman and Chely Wright who’ve openly embraced their LGBTQ identities and actively made country music a more accepting industry.
We look forward to seeing the talented star continue to rise and make waves.
The full interview airs on Sunday (Oct. 30) at 2 p.m. PT/5 p.m. ET or anytime on-demand at apple.co/_ProudRadio on Apple Music Country.
Now check out the emotional video for “Tilted Crown,” which appears on his new deluxe album Glasshouse Children: Tilted Crown:
sfhairy
Oh wow, I didn’t know he was gay. Good for him!
Craig65
A piss poor video and song that whines about being the son and grandson of famous people. I am so sick of entitled children showing their entitlement by bitching about being born into fame and using their name to be able to degrade it. I know lots of plumbers’ sons who could sing a similar but Hank Williams ain’t their granddad.
WillParkinson
A piss poor comment that whines about….whatever.
James
Oh look, A BITTER OLD NEGATIVE QUEEN.
mikhailmaui
Yup… a bitter old queen bitching and whining. Yawn.
Joshooeerr
Pfft. I thought it was an excellent video, and the song struck me as having more depth and complexity than anything his father is famous for.
dbmcvey
There’s always a bitter bee.
dbmcvey
What about being a plumber’s son would affect how you sing?
What a classist thing to say.
bachy
A beautiful, evocative voice. Country music needs a Sam Smith!
Neoprene
No genre needs a Sam Smith.
dbmcvey
@Neoprene
The bitter queens have been after Sam Smith for a long time. It must kill them that he keeps making music and making hits.
Neoprene
Too bad he didn’t hire some hot guys to make out.
Rick
Well, that is his real boyfriend he’s making out with, so bringing in hotter guys make out with surely would rather awkward for both he and his boyfreind. Just saying…
skeldare
Just because he’s Hank Williams Jr’s son doesn’t mean he’s a star.
moviemag
Just because he was Hank Williams’ son didn’t make Hank, Jr. a star, either. He’ll succeed on his own merit or not at all, regardless of his family name.
jackscott
Interesting video, I wish him well.
linedrive
Didn’t know Hank Jr had a gay son. He has always seemed to proudly embrace hatred. Just listen to his song Dinosaur for proof of that – if you can make it through the embarrassingly amateurish lyrics and painful vocals. I’m sure that hasn’t made Sam’s life easy but good for him for refusing to hide. Do your thing, buddy!
GrantS
Beautiful song and video. Sure beats most so-called county music songs being released today by homophonic wannabes.
Rick
Well, that is his real boyfriend he’s making out with, so bringing in hotter guys make out with surely would rather awkward for both he and his boyfreind. Just saying…
Y
Huron132
This is really good song and explains so much about this album(which is a good listen). This song gives so much insight about him and why this album is so important and meaningful. Great vid. I can’t wait for more from Sam.
paul dorian lord fredine
with very few exceptions i am not a country music fan but this song and video breaks the mold and i’m now a fan of his. best wishes to him and his boyfriend. and to all the negative ninnies here….eff off.. you reek of jealous queen-ness.
dbmcvey
Very cool!
His father has always been a super-right winger, including being a homophobe.
I’m glad Sam seems pretty healthy.
Shaugn
Don’t listen to the naysayers. You’re great. The Hank’s can suck it.
Chaucer
Beautiful video. It’s nice that Sam is highlighting this all-too-common story.