June 4, 2025 • 24 mins
Country’s got a new groove—and it’s queer. This week, host Caitlynn McDaniel sits down with country artist Brooke Eden to talk about her latest single Giddy Up, motherhood, WeHo Pride, and why line dancing might be the most joyful form of protest.Brooke opens up about coming out while signed to a major country label, the joy of hearing queer stories in country music, and how she’s turning every performance into a dance party—with choreography anyone can learn. (Yes, Caitlynn gives it a go.)They also get into:
- Growing up on a line-dancing floor
- Teaching her record label the Giddy Up choreography
- What makes someone “country” (spoiler: not barbed wire)
- Performing at World Pride in D.C.
- Queer joy, bold love, and starting a family on her own terms
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Straw Hut Media.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Yeah, if you come to a show, I'm probably gonna
probably gonna teach the line dance during the show so
that everyone can do it.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Well, should we try to learn? Right now? Okay?
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Are you ready?
Speaker 1 (00:14):
I don't know if I am, but we're gonna see.
I'm Caleb McDaniel and this week on Pride, I'm talking
to Brooke Eden, a queer country artist who just released
her new song giddy Up and her new line dance
to go with it. We're going to learn the lind dance,
talk about motherhood, wehe Pride and so much more.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
So stay tuned.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Well, Hi, Brook, welcome to Pride. Thank you so much
for being here.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Yes, absolutely, I'm so excited to talk about everything that
you have going on. But first, the how was last night?
How is your concert?
Speaker 4 (01:01):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
My gosh?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
It was so fun.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
We were at Los Globos for the stud country queer
lane dancing.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
I love it. There have you been? Yes a couple
of times.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Isn't it so fun?
Speaker 1 (01:12):
It's intense though, Like I love line dancing, but when
I went there, I was like, this feels like real.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
This feels like the professional.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Yeah, they were like, we're gonna learn a quick line
dance and then it's like fifteen minutes long, like just
learning it, and I'm like, oh oh, like it's it's
oh we hear yeah, it's like two hundred count I'm like,
m hm.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Oh my god, oh my god.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
But it's so fun, sotough.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
It's so cool.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
It's so interesting because I grew up on a line
dance floor. Like my dad is a drummer in our
local line dancing band, so like all the local line
dancers go over my dad was playing and I started
playing with his band when I was five years old,
So I literally learned my first line dance at five.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
It was like the redneck girl.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Give me a give me, give me and that girl
that one, and so like it's always been a part
of my life. And then I've always kind of known
that I was gay, like ever since I was little,
but I went to a Baptist school, and you know,
they very much are like no girls date boys and
all the things. Right, So it was my twenties when
(02:17):
I was like I cannot lie to myself anymore, Like
I am one hundred percent gay, and like I want
to date women and all things. But I'm a country
music singer, like signed to a record label out you know,
touring the United States of America, and I like meet
my now wife, and I'm like, oh my god, you
(02:38):
know we are really I'm really gonna have to figure
out this life where like I am queer, but I
also have this country music world that I'm living in.
And I was like, I don't know how these worlds
are ever gonna collide. And then to see, like queer
line dancing is my favorite thing in the world. So
(03:01):
I started following stud Country probably like a couple of
years ago, and so to like get to play my
new song and have everyone do the land ins to
it with stud Country was like such a full circle
a little moment for me.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Oh my gosh, I love that.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
It was very fun.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
So you you mentioned a little bit about you know
that you were already established as a country artist before
you decided to kind of like really put yourself first
and discover who you were. So how did it go
when you were blending those two worlds together.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Yeah, well, at first they told me I couldn't. At
first they were like, you know, if you come out,
you'll lose your career and I believed them, and so
my now wife and I stayed in the closet for
five years, and at some point I just got I
ended up getting like physically sick from like the emotional
(03:52):
and like mental game of kind of like living a
double life.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
You know.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
I was like this single straight girl when I was
like on the road and doing shows and talking about
my songs, and I would change out my pronouns to like, oh,
I wrote this song about my girlfriend, and then like
I'm having to say he throughout like talking about it,
and it was just like it was really just getting
(04:17):
at my mental health, and my mental health became my
physical health, and so I just eventually was like I
have to come out, like this is literally hurting everything
in my life mentally, physically, emotionally everything. And so after
five years, I finally came out. And it was kind
of like this thing where I had no idea how
(04:38):
anyone was gonna take it, but I knew that it
was my only option, Like however it was gonna happen,
Like I needed to be free more than I needed
to be liked, and so yeah, it was actually amazing,
like coming out in country music, Like I really feel
like Nashville kind of like hugged me, put their arms
(05:00):
around me. And two weeks after I came out, one
of the brothers from Brothers Osborne, came out TJ and
then like there's been so many you know, queer artists
since then as well who like haven't had to really.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Like hide themselves.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
So I mean, I think it's been super cool because
I think that for such a long time there are
people who have loved country music but haven't felt like
their queer story was being told. And so to kind
of get to be part of that narration and part
of that storytelling, it was like so healing for me
(05:40):
and like my inner child. And it's been really really
cool to like hear stories from other queer people who
were like, oh, I'm finally seeing and hearing myself in
country music.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
And your new song giddy Up is obviously very expressive
of just accepting everyone and who you are. But was
there like a song that you came out with that
was really like your first like stepping into freedom moment?
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
I put out three, well really two love songs in
twenty twenty one, Got No Choice and sun Roof, and
they were both written about my now wife and she
was in the music videos with me, and so that
was kind of my big like I don't really care
(06:25):
like what anyone thinks about this, Like I'm not doing
it for everyone. I'm doing it for my community who
hasn't had this ever, and now we're doing it. And
so yeah, Sun Roof and and Got No Choice were
like those first two songs that were love songs, and
then like the music video very much showed that it
(06:46):
was about a woman. And then two summers ago I
put out outlaw Love, and that song is like very clearly,
like one of the lines is two white dresses saying yes,
it's to the rest of our years, Like it's very
clearly about a woman. So yeah, I would say that
I'm just getting like bolder and bolder.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Yeah yeah, yeah, I mean, and I know with giddy
Up and then Rainbow Rodeo as well, like both just
like start off right away, like there's no questioning that
this is a clear country song.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
So I mean, for me, that's I'm finally getting to
this unapologetic stage where before I was like can I
just be invited to the party, you know, And now
I'm like I'm throwing my own party over here, everyone's invited,
you know.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
But I'm not being like, I'm not asking anymore.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
I'm just like, this is this is my life, and
I'm not apologizing for it. And I think that, you know,
for me with giddy Up, like there has been a
lot of like pop stars that have come over to
country and there's always like mixed. You know, Beyonce is
not country, and like I'm like, oh, well, the Grammy
Award said it she is, but you know, and it
(07:57):
just like makes me so mad because that's like saying
that there's only one story that can be told in
country music, and that is just not what it's about. Like,
country music is about real life human stories, and I
don't know people who have better stories other than queer people.
So to say that we don't belong here, to say
that people of color don't belong in country music, to
(08:17):
say that really anyone who like has a story doesn't
belong in country music is just in such bs. And
so for me, when I was writing this song, for
it was like an invitation to anyone, Like if you
feel like you've heard your story in country music and
you dig it, but you live in a big city
and have never weren't a pair of boots, like you
(08:38):
still belong here if you want to be here.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
I don't know why there's this thing where it's like, oh,
you can't be country, Like that's not for you. It's
like what where are the where are these descriptions of
what we need to do?
Speaker 3 (08:50):
What's the criteria?
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Yeah, Like I don't know. I didn't know that we
had there was someone guarding the door.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
It's like country music cops. Yeah, it is always like
what I say, like, oh are you a country music cop?
Like I didn't know where'd you get your badge?
Speaker 1 (09:03):
You know, it's a good one.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
But it was funny.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
This one guy on Instagram last week was like, you're
not country, You're a lesbian. And I was like, oh, well,
who is the country?
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Right, if you're this, you cannot be this?
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Yeah, And I was like who is the country music cops?
And like who gave you the badge? I was like,
because to me, I would say, like the gren ol
opry is like a pretty good just like a pretty
good decider on who is country? And I've played there
twenty times?
Speaker 3 (09:38):
So are we talking like who who gave you? Who
gave you the permission?
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (09:44):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
So I just I just think it. I just it
makes me laugh.
Speaker 5 (09:49):
You know.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
The guy was like, you need a barbedoar fance.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
I'm like, and I would make you come back, so.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
I get a barbedar fance like that's it.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Like he's like, you got to work hard. I'm like, sir,
do you think that?
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Like me?
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Being where I'm at and as a country artist, as
a queer country artist, has been like easy.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Yeah, just like Breezy. Yeah, I haven't worked at all. Yeah,
no hustle, No, because.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
You don't have a barbed wire fence to show.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
I don't have a barb fence.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Yeah, like trophies anything like that doesn't matter.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Nope, noah, that's it.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
That's what he has. Yeah, and you said you're you
were like, oh, I don't need to be invited to
the parties, but you're getting invited to so many parties
(10:46):
for Pride.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
Sorry, it's gonna be crazy.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Oh my gosh, I know.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
I'll be here in La we Hope Pride on June first,
which I'm so excited about. It's like crazy, Like the
lineup is so good. Remy Wolf is now headlining that night. Yeah,
the girl puts on a such a good show, so
I'm super excited about that, and then World Pride the
(11:11):
next weekend, which is so wild it's literally the backdrop
is the Capitol Building, which is wild in our country
right now. For World Pride to be adjacent to DC
and DOGI is headlining the night that I play World Pride,
which is just like so exciting, like a new big band.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
I love them.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Yeah yeah, and then yeah, Arlington Pride Market days, like
it's just yeah, it's a really gonna be a really
fun summer.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Are you gonna bring line dancing there? A? You're gonna
try to get those crowds to do it?
Speaker 3 (11:49):
You better believe it.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Okay, yeah, I've never done it in that kind of
like climate, but everyone.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Yes, Well, I know that here in La Stud Country
is to be I'm doing a performance with Stud Country.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
Then I'm also going to have dancers for the first.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
Time in my set this summer.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Yeah, so.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
That's gonna be like a whole thing in and of itself,
which is very exciting. So yeah, I definitely think that
line dancing's got to be a part of it, because
you have to have a line dance with gideot and.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Is your family coming out to see you? I know
that you recently became a mother, right.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
Yeah, so exciting, thank you. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
My wife is actually my tour manager.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
Okay, so yeah, so she's like, I'll be there for sure. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
So she's coming to all the shows.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
She has to be there.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
And then my son is coming to a couple of
them as well. So baby's first bride.
Speaker 5 (12:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Yeah, so it's gonna be fun. We'll have those little
ear canceling or sound canceling your muffs.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
On him and perfect.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Yeah, it's gonna be super fun.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
What has motherhood taught you so far? Oh?
Speaker 2 (13:00):
My god, that you can get by on a lot
less sleep than you used to. Yeah, No, it's just
I didn't know that I could like love a human
being who can't even speak to me.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Yet like so much.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
You know.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
He's just like my little son. His name is Beckham.
He's just the cutest little chunky monkey, and he's like
just so loving and giggly, and it's just it's is incredible.
Like I think, you know, your whole life, people are like, oh,
you'll never know the love of your parents, you know,
(13:34):
And then you become a parent and you're like, oh,
you're right, Like this is like a whole nother level
of like I will literally go to the ends of
the earth for you.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
It's really cool.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Did you always know that you wanted to be a mother.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Yeah, Ever since I was little, I was always like
the baby girls all like I didn't really care, or
the baby doll girl. I didn't really care about playing
with barbies or anything like that, but I always like
wanted to have like a baby.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
Doll in my hand. And it's actually wild.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
I had a ruptured appendix when I was in the
fourth grade and they told me that I wouldn't be able.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
To have kids. So it was like this.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
I was always like, oh, maybe I'll adopt or like whatever,
and then I like realize I'm a lesbian.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
I meet my wife.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
I start talking to my wife about having kids on
like the second day that we met, because you know,
that's how we do classic.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
And she's like, oh, yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
I want to I would like to have kids, and
I really want to carry. And I'm like, oh, that's
so cool because like I can't carry. But we both
went through egratrivol and I was able to get my
eggs out. So I married my surrogate, which is amazing.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
That so nice.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Yeah, it's just like wild how the universe works.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
It all fell into place. Yeah, totally amazing, And I
want to just go back to get y up real quick.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Have you done line dances for most of your songs
or is this like a new thing? I mean, I
know you've been line dancing since you were five.
Speaker 5 (15:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
So my first single that came out on the radio
was called Daddy's Money, and a lot of line dancing
troops made their own dance to it, but it wasn't
something that like I put out like it just became
kind of like a line dancing song and then going.
So I just got done with my giddy Up pop
up tour, which we went to like Austin, Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix, Denver,
(15:31):
New York, and LA and did different honky tonks in
each town and like usually queer line dancing nights, And
it was wild how many of my songs they actually
already had line dances too.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
So, but this is the first.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Song that I've put out with a line dance, Like,
oh okay, like we created.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Yeah, yeah, so what was the creating process?
Speaker 3 (15:58):
Like?
Speaker 2 (15:59):
So I worked with this incredible choreographer Mikey Mindon and
he's here in La and.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
Yeah, it was.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
Kind of like he choreographs for like the Pussycat Dolls
and like Para Sultan and like these you know, big
pop stars, and so I was like, how do you
feel about doing like a country line dance and he
was so on it and just like was able to
you know, pop it out like so well. So we
(16:29):
kind of worked on some things to like make sure
that it was like you know, you do like the
four Walls usually, and so to make sure that it
was like very line danceable. I wanted it to be
super like consumable, and like I wanted it to be
like you could be any level of line dance, like
of line dancer and be able to pick it up.
(16:50):
So yeah, it was a very fun process.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
Have you taught any of your friends, like in country
music the line dance yet?
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Yes, two of my best friends, Adam Mac and Chris Housman,
they're both queer country artists as well.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
Yeah, I've taught them and it's like, so it's so cute.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
So just like it's pretty easy to pick up, I think,
and so it's just cute to see everyone put their
own flavor on it and stuff. I actually taught my
record label here in La I'm at BMG and there
were like forty people who worked at the label, and
I taught everyone the line dance and they actually picked
(17:32):
it up pretty quickly, which is super cool.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
So yeah, it's.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
Such a fun like community when you're doing line dancing.
Like I talked to some people who are like, oh,
I don't really get it because like you just do
the same steps over and over again, like it's so
it gets boring, And I was like, no, it's about
like everyone being together, yeah, doing it at once, like
sharing moves, yeah, like adding their own spins.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
Like it's just such a it's an energy thing.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Yeah, like you've chuck around and everyone's just in it together.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Yeah, it's so bonding and like I definitely feel like
it's such a like even if it's not queer line dancing,
Like even at my line dancing bar Renegades, like in
my hometown, I was the only queer person that I
hung out with. But like like when I first started
going there, I wasn't dating. I was just like figuring
(18:19):
out the world. I was like twenty two and just
like figuring out the world. And then it wasn't long
after that that I had my first girlfriend and nobody
blinked Tony and everyone was like straight and super southern,
and no one blinked an because it's just like that's
what it is, like everyone just supports each other and
it's very community and very family. And so that's what
I love so much about line dancing, And like, if
(18:41):
you've never experienced that, then you're probably like, yeah, I
don't get it. Also, want to talk about a workout
like line dancing is cardio?
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Yeah, it's so good.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
If someone wants to learn your line dance, are there
any opportunities for them coming up?
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Well, I have like line dancing tutorials on my page,
but yeah, if you come to a show, I'm probably
gonna probably gonna teach the line dance during the show
so that everyone can do it.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
So yeah, okay, well should we try to learn Let's okay?
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Are you ready?
Speaker 1 (19:17):
I don't know if I am, but we're gonna see.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
Ready, Yeah, okay, So we're gonna start with a grape
vine to the right.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
Do you know what a grape vine is?
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Yes?
Speaker 5 (19:30):
Okay, so a press grape viner. I love it. Okay.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
So we're gonna go grape vine to the right and
five six eight one three yep, and then you're gonna go.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
And four.
Speaker 4 (19:47):
So it's just like a little and go and then
you're gonna go.
Speaker 5 (19:52):
Five six seven eight.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
So it's a grape vine to the left as you're turning, okay,
and then funny got it? Okay, let's start from there
by bye six seven eight one two three and four
five six seven eight. Girl, you got this already already okay.
So then we're gonna do some little heel toe. So
(20:17):
it's like one two three up down okay.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Okay, hmm.
Speaker 4 (20:23):
So by six seven eight one two three up down, yes,
and then back and back.
Speaker 5 (20:33):
Okay. You you've got this. I'm not worried for one set.
Oh good, okay, it's one of us.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
Okay.
Speaker 5 (20:41):
Do you want to start from the beginning and kind
of put those two things together?
Speaker 6 (20:44):
Okay?
Speaker 4 (20:45):
Great, finds the right and five six seven eight one
two three and four five.
Speaker 5 (20:52):
Six seven eight here here heel up down back back, yes,
so good. Okay.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
Then you're gonna put your foot on your your way
on your left foot, and you're gonna do a little
rock so it's gonna go raw back shop chow chot
raw back chop shot chat mm hmm yep. Then we're
gonna do a lasso to the front and alaso to
the back, okay, in a counterclockwise spin, so it's.
Speaker 5 (21:19):
Like lasso lasso mm hmm hmmm. And then we're gonna
end with the song. Lyric is left right, left right
step gidia.
Speaker 4 (21:28):
Okay, so we're gonna do left right, left right step
media and.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Then this is when you turn and go to the
next wall. Got it? And then we start yeah, okay, yes,
I think I know it.
Speaker 4 (21:40):
I don't know, Okay you I'll do a pick step
on this very quickly, thank you.
Speaker 5 (21:44):
Okay, let's start from the Great Bunch to the right.
Speaker 7 (21:47):
Okay, okay, I'm five six seven eight one two three
and four by six seven eight one two three and
four five six been rock once you thanking for five.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
Six seven and a lasso lasso left right, left right
step video.
Speaker 5 (22:11):
You have exact on that one, but I got it, yes,
so good, thank you. I feel like, do you want
to do it with the music or do you want
to do one more time?
Speaker 1 (22:19):
If I got it?
Speaker 5 (22:21):
Yeah, pretty much, I think you can do it.
Speaker 6 (22:24):
Yeah, I'm too. Let's try it.
Speaker 5 (22:26):
Okay, you're definitely the fastest learner. Thank you. Yeah, so
here's your trophy.
Speaker 6 (22:33):
Okay, okay, don't care where you come from.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
Just listen to the sound of the King John with
a y'all and a yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
Just take a little shack it up if you get
out the gingle footing just looking amaze some clean, ununconscious
going on.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
Bay here you're going ben.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
Her, you're the time, okay, j bright, honey, I'm a
help me.
Speaker 5 (23:07):
Come on, that's a little ampollow the.
Speaker 4 (23:09):
Crowd, it'll be okay.
Speaker 6 (23:10):
I'm gonna show me your hot, that altitude, your fund.
Speaker 4 (23:14):
The bootsot in the way Booth said alone and when
he saddled up, go lift.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
I left myself get up.
Speaker 5 (23:23):
Yeah they call me.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
What yeah?
Speaker 5 (23:33):
Yeah yeah you did know truly, so thank you.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (23:40):
So so's so good.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
I'm literally like I can't wait to do it.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
Thank you so much for listening and following along as
I attempted to learn a line dance. Make sure to
subscribe to Pride everywhere you watch and listen to podcasts,
and follow us on social media at Pride. See you
next time.
Straw Hut Media.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Yeah, if you come to a show, I'm probably gonna
probably gonna teach the line dance during the show so
that everyone can do it.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Well, should we try to learn? Right now? Okay?
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Are you ready?
Speaker 1 (00:14):
I don't know if I am, but we're gonna see.
I'm Caleb McDaniel and this week on Pride, I'm talking
to Brooke Eden, a queer country artist who just released
her new song giddy Up and her new line dance
to go with it. We're going to learn the lind dance,
talk about motherhood, wehe Pride and so much more.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
So stay tuned.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Well, Hi, Brook, welcome to Pride. Thank you so much
for being here.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Yes, absolutely, I'm so excited to talk about everything that
you have going on. But first, the how was last night?
How is your concert?
Speaker 4 (01:01):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
My gosh?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
It was so fun.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
We were at Los Globos for the stud country queer
lane dancing.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
I love it. There have you been? Yes a couple
of times.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Isn't it so fun?
Speaker 1 (01:12):
It's intense though, Like I love line dancing, but when
I went there, I was like, this feels like real.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
This feels like the professional.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Yeah, they were like, we're gonna learn a quick line
dance and then it's like fifteen minutes long, like just
learning it, and I'm like, oh oh, like it's it's
oh we hear yeah, it's like two hundred count I'm like,
m hm.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Oh my god, oh my god.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
But it's so fun, sotough.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
It's so cool.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
It's so interesting because I grew up on a line
dance floor. Like my dad is a drummer in our
local line dancing band, so like all the local line
dancers go over my dad was playing and I started
playing with his band when I was five years old,
So I literally learned my first line dance at five.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
It was like the redneck girl.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Give me a give me, give me and that girl
that one, and so like it's always been a part
of my life. And then I've always kind of known
that I was gay, like ever since I was little,
but I went to a Baptist school, and you know,
they very much are like no girls date boys and
all the things. Right, So it was my twenties when
(02:17):
I was like I cannot lie to myself anymore, Like
I am one hundred percent gay, and like I want
to date women and all things. But I'm a country
music singer, like signed to a record label out you know,
touring the United States of America, and I like meet
my now wife, and I'm like, oh my god, you
(02:38):
know we are really I'm really gonna have to figure
out this life where like I am queer, but I
also have this country music world that I'm living in.
And I was like, I don't know how these worlds
are ever gonna collide. And then to see, like queer
line dancing is my favorite thing in the world. So
(03:01):
I started following stud Country probably like a couple of
years ago, and so to like get to play my
new song and have everyone do the land ins to
it with stud Country was like such a full circle
a little moment for me.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Oh my gosh, I love that.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
It was very fun.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
So you you mentioned a little bit about you know
that you were already established as a country artist before
you decided to kind of like really put yourself first
and discover who you were. So how did it go
when you were blending those two worlds together.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Yeah, well, at first they told me I couldn't. At
first they were like, you know, if you come out,
you'll lose your career and I believed them, and so
my now wife and I stayed in the closet for
five years, and at some point I just got I
ended up getting like physically sick from like the emotional
(03:52):
and like mental game of kind of like living a
double life.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
You know.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
I was like this single straight girl when I was
like on the road and doing shows and talking about
my songs, and I would change out my pronouns to like, oh,
I wrote this song about my girlfriend, and then like
I'm having to say he throughout like talking about it,
and it was just like it was really just getting
(04:17):
at my mental health, and my mental health became my
physical health, and so I just eventually was like I
have to come out, like this is literally hurting everything
in my life mentally, physically, emotionally everything. And so after
five years, I finally came out. And it was kind
of like this thing where I had no idea how
(04:38):
anyone was gonna take it, but I knew that it
was my only option, Like however it was gonna happen,
Like I needed to be free more than I needed
to be liked, and so yeah, it was actually amazing,
like coming out in country music, Like I really feel
like Nashville kind of like hugged me, put their arms
(05:00):
around me. And two weeks after I came out, one
of the brothers from Brothers Osborne, came out TJ and
then like there's been so many you know, queer artists
since then as well who like haven't had to really.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Like hide themselves.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
So I mean, I think it's been super cool because
I think that for such a long time there are
people who have loved country music but haven't felt like
their queer story was being told. And so to kind
of get to be part of that narration and part
of that storytelling, it was like so healing for me
(05:40):
and like my inner child. And it's been really really
cool to like hear stories from other queer people who
were like, oh, I'm finally seeing and hearing myself in
country music.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
And your new song giddy Up is obviously very expressive
of just accepting everyone and who you are. But was
there like a song that you came out with that
was really like your first like stepping into freedom moment?
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
I put out three, well really two love songs in
twenty twenty one, Got No Choice and sun Roof, and
they were both written about my now wife and she
was in the music videos with me, and so that
was kind of my big like I don't really care
(06:25):
like what anyone thinks about this, Like I'm not doing
it for everyone. I'm doing it for my community who
hasn't had this ever, and now we're doing it. And
so yeah, Sun Roof and and Got No Choice were
like those first two songs that were love songs, and
then like the music video very much showed that it
(06:46):
was about a woman. And then two summers ago I
put out outlaw Love, and that song is like very clearly,
like one of the lines is two white dresses saying yes,
it's to the rest of our years, Like it's very
clearly about a woman. So yeah, I would say that
I'm just getting like bolder and bolder.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Yeah yeah, yeah, I mean, and I know with giddy
Up and then Rainbow Rodeo as well, like both just
like start off right away, like there's no questioning that
this is a clear country song.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
So I mean, for me, that's I'm finally getting to
this unapologetic stage where before I was like can I
just be invited to the party, you know, And now
I'm like I'm throwing my own party over here, everyone's invited,
you know.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
But I'm not being like, I'm not asking anymore.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
I'm just like, this is this is my life, and
I'm not apologizing for it. And I think that, you know,
for me with giddy Up, like there has been a
lot of like pop stars that have come over to
country and there's always like mixed. You know, Beyonce is
not country, and like I'm like, oh, well, the Grammy
Award said it she is, but you know, and it
(07:57):
just like makes me so mad because that's like saying
that there's only one story that can be told in
country music, and that is just not what it's about. Like,
country music is about real life human stories, and I
don't know people who have better stories other than queer people.
So to say that we don't belong here, to say
that people of color don't belong in country music, to
(08:17):
say that really anyone who like has a story doesn't
belong in country music is just in such bs. And
so for me, when I was writing this song, for
it was like an invitation to anyone, Like if you
feel like you've heard your story in country music and
you dig it, but you live in a big city
and have never weren't a pair of boots, like you
(08:38):
still belong here if you want to be here.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
I don't know why there's this thing where it's like, oh,
you can't be country, Like that's not for you. It's
like what where are the where are these descriptions of
what we need to do?
Speaker 3 (08:50):
What's the criteria?
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Yeah, Like I don't know. I didn't know that we
had there was someone guarding the door.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
It's like country music cops. Yeah, it is always like
what I say, like, oh are you a country music cop?
Like I didn't know where'd you get your badge?
Speaker 1 (09:03):
You know, it's a good one.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
But it was funny.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
This one guy on Instagram last week was like, you're
not country, You're a lesbian. And I was like, oh, well,
who is the country?
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Right, if you're this, you cannot be this?
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Yeah, And I was like who is the country music cops?
And like who gave you the badge? I was like,
because to me, I would say, like the gren ol
opry is like a pretty good just like a pretty
good decider on who is country? And I've played there
twenty times?
Speaker 3 (09:38):
So are we talking like who who gave you? Who
gave you the permission?
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (09:44):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
So I just I just think it. I just it
makes me laugh.
Speaker 5 (09:49):
You know.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
The guy was like, you need a barbedoar fance.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
I'm like, and I would make you come back, so.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
I get a barbedar fance like that's it.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Like he's like, you got to work hard. I'm like, sir,
do you think that?
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Like me?
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Being where I'm at and as a country artist, as
a queer country artist, has been like easy.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Yeah, just like Breezy. Yeah, I haven't worked at all. Yeah,
no hustle, No, because.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
You don't have a barbed wire fence to show.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
I don't have a barb fence.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Yeah, like trophies anything like that doesn't matter.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Nope, noah, that's it.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
That's what he has. Yeah, and you said you're you
were like, oh, I don't need to be invited to
the parties, but you're getting invited to so many parties
(10:46):
for Pride.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
Sorry, it's gonna be crazy.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Oh my gosh, I know.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
I'll be here in La we Hope Pride on June first,
which I'm so excited about. It's like crazy, Like the
lineup is so good. Remy Wolf is now headlining that night. Yeah,
the girl puts on a such a good show, so
I'm super excited about that, and then World Pride the
(11:11):
next weekend, which is so wild it's literally the backdrop
is the Capitol Building, which is wild in our country
right now. For World Pride to be adjacent to DC
and DOGI is headlining the night that I play World Pride,
which is just like so exciting, like a new big band.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
I love them.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Yeah yeah, and then yeah, Arlington Pride Market days, like
it's just yeah, it's a really gonna be a really
fun summer.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Are you gonna bring line dancing there? A? You're gonna
try to get those crowds to do it?
Speaker 3 (11:49):
You better believe it.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Okay, yeah, I've never done it in that kind of
like climate, but everyone.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Yes, Well, I know that here in La Stud Country
is to be I'm doing a performance with Stud Country.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
Then I'm also going to have dancers for the first.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
Time in my set this summer.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Yeah, so.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
That's gonna be like a whole thing in and of itself,
which is very exciting. So yeah, I definitely think that
line dancing's got to be a part of it, because
you have to have a line dance with gideot and.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Is your family coming out to see you? I know
that you recently became a mother, right.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
Yeah, so exciting, thank you. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
My wife is actually my tour manager.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
Okay, so yeah, so she's like, I'll be there for sure. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
So she's coming to all the shows.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
She has to be there.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
And then my son is coming to a couple of
them as well. So baby's first bride.
Speaker 5 (12:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Yeah, so it's gonna be fun. We'll have those little
ear canceling or sound canceling your muffs.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
On him and perfect.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Yeah, it's gonna be super fun.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
What has motherhood taught you so far? Oh?
Speaker 2 (13:00):
My god, that you can get by on a lot
less sleep than you used to. Yeah, No, it's just
I didn't know that I could like love a human
being who can't even speak to me.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Yet like so much.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
You know.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
He's just like my little son. His name is Beckham.
He's just the cutest little chunky monkey, and he's like
just so loving and giggly, and it's just it's is incredible.
Like I think, you know, your whole life, people are like, oh,
you'll never know the love of your parents, you know,
(13:34):
And then you become a parent and you're like, oh,
you're right, Like this is like a whole nother level
of like I will literally go to the ends of
the earth for you.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
It's really cool.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Did you always know that you wanted to be a mother.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Yeah, Ever since I was little, I was always like
the baby girls all like I didn't really care, or
the baby doll girl. I didn't really care about playing
with barbies or anything like that, but I always like
wanted to have like a baby.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
Doll in my hand. And it's actually wild.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
I had a ruptured appendix when I was in the
fourth grade and they told me that I wouldn't be able.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
To have kids. So it was like this.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
I was always like, oh, maybe I'll adopt or like whatever,
and then I like realize I'm a lesbian.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
I meet my wife.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
I start talking to my wife about having kids on
like the second day that we met, because you know,
that's how we do classic.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
And she's like, oh, yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
I want to I would like to have kids, and
I really want to carry. And I'm like, oh, that's
so cool because like I can't carry. But we both
went through egratrivol and I was able to get my
eggs out. So I married my surrogate, which is amazing.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
That so nice.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Yeah, it's just like wild how the universe works.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
It all fell into place. Yeah, totally amazing, And I
want to just go back to get y up real quick.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Have you done line dances for most of your songs
or is this like a new thing? I mean, I
know you've been line dancing since you were five.
Speaker 5 (15:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
So my first single that came out on the radio
was called Daddy's Money, and a lot of line dancing
troops made their own dance to it, but it wasn't
something that like I put out like it just became
kind of like a line dancing song and then going.
So I just got done with my giddy Up pop
up tour, which we went to like Austin, Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix, Denver,
(15:31):
New York, and LA and did different honky tonks in
each town and like usually queer line dancing nights, And
it was wild how many of my songs they actually
already had line dances too.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
So, but this is the first.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Song that I've put out with a line dance, Like,
oh okay, like we created.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Yeah, yeah, so what was the creating process?
Speaker 3 (15:58):
Like?
Speaker 2 (15:59):
So I worked with this incredible choreographer Mikey Mindon and
he's here in La and.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
Yeah, it was.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
Kind of like he choreographs for like the Pussycat Dolls
and like Para Sultan and like these you know, big
pop stars, and so I was like, how do you
feel about doing like a country line dance and he
was so on it and just like was able to
you know, pop it out like so well. So we
(16:29):
kind of worked on some things to like make sure
that it was like you know, you do like the
four Walls usually, and so to make sure that it
was like very line danceable. I wanted it to be
super like consumable, and like I wanted it to be
like you could be any level of line dance, like
of line dancer and be able to pick it up.
(16:50):
So yeah, it was a very fun process.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
Have you taught any of your friends, like in country
music the line dance yet?
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Yes, two of my best friends, Adam Mac and Chris Housman,
they're both queer country artists as well.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
Yeah, I've taught them and it's like, so it's so cute.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
So just like it's pretty easy to pick up, I think,
and so it's just cute to see everyone put their
own flavor on it and stuff. I actually taught my
record label here in La I'm at BMG and there
were like forty people who worked at the label, and
I taught everyone the line dance and they actually picked
(17:32):
it up pretty quickly, which is super cool.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
So yeah, it's.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
Such a fun like community when you're doing line dancing.
Like I talked to some people who are like, oh,
I don't really get it because like you just do
the same steps over and over again, like it's so
it gets boring, And I was like, no, it's about
like everyone being together, yeah, doing it at once, like
sharing moves, yeah, like adding their own spins.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
Like it's just such a it's an energy thing.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Yeah, like you've chuck around and everyone's just in it together.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Yeah, it's so bonding and like I definitely feel like
it's such a like even if it's not queer line dancing,
Like even at my line dancing bar Renegades, like in
my hometown, I was the only queer person that I
hung out with. But like like when I first started
going there, I wasn't dating. I was just like figuring
(18:19):
out the world. I was like twenty two and just
like figuring out the world. And then it wasn't long
after that that I had my first girlfriend and nobody
blinked Tony and everyone was like straight and super southern,
and no one blinked an because it's just like that's
what it is, like everyone just supports each other and
it's very community and very family. And so that's what
I love so much about line dancing, And like, if
(18:41):
you've never experienced that, then you're probably like, yeah, I
don't get it. Also, want to talk about a workout
like line dancing is cardio?
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Yeah, it's so good.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
If someone wants to learn your line dance, are there
any opportunities for them coming up?
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Well, I have like line dancing tutorials on my page,
but yeah, if you come to a show, I'm probably
gonna probably gonna teach the line dance during the show
so that everyone can do it.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
So yeah, okay, well should we try to learn Let's okay?
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Are you ready?
Speaker 1 (19:17):
I don't know if I am, but we're gonna see.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
Ready, Yeah, okay, So we're gonna start with a grape
vine to the right.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
Do you know what a grape vine is?
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Yes?
Speaker 5 (19:30):
Okay, so a press grape viner. I love it. Okay.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
So we're gonna go grape vine to the right and
five six eight one three yep, and then you're gonna go.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
And four.
Speaker 4 (19:47):
So it's just like a little and go and then
you're gonna go.
Speaker 5 (19:52):
Five six seven eight.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
So it's a grape vine to the left as you're turning, okay,
and then funny got it? Okay, let's start from there
by bye six seven eight one two three and four
five six seven eight. Girl, you got this already already okay.
So then we're gonna do some little heel toe. So
(20:17):
it's like one two three up down okay.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Okay, hmm.
Speaker 4 (20:23):
So by six seven eight one two three up down, yes,
and then back and back.
Speaker 5 (20:33):
Okay. You you've got this. I'm not worried for one set.
Oh good, okay, it's one of us.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
Okay.
Speaker 5 (20:41):
Do you want to start from the beginning and kind
of put those two things together?
Speaker 6 (20:44):
Okay?
Speaker 4 (20:45):
Great, finds the right and five six seven eight one
two three and four five.
Speaker 5 (20:52):
Six seven eight here here heel up down back back, yes,
so good. Okay.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
Then you're gonna put your foot on your your way
on your left foot, and you're gonna do a little
rock so it's gonna go raw back shop chow chot
raw back chop shot chat mm hmm yep. Then we're
gonna do a lasso to the front and alaso to
the back, okay, in a counterclockwise spin, so it's.
Speaker 5 (21:19):
Like lasso lasso mm hmm hmmm. And then we're gonna
end with the song. Lyric is left right, left right
step gidia.
Speaker 4 (21:28):
Okay, so we're gonna do left right, left right step
media and.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Then this is when you turn and go to the
next wall. Got it? And then we start yeah, okay, yes,
I think I know it.
Speaker 4 (21:40):
I don't know, Okay you I'll do a pick step
on this very quickly, thank you.
Speaker 5 (21:44):
Okay, let's start from the Great Bunch to the right.
Speaker 7 (21:47):
Okay, okay, I'm five six seven eight one two three
and four by six seven eight one two three and
four five six been rock once you thanking for five.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
Six seven and a lasso lasso left right, left right
step video.
Speaker 5 (22:11):
You have exact on that one, but I got it, yes,
so good, thank you. I feel like, do you want
to do it with the music or do you want
to do one more time?
Speaker 1 (22:19):
If I got it?
Speaker 5 (22:21):
Yeah, pretty much, I think you can do it.
Speaker 6 (22:24):
Yeah, I'm too. Let's try it.
Speaker 5 (22:26):
Okay, you're definitely the fastest learner. Thank you. Yeah, so
here's your trophy.
Speaker 6 (22:33):
Okay, okay, don't care where you come from.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
Just listen to the sound of the King John with
a y'all and a yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
Just take a little shack it up if you get
out the gingle footing just looking amaze some clean, ununconscious
going on.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
Bay here you're going ben.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
Her, you're the time, okay, j bright, honey, I'm a
help me.
Speaker 5 (23:07):
Come on, that's a little ampollow the.
Speaker 4 (23:09):
Crowd, it'll be okay.
Speaker 6 (23:10):
I'm gonna show me your hot, that altitude, your fund.
Speaker 4 (23:14):
The bootsot in the way Booth said alone and when
he saddled up, go lift.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
I left myself get up.
Speaker 5 (23:23):
Yeah they call me.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
What yeah?
Speaker 5 (23:33):
Yeah yeah you did know truly, so thank you.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (23:40):
So so's so good.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
I'm literally like I can't wait to do it.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
Thank you so much for listening and following along as
I attempted to learn a line dance. Make sure to
subscribe to Pride everywhere you watch and listen to podcasts,
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next time.
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