As states across the country — specifically Tennessee and Texas — continue to push anti-LGBTQ legistlation, the queer community and allies are still standing strong and creating a united front through activism and art. And as we know, the queer community will not stay quiet. In fact, anti-LGBTQ attacks just makes the community louder. That said, support for LGBTQ people and issues was in full effect at the premiere of the Broadway musical Shucked.  

Shucked features a book by Tony Award-winner Robert Horn and a score by songwriting team Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, who are from Nashville. The pair has collectively garnered 18 Grammy nominations with three Grammy wins. Shucked stars John Behlmann, Kevin Cahoon, Andrew Durand, Grey Henson, Caroline Innerbichler, Ashley D. Kelley, and Alex Newell and is described as a farm-to-fable musical about corn — hence the title. The new musical comedy proves sometimes tearing down a few walls, rather than growing them, is the only way to preserve our way of life. It is set to “turn Broadway on its ear and offer a kernel of hope for our divided nation.”  The production is directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien with choreography by Sarah O’Gleby, and music supervision, music direction, orchestrations, and arrangements by Tony Award nominee Jason Howland. 

GLAAD was at the premiere and had the opportunity to speak with members of the Shucked team Including Cahoon, who stars as the character of “Peanut”. He told GLAAD that he has been working on the show for nine years and he didn’t think it was going to happen. “There have been peaks and valleys and triumphs and heartbreak, but here we are at the Nederlander on Broadway and I’m just filled with such emotion and mostly gratitude,” said Cahoon.

Cahoon spoke about the representation on the stage, particularly having queer people in a rural setting and in country music — spaces that aren’t traditionally queer.

“There are so many fabulous queer people in rural America that don’t have a voice and they don’t have a place in our pop culture world and this show gives them that,” he said. “Peanut unashamedly loves every guy that he sees. He falls in love with Gordy, our antagonist, the minute that he sees them.”

He added, “There are so many gay people in country muaic and so many gay allies. I’ve always said that gay people are the motor in the pickup trunk of country music. They are writing the songs, producing the tracks, creating the looks, they are the world. So for this to happen on Broadway, where country music is rare and then to have queer representation with that, I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

Songwriting duo Clark and McAnally feel incredible about the show and the same sentiment as Cahoon. “Shane and I met at a time where we were both out of the closet,” Clark pointed out. “I wasn’t what I would call ‘out and proud’ and he always gave me the courage to be more out and more visible. It’s not an oddity to be gay in this show or in this world.” She added that it may not be “the normal” for some audiences, but it will open their minds.

It does not move past McAnally that he is from Tennessee. “Not all LGBTQ people feel accepted and seen and heard,” he said, adding that he is excited to bring country music to the Broadway stage through a queer lens and hope that people from his home state will see it.  “They see how inclusive [country music] can be,” he said. 

Coming out to support Clark and McAnally, were their friends Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet, and Jimi Westbrook from Little Big Town.

“[We are] so proud of them,” said Westbrook. “This is so much hard work and we know how long it’s taken them to get here and we’re just so happy to be here and experience it for the first time.”

Fairchiled chimed in, “We love them so much and we’re so proud of them. We know it’s been 10 years of just a lot of hard work and fighting. I’ve never seen Shane happier in my whole life. He’s beaming and we’re just thrilled for them.”

All of them have been and continue to be allies of the LGBTQ community and they said, they support the queer community because they “love all humans.” “We just love people,” said Fairchild. “We love our fans and friends that are part of the [LGBTQ] community. We want to be a voice to step out and fight. We’re happy to do that because we’re all in this life together and we have to love each other and support each other. So love is love and we are here for that.”

The premiere of Shucked aligns with numerous queer projects in support with country and rural settings. We saw it at SXSW with the film National Anthem and most recently, the queerness at the CMT Awards was very present with RuPaul’s Drag Race alums Jan, Olivia Lux, Kennedy Davenport, and Manila Luzon performing with Kelsea Ballerini. Fairchild called the performance “joyful”. 

“There’s no excuse or no reason to hate on that,” she said. “It was a celebration and it’s a good old country song and she brought out some friends and that’s what it was.”

As the LGBTQ community continue to fight the good fight, Cahoon has to say this about Tennessee and Texas when it comes to the queer people living there. “If you take them out of your state, you don’t have a state…They are part of the fabric of your state. They are the heartbeat of your state. If you have gay relatives and friends and consider yourself an ally to the LGBTQ community, do not vote for the people that are passing these laws and this legislation. You’ve got the power in your hands. Don’t vote for these people.”

“I think LGBTQ people belong everywhere,” said Clark. “We’re human beings. We’ve all got the same heart.”