15 years ago, Chely Wright made history as the first mainstream country artist to come out publicly as gay—a moment that rippled through Nashville and beyond. Her brave step onto the national stage, which included appearances on Oprah and Ellen, coverage in The New York Times and People, and a memoir-documentary double release, changed the conversation around LGBTQIA+ visibility in country music. Today, Wright’s work continues to shape that conversation—from a very different kind of stage.

Now serving as Senior Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and New Market Growth at ISS, a global workplace experience and facilities management company with more than 320,000 employees worldwide, Wright is bringing her lifelong advocacy into the boardroom. Her new role was officially announced this March, just as her career-defining hit “Single White Female” celebrates its 25th anniversary.

It’s a milestone worth marking—and not just for the music.

“I’ve always said I was the CEO of my own little company,” Wright tells MusicRow. “When you’re a touring artist, you’re not just showing up and singing songs. You’re running a team—your band, crew, publicist, merch, managers. You’re budgeting. You’re building community. You’re solving problems. All of that prepared me for what I’m doing now.”

Wright’s transition from the tour bus to corporate leadership wasn’t exactly planned—but it wasn’t accidental either. She began taking on corporate speaking engagements after coming out in 2010, sharing her story and helping organizations create more inclusive cultures. That “side hustle,” as she once called it, eventually grew into something more. During the pandemic, when touring paused, she found herself leaning in.

“In 2020, I said to my wife, ‘I think I’m about to make a pivot,’” Wright recalls. “COVID made me realize I had the opportunity to write a new chapter—and that didn’t scare me. I had already done something far scarier: I came out in an industry that had never seen it before.”

What followed was a full-time shift into CSR, a space where Wright could marry her lived experience with leadership. Her work at ISS now includes initiatives like increasing language access through ESL programming, partnering with veteran-owned small businesses, and championing diversity, equity, inclusion—and belonging—as good for business.

“It’s easier to say you’re against ‘DEI’ than it is to say you’re against ‘diversity, equity and inclusion,’” she says. “But when you say those three words out loud—and understand what they really mean—that’s when change can start.”

At ISS, those values are embedded into the company’s global mission to connect people and places to make the world work better. For Wright, the final piece of that equation is belonging—a word that hits especially close to home.

“When I came out, I thought I was risking everything I’d built,” she says. “But it ended up being the thing that gave me an entirely new sense of purpose. That sense of wholeness—of being seen—that’s what belonging is. And that’s what I want to create for other people.”

Wright’s corporate philosophy is deeply rooted in her personal journey—and in the understanding that real impact happens when top-down strategy and grassroots action are aligned. “My years of experience across several industries have taught me invaluable lessons about the power of community, the value of intention, and the importance of aligning top-down strategy with grassroots champions, internally and with clients too,” she shares. “Great things happen when there’s unity at every level.”

While she’s no longer walking the streets of Music Row daily, Wright remains connected to Nashville and the creative community, reflecting on her time in the spotlight with gratitude.

“I got lucky,” she says. “Every step of my career—music, advocacy, business—it all led me here.”

In a world where reinvention can feel daunting, Wright has a message for those considering a new path: “Everybody has at least one great career pivot in them. You just have to listen hard, plan well and be brave enough to believe there’s more than one version of your best life.”

And if anyone knows how to climb that next mountain, it’s her.

Cattle Country Festival in Gonzales, Texas wrapped a successful festival last weekend with a star-studded lineup of performers.

The music and camping festival once again took place on the sprawling 400-acre ranch and featured performances by Parker McCollum, Nickelback, Midland, Tanya Tucker, Clint Black, Wyatt Flores, Chase Rice, Clay Walker, Reckless Kelly, Aaron Watson, Pecos & The Rooftops, Giovannie & The Hired Guns, 49 Winchester, Wade Bowen, Drake White, Shenandoah, Ty Myers, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Tyler Halverson, Black Pistol Fire, Logan Mize, late night sets by Ghostland Observatory, and more.

Bruce Kalmick, co-founder of Cattle Country Festival, tells MusicRow, “Cattle Country is a really special music festival, and year two was no exception. Folks came from all over the world to spend their weekend camping, swimming in the beautiful Guadalupe River, and enjoying some of the best music under the Texas Sky. One couple even flew all the way in from Ireland! We are so grateful for the artists, guests and brands alike who travel to the little town of Gonzales, Texas. It’s like friends and family coming together again, a true testament to the spirit of what this festival is all about.”

The ranch transformed into a weekend oasis, fostering camaraderie among attendees and those who camped and stayed the entire weekend, with many of the musicians joining in on the fun as well. From tailgating to swimming in the Guadalupe River, the festivities began before the first act took the stage and continued after the headliner’s final bow.

The Academy of Country Music and ACM Lifting Lives will host an exclusive 60th Anniversary Gala, “Play Something Country,” honoring the achievements of 25-time ACM Award-winning duo Brooks & Dunn on May 7 at the Omni PGA Frisco.

Eric Church, Cody Johnson, Megan Moroney, Keith Urban, and Lainey Wilson will perform Brooks & Dunn hits at the benefit gala, which will take place the night before the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards. The event will also feature a seated dinner, a silent auction, highlights from historic moments from the 60-year history of the Academy, and the presentation of a special honor to Brooks & Dunn.

The evening will be hosted by TV and Radio personality Bobby Bones. The Pre-Show and Live Auction will be presented by Shawn Parr, and tables are available for purchase by emailing LiftingLives@acmcountry.com. Proceeds will benefit ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable partner of the Academy of Country Music with a focus on mental health-based initiatives in the country music industry.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has added new artifacts from Taylor Swift‘s iconic “The Eras Tour.” Starting today (April 18) through spring 2026, museum guests can see the new exhibit in the Taylor Swift Education Center.

Swift’s tour sold out a record-breaking 149 stadiums in five continents from March 2023-December 2024, accommodating 10.1 million fans total. With a three hour plus set each night, Swift clocked a total of 517 performance hours. In the new display, parts from the singers’ Fearless set of the tour are featured. Included are Swift’s custom Roberto Cavalli couture silver fringed dress with crystal embellishments, Christian Louboutin silver embellished boots worn by Swift and her Gibson J-180 Custom Crystal guitar, which includes 5,000 Swarovski crystals the number 13, inlaid with crystals on the guitar’s body. Also in the Education Center is artwork dedicated to the tour and friendship bracelets given to Swift by fans.

In the American Currents: State of the Music exhibit, artifacts from the Speak Now set are also on display, including the custom Nicole + Felicia Couture tiered gown, made with 500 yards of glitter tulle in various shades of purple and embellished with more than 3,000 crystals that Swift wore when she performed “Enchanted” and “Long Live.” Additionally, the Taylor GSLJ Living Jewels acoustic guitar, with a turquoise blue finish and koi fish inlays on the fingerboard and top that Swift played when she performed “Long Live (Taylor’s Version)” on the tour is also available to view.