April 4, 2022
Watch: Brothers Osborne Win Grammy with Coming-Out Anthem
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Country western duo the Brothers Osborne took a Grammy for their song "Younger Me," which TJ Osborne noted in his acceptance speech is about his coming out. It's the first LGBTQ+-themed song to win the prestigious award, Variety noted.
"For those of you who do not know, this song was written really in response to me coming out," TJ said, accompanied at the podium by his brother John.
"I never thought I would be able to do music professionally because of my sexuality," TJ, who came out just over a year ago, said. "And I certainly never thought I would be here on this stage accepting a Grammy after having done something I felt like was going to be life-changing, potentially in a very negative way," he added.
"And here I am tonight, not only accepting this Grammy award with my brother, who I love so much," TJ continued.
John returned his brother's sentiments, saying, "I want to thank my little brother for always being great."
"This is a song called 'Younger Me,' and I think if I want to thank somebody I want to thank my younger self for just pursuing this," John
added. "We all have a younger self in us – thank them because they got you here and take care of that person."
The Brothers Osborne took the Grammy in the country duo/group performance category, Variety detailed. Other songs with LGBTQ+ topics have won the Country Music Association Awards in the past, including five wins for the Brothers Osborne themselves. The duo have also won half a dozen Academy of Country Music awards, according to Variety..
The "Younger Me" video "was nominated for a CMA Award for video of the year in November, and lost," Variety recalled, "but the brothers did win duo/group of the year" at the CMA awards ceremony last month.
It was at last month's awards show that the brothers lamented that another of their songs, "I'm Not for Everyone," had been "pulled" from the airwaves after spending 43 weeks on the charts.
Speaking after the CMA awards show last month, John told the press that the awards they've won have kept them going. "It has kept wind in our sails," he said, "not only what it does in terms of the fanbase and the notoriety, but what it does for us as people who keep fighting what we feel like is an uphill battle even when we do win."
Their historic Grammy win could keep wind in their sails for a good long while yet.
Watch the video for "Younger Me" below.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
