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Chely Wright
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{{short description|American country music singer}} {{Distinguish|Michelle Wright}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}} {{good article}} {{Infobox person | name = Chely Wright | image = Chely Wright Broadway.jpg | alt = Chely Wright, 2010s. | caption = Wright in 2010 | birth_name = Richell Rene Wright | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|10|25}} | birth_place = [[Kansas City, Missouri]], U.S. | occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|activist|author|diversity officer}} | years_active = 1993–present | party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | spouse = {{marriage|Lauren Blitzer|2011}} | children = 2 | module = {{Infobox musical artist | embed = yes | genre = {{hlist|[[Country music|Country]]|[[Americana (music)|Americana]]|[[Folk music|folk]]}} | instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|piano|guitar}} | label = {{hlist|[[PolyGram]]/[[Mercury Records|Mercury]]|[[Universal Music Group Nashville|MCA Nashville]]|Vivaton|[[Dualtone Records|Dualtone]]|Painted Red|[[Vanguard Records|Vanguard]]|[[Sony Music Entertainment|Sony]]}} }} | website = {{URL|chely.com}} }} '''Chely Wright''' (born '''Richell Rene Wright''';{{efn|Media sources have listed the spelling of Wright's first name as: "Richell",<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Wellsville commencement to honor 48 seniors Sunday |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VTEyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cOYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2733%2C4696748 |newspaper=[[Lawrence Journal-World]] |location=[[Lawrence, Kansas]] |publisher=World Company |date=May 19, 1989 |access-date=September 3, 2016 |page=7D |volume=131 |issue=139}}</ref> "Richelle"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cjonline.com/stories/092702/ksp_wellsville.shtml#.V9IAfK2KSZM |title=Wellsville: Proud past and growing future |last1=Chambers |first1=John |date=September 27, 2002 |website=[[The Topeka Capital-Journal]] |publisher=[[Morris Communications]] |access-date=September 3, 2016}}</ref> and sometimes "Rochelle".}} October 25, 1970)<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web |last1=Erlewine |first1=Stephen Thomas |title=Chely Wright: Biography & History |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chely-wright-mn0000090079/biography |website=[[Allmusic]] |access-date=January 30, 2021}}</ref> is an American [[Activism|activist]], [[author]], and [[country music]] artist. She initially rose to fame as a commercial country recording artist with several charting singles, including the number one hit, "[[Single White Female (song)|Single White Female]]." She later became known for her role in [[LGBTQ movements|LGBTQ activism]] after publicly [[coming out]] as a [[lesbian|gay woman]] in 2010. She has sold over 1,500,000 copies and 10,000,000 digital impressions to date in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |last=Walsh |first=Chris M. |title=Chely Wright Comes Out As Country Music's First Openly Gay Singer |publisher=Billboard |date=May 4, 2010 |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/958369/chely-wright-comes-out-as-country-musics-first-openly-gay-singer |access-date=May 5, 2010}}</ref> Raised in Kansas, Wright developed aspirations to become a country singer and songwriter. Yet, as a young child, she discovered her [[homosexuality]] and realized it conflicted with her [[Christianity|Christian]] faith and her hopes of becoming a performer. Determined to become successful, she vowed to hide her sexuality and continued performing. Wright moved to [[Nashville, Tennessee]], following high school graduation and was cast in stage productions at the now-defunct [[Opryland USA]] amusement park. She eventually signed her first recording contract in 1993 with [[PolyGram]]/[[Mercury Records]] and released two albums. With limited success, Wright switched record labels and had her first hit with 1997's "[[Shut Up and Drive (Chely Wright song)|Shut Up and Drive]]". It was followed in 1999 with "Single White Female," and a gold-certified album of the [[Single White Female (album)|same name]]. At her commercial zenith, Wright continued living a closeted life and became increasingly unhappy. She engaged in a long-term relationship with a woman but ultimately separated at the risk of being outed by members of the Nashville community. In 2006, Wright began suffering an emotional collapse and nearly took her own life. She then realized she needed to come out publicly and started working on projects that would help her come to terms with her [[homosexuality]]. In 2010, Wright released the memoir, ''[[Like Me: Confessions of a Heartland Country Singer]],'' and the album, ''[[Lifted Off the Ground]].'' Both projects centered around her coming out process and the acceptance of herself. Wright became involved in LGBT activism following her 2010 decision. During that time she moved to [[New York City]] and released a documentary which chronicled her coming out titled, ''[[Wish Me Away]].'' She would later establish a charity "Like Me", which helped provide assistance to LGBT youth. She has since been a spokesperson for programs such as [[GLSEN]]. In recent years, she has held the role of [[Unispace]]'s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion officer. Wright would also marry and have two children. Wright also continued her music career, but transitioned more towards [[Americana (music)|Americana]] and [[Folk music|folk]]. She has since released 2016's ''[[I Am the Rain]]'' and 2019's ''Revival''.
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