This past weekend, I had the pleasure of seeing my favorite country band since I was 6-years-old, Sugarland. The band, who sings hit single "Stuck Like Glue," was formed in 2002 and took a hiatus in 2012. After their return in 2017, they have been touring across America for their reunion tour, Bigger.
I got to experience this tour first hand in Greenville, South Carolina, as lead singer Jennifer Nettles sung "Tony" by Patti Griffin, a song about suicide, as a call for people to love each other no matter what differences you have.
As she strummed her acoustic guitar under a singular spotlight onstage, the big screen behind her lit the audience's faces as it flashed messages of love, especially in support of the LGBTQ community. Sugarland's message began with redefining their band's name as "Sugarl&: &= Everyone belongs here, including you & you & you & you." It continued on to read statistics such as LGBTQ youth are twice as likely to consider suicide as other kids, 73% say they bullied because of their identity, and 67% say they have heard their family members make negative comments.
Billboard music says, "Nettles is a rare liberal voice in a genre that often feels dominated by conservative ideas." I have found this to be true about much of the country music I listen to, and many people I know who are fans of country music often share the conservative values that the music often preaches.
Jennifer Nettles is using her voice to take a stand for those who need a voice. It is so important for not only those who feel alone in their beliefs and identities, but also for those who have an unwarrrented bias against those people. Education about differences will lead to more acceptance and love in the diverse communities that we all live in. It is so important to actively listen to others' struggles and to take a stand against negativity and opinions that tear down others.
I left the concert feeling uplifted that my favorite country band had taken such a stride towards love and acceptance in the country music community. I hope that she has inspired other artists to use their talents to promote education and acceptance of differences as well.
For more on Jennifer Nettles' support of the LGBTQ community, check out her Billboard interview here.
