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Chely Wright

@chelywright

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That country singer from the ‘90’s and 2000’s. Writer, Advocate, Human. Head of CSR and New Market Growth @issnorthamerica @guckenheimerfood.

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When @kathynajimy, @reallindaperry, @chelywright, @lulu_blitzer, and I were compiling the list of our dream contributors a bunch of years ago for ‘My Moment: 106 Women on Fighting for Themselves,’ @GloriaSteinem was at the very top of our list. We asked her “What was the moment in your life when you realized you were ready to fight for yourself?” This was her essay response. I am so grateful that she lent her wisdom to this book. Her legacy will last a lifetime. She will be so missed. Rest in peace Gloria. 🪽🕊️💛 @gallerybooks by @chelywright

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a month ago

In 2010, Chely Wright became the first mainstream country artist to come out. We'll give you a guess at who showed her support from day one. by @chelywright

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a month ago

Thank you, @kasie for inviting me on this afternoon to reflect on Dolly’s brilliance and generosity. @cnn

#dollyparton #countrymusic by @chelywright

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2 months ago

Dolly Parton made the world more beautiful, more generous, more loving and more fair.

And she also happened to be one of the greatest songwriters and singers to ever make music.

Do yourself a favor: Get online and go looking for live performances she did over the past 65+ years. Especially, from the 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s. And in particular, (my favorite) Dolly’s performance of her song “He’s Alive” from the 1989 Country Music Association @cma Awards Show in Nashville, TN. She brought the house down. I was in the audience that night and I still don’t have the words to describe how it felt to be in the room.

I’m not sure what the world will do without Dolly Parton’s mighty pen, her powerful voice and her giant, indefatigable heart.

We will always love you, Dolly. 🦋 by @chelywright

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2 months ago

Whatcha Gonna Do Now?? Go stream this song and the whole ‘Then Again’ album, that’s what! 😉 The full video is up on my YouTube channel. by @chelywright

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4 months ago

While Juneteenth is a solemn commemoration of freedom delayed, it is equally a celebration of Black resilience, community, and the simple, hard-won right to peace and leisure.

One of my favorite artists, #KerryJamesMarshall @kerryjamesmarshall_ work fundamentally addresses the historical absence of the Black figure in Western art. Past Times reclaims that space beautifully.

#Juneteenth #FreedomDay #BlackHistoy by @chelywright

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4 months ago

Nine years ago, I was given an honorary doctorate degree from UMKC, University of Missouri— Kansas City.
I was also asked to deliver the commencement speech, which was the highest of honors. Thanks to all the great folks at UMKC who were involved.

The 2026 graduation season has been an active one for my family and my friendship circle. So many graduates this year! With that, I thought it would be fun to revisit my speech.
———————————————————UMKC Commencement Speech May 13th, 2017
———————————————————
Good evening, UMKC graduating Class of 2017. I’m so pleased to be here with you tonight and even more pleased to have a chance to share some of my thoughts with you.

So, I Googled tips on writing a speech for college graduations. The first tip I found was, “You must understand that 51% of the students you’re addressing will be hung over.” I actually thought that was quite helpful to know. : )

This is a big day for everyone here. Me included.
Exactly 28 years ago this weekend, I moved from my hometown of Wellsville KS (just an hour or so down the road) to Nashville TN, in pursuit of my dream to become a professional musician. I was 18 years old.

When I first arrived in Nashville, I worked at a theme park called Opryland USA. I was a performer in a show with 16 other young performers who’d all moved to Tennessee to do the same thing— to make it in Country Music. With each passing day, I began to understand that hundreds of people were moving to Nashville every week to do what I was hoping to do. That realization sort of scared me, SLASH, lit a fire under me. I knew it wouldtake a lot of work and even some luck if I was going to have a real shot at making my dreams come true. So, it began. And I loved the work.

(Continued in comments) by @chelywright

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5 months ago

✨✨On this day, 16 years ago, I shared my truth with the world.

What most don’t know is that I’d made the decision to come out four years earlier in 2006.

Those years leading up to 2010 weren’t about “working up the courage” to come out—they were about intentional design.

That design required a lot of steps. Including, relocating from Nashville to New York City to seek out and learn from leaders on the frontlines of LGBTQ advocacy. It also meant writing my memoir, Like Me: Confessions of a Heartland Country Singer (@randomhousebooks)

Being a closeted, gay country music artist was a lonely and isolating state of being. All these years later, I reflect with amazement and deep gratitude to be where I am today. It’s not lost on me that I went from alone in a closet to having 320,000 colleagues around the globe. I am fortunate to be at @issworld @issnorthamerica @guckenheimerfood, an organization that sees, values respects, and celebrates everyone, every day, everywhere. What an honor to be in a leadership position here.

Ain’t life something?

#PlanYourWorkAndWorkYourPlan
#LGBTQ #pivot by @chelywright

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5 months ago

We are thrilled to announce, this week of 105 Live features Kansas-raised country music artist, author, and activist, Chely Wright! @chelywright

This performance is a part of the LG Desk Series, recorded live from the Lieutenant Governor’s Office. @ktwu11 @kansasartscommission

As always, Tune in Saturday at 5 PM or Sunday at 12 PM on the KPR app or on your local KPR station! by @chelywright

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7 months ago

See ya, LA. Thanks for the warmth this week.
👊

@delta by @chelywright

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8 months ago

Pete Finney,
A world-class musician and a world-class human.

I was lucky to play with him for a couple of years back in the day. I could only get him if he didn’t have a show with Patty, because she was his priority. As she should’ve been!

Back in 2006, Pete and I were both in off the road, so we had dinner at the Family Wash on a rainy East Nashville night. After our hours long conversation, I went home and wrote this one. Thanks for song, Pete. Rest in music, my friend. by @chelywright

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8 months ago

✨ In Oslo, Norway on December 11, 1964, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. received the Nobel Peace Prize.

✨ He was the youngest person at the time to receive the honor. In his acceptance speech, he used the global stage to remind us that humanity was suffering from “a poverty of the spirit” that no level of wealth can fix.

✨“The richer we have become materially, the poorer we have become morally and spiritually. We have learned to fly the air like birds and. swim the sea like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of living together as brothers.”

#mlk #nobelprize #mlkday by @chelywright

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9 months ago