Kacey Musgraves to Perform at GLAAD Media Awards

Kacey Musgraves is making history among the gay and lesbian community. The songstress has been invited to sing at the 25th GLAAD Media Awards, marking the first time a country singer has been asked to perform at the annual event.

"America's heartland is changing and support for equality continues to grow across party lines, in our faith institutions, and in country music," GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis says. "Kacey Musgraves is ushering in a new era in the country music industry, where supporting all loving families is now a core country value. It's only fitting then that Kacey is to become the first country music artist to perform at the New York GLAAD Media Awards."

The GLAAD Media Awards "recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the LGBT community and the issues that affect their lives." Musgraves, who was chosen in part because of her brave lyrics in her song, 'Follow Your Arrow,' will be introduced by country singer Chely Wright, who wed her partner Lauren Blitzer in 2011.

The 25-year-old says she knew there would be some controversy when 'Follow Your Arrow' hit the airwaves last year, with lines like “Make lots of noise / Kiss lots of boys / Or kiss lots of girls / If that’s something you’re into," but she says she has been pleasantly surprised by the reaction to the single.

“At first, I was like, ‘There’s going to be backlash,’” Musgraves tells The Boot of the tune, which she wrote with openly gay songwriters Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally. “I know a lot of people don’t really agree with those things, especially in the South. But there’s actually a lot less criticism towards that song than I imagined.”

The GLAAD Media Awards will take place on May 3 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.