Out Country Star Ty Herndon Announces Engagement

In 2014 Ty Herndon was the first country music star to come out. He did so in an interview with People magazine in which he said "I'm an out, proud and happy gay man."

On Instagram this past Thursday Herndon announced his engagement to an artist named Alex he's known for the past six months. In the post, which featured handsome black-and-white photos of the couple, he wrote: "Well y'all, I have a little news to share – actually some big news. The last six months God has showed up and showed out. Never in a million years would I have imagined meeting someone who would bring so much love and light into my heart.

"Alex and I met six months ago and had our first date. Since then, we have been building our relationship and getting to know one another without a big public announcement. It was important to each of us that we be able to do this privately, and it has been an amazing journey. After all this time, I have met the person I know I'm gonna spend the rest of my life with. Alex is a brilliant artist and craftsman who restores mid-century furniture and makes stained glass art. He will also be starting work on his MBA soon. He's a smartie, y'all – and I can't wait for all of you to get to know him. Today, we are excited to let you know that we are planning a wedding! That's right – we're getting hitched later this year! Here's to life, love, and wellness! We'll see y'all soon."

Six months ago in a more recent interview with People, Herndon reflected on the ups-and-downs of his career that began with his debut album "What Mattered Most" in 1995. Since then, "he shattered records, had three No. 1s, and had some scandal."

Just as he was breaking into the mainstream, Herndon was arrested in Fort Worth, Texas by an undercover male police officer.
"On the day of his arrest, he'd been up for a few days on crystal meth," People writes. "He was also balancing a life of superstardom, a sham marriage arranged by his record label, a severe drug addiction and his homosexuality. And he was on his way to perform for the Texas Police Chiefs Association when he decided to stop at an area where gay men were known to cruise for hookups."

At the time of his arrest he recalls thinking, "I'm dead. But at least I'll be out of this hell, just as my dreams are coming true. I was so tired of all the secrets."

Not that it's been an easy journey. "Over the 27 years since his arrest, he's bounced in and out of Nashville, on and off the charts and in and out of rehab. He married two women, lived with three men, came out of the closet, relapsed three times and has battled crystal meth addiction for the better part of three decades," adds People.

He explained that he became addicted to crystal when he was 20 years old. "Crystal meth has been a pandemic of my soul. It's been a destruction of my brain. It's given me some of the ugliest nightmares that I could never even describe." He hit bottom on New Year's Eve 2020 when he was holding 27 Ambien tablets in his hand. "I'd been up for four days," he says. He'd relapsed on crystal meth. The relapse came after 16-years of sobriety and an 11-year relationship with a man named Matt Callum. He didn't take the pills, instead reached out to a friend, got back into treatment, and dealt with his addiction, his sexual trauma and his mental illness. (Herndon, People adds, was diagnosed as bipolar last year.)

His latest People interview came with the release of his latest album, "Jacob," which was named for the Biblical character who did everything he can to achieve God's blessing. "He took his biggest challenge and made it his biggest blessing," Herndon said.

Watch Ty Herndon's video of his song "Living in the Moment."