Country star Ty Herndon has come out as gay - the 52-year-old Singer revealed the news in a sit-down interview with People this week, saying, "I'm an out, proud and happy gay man." He explained that he was first compelled to come out during a Tony Robbins seminar five years ago; "I realized I had an incredible story that could possibly help someone's son or daughter or grandchild's life **t be as difficult as mine has been," he said, adding, "Maybe they wouldn't have to go through as much pain and suffering."
After many ups and downs throughout his music career - he was arrested on an indecent-exposure charge for allegedly exposing himself to a police ******r in 1995 (the charge was later dropped in a plea bargain) and spent time in rehab for drug addiction - Ty is looking to return to the industry and plans on releasing a solo album next year. As for the Country music community's growing openness to homo***uality, he is optimistic; Ty admitted that he "welled up in tears" earlier this month when his fellow Country Singer Kacey Musgraves won a CMA Award for her LGBT-approving hit "Follow Your Arrow," saying, "There's never been a song more affirmative of that in Country music, and it's our CMA song of the year," adding, "I felt so proud of my city. I hope that trend continues; I pray it does."