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Logan Lynn
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Logan Lynn Releases 'It's Christmas,' an Ode to Queer Holiday Trauma

See the exclusive debut of Lynn's latest music video.

Like many LGBTQ+ folks, Logan Lynn is not a fan of the holidays -- especially in this current moment of pandemic-related hell.

The musician and activist, who made his year's Out100 list, has released the official music video of "It's Christmas, Motherfuckers!," exclusively with Out magazine. And it's not a rose-colored depiction of the Yuletide.

"This song was written about how our government and lots of our friends and neighbors failed us all over the last couple of years. We recorded it in the midst of the first wave of the pandemic where it really seemed like absolutely everyone I know and love was going to die. Many did," Lynn shares. "I think the holidays are traumatizing for a lot of people, especially now, given the scale of the loss and grief of this time we are living through. There are a bunch of queer and trans people who have already lived through a pandemic that brought suffering into our lives and wiped out entire generations of our LGBTQ+ elders -- so I figured there should be a Christmas anthem for us, too. Fuck Christmas, ya know? Especially now."

"I channeled all of my exhausted, queer rage into this beast in the studio, and I know it was really cathartic for my whole team as we were in there making it. There has been so much to scream about, and not enough people screaming. It felt good to let some screams out, and to have a place to put it," he adds. "For the video, we brought together imagery that evokes these feelings I've been having around all of the loss, violence, misinformation, and trolling so many of us have been experiencing, then we juxtaposed that with imagery of gay joy and sex and wildness from the before times. Remember making out with random dudes? I do."

"It's Christmas, Motherfuckers!" is one track on Kill Rock Stars Winter Holiday Album, Volume 2", which will be released in full on December 2. It is a compilation of artists from Lynn's label, Kill Rock Stars. Find more information about the single here.

Lynn will also be featured in this year's Out100 Virtual Honoree Celebration. Watch the ceremony live this Thursday at 5 p.m. Pacific (8 p.m. Eastern) at Out.com/Out100Live or on Out's Facebook and Twitter platforms.

In the meantime, watch "It's Christmas, Motherfuckers!" below.

Related | Eureka O'Hara and Shangela to Host Out100 Virtual Celebration

Daniel Reynolds

Daniel Reynolds is the editor-in-chief of Out and an award-winning journalist who focuses on the intersection between entertainment and politics. This Jersey boy has now lived in Los Angeles for more than a decade.

Daniel Reynolds is the editor-in-chief of Out and an award-winning journalist who focuses on the intersection between entertainment and politics. This Jersey boy has now lived in Los Angeles for more than a decade.

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Carrie Underwood
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Taylor Henderson

Taylor Henderson is a pop culture nerd. Lives for drama. Obsessed with Beyonce's womb. Tweets way too much.

Taylor Henderson is a pop culture nerd. Lives for drama. Obsessed with Beyonce's womb. Tweets way too much.

Music

Carrie Underwood's LGBTQ+ fans revolt over inauguration 'gaslighting'

"Maybe next time she'll think before she cheats."


Carrie UnderwoodNEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 02: Carrie Underwood is seen performing in concert on ABC's Good Morning America Summer Concert Series in Central Park on August 02, 2024 in New York City.NDZ/Star Max/GC Images

Country icon Carrie Underwood was confirmed Monday to perform at Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20, much to the chagrin of her LGBTQ+ fanbase.

According to Today, Underwood is set to perform "America the Beautiful" at the Washington, D.C., ceremony. Many queer fans, including some of her country music peers, are disappointed over Underwood's decision — and some are even calling for a boycott.

The American Idol winner has long been an LGBTQ+ ally, even speaking out in support of gay marriage in 2012, three years before it was legal.

"As a married person myself, I don't know what it's like to be told I can't marry somebody I love, and want to marry," she said at the time, angering some of her conservative fanbase. "I can't imagine how that must feel. I definitely think we should all have the right to love, and love publicly, the people that we want to love."

But the decision to perform at the inauguration of a president who is expected to roll back LGBTQ+ rights, particularly for trans youth, is seen by some as a betrayal.

Following backlash, Carrie Underwood later released a statement.

"I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event," Underwood explained. "I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future."

Underwood's queer country peers are calling her out, like Kameron Ross.

"In a time where being an ally to our community holds more value than ever, it’s really disheartening to see someone as huge as Carrie Underwood take such a stance," country singer Kameron Ross told Out in a statement. "And that’s exactly what this is, it’s her solidifying the values (or lack of) that she stands for. People like Carrie think that being an ally means that you have a gay guy on your team or one that does your hair but in reality it means refusing a gig like this because of what it would mean to so many. A lot of us are expressing anger over it but I really just think it’s because we are hurt.But I’d love it if people would use this time as they get rid of their Carrie Underwood music to support country artist that actually stand up for us, like Maren Morris going head to head over defending trans kids or Kacey Musgraves giving a nice big [middle finger emoji] to Ted Cruz while performing at ACL or Kelsea Ballerini bringing Drag Race girls on stage with her despite what conservative country fans would think."

Adam Mac has also reacted to the news.

Gay country singer Adam Mac also shared a statement with Out that reads:

"Carrie Underwood has been a cornerstone in the foundation of what country music is today and, at one point, one of my favorite voices in the genre. It's disheartening to hear of her support for Donald Trump. I understand when she says that we need to unite as a country, but honoring a man who actively works to take away the rights of a community she seemingly uplifted and supported a few years ago feels like a significant shift. She will always be an incredible talent, but I can't help but feel let down by her decision to sing at the inauguration."

Many fans aren't buying it, either.

"The story was bad enough without this bs gaslighting attempt," wrote one critic on social media. "'We must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future'? REALLY, Carrie Underwood? You think Donald Trump stands for unity? Just say you don’t give a fuck about any minority group & move along."

There are also fans expressing their disappointment.

A conversation over Underwood's politics quickly began heating up.

One X/Twitter user wrote, "Also, I can understand being shocked because she has basically never taken a stance on anything, until now. That’s fine — but I cannot understand being shocked that the devout Christian farm kid from Oklahoma who sings country music is a republican," one user wrote. "Let’s be real for a second lol."

Another user replied, "Correction: we’re shocked that the first country artist to openly support gay marriage, a devout vegan, with an entire career built on being unpolitical with songs like Love Wins, The Bullet and Let There Be Peace - is MAGA* Be real for a second."

A Carrie Underwood stan account has even become a hate account.

"She disappointed the entire generation z who she was our first country queen. We will be streaming @_megmoroney now," wrote the stan account moments before rebranding as Megan Maroney Stats. "Carrie sales have declined and will be none now she lost support of lgbtq and poc community who loved her. We tried but I guess love doesn’t really win."

Her musical theater fans are also disappointed. 

Underwood starred in the 2013 production of The Sound of Music Live! as Maria von Trapp, and fans of the movie and the live production are pointing out the irony of this real-life plot twist.

"Fun! Local Actor Ignores Themes of Own Show" reads one meme making the rounds.

Billy Porter and Don Lemon also chimed in on the conversation.

Tony winner Billy Porter shared a video of TV anchor Don Lemon shaking his head at a clip of Underwood making fun of Obamacare at the CMAs. The clip is captioned, "I had no idea Carrie Underwood was maga..."

But others were ambivalent.

The View anchor Whoopi Goldberg believes Underwood has the right to perform at the inauguration. "If I believe I have the right to make up my mind to go perform some place, I believe [she has] the same right. I have to support. It doesn’t mean I’m particularly interested."

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