Country music duo Brothers Osborne won the Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group for their song “Younger Me.” In a moving acceptance speech, the brothers revealed the song was inspired by TJ Osborne’s journey as a gay man. TJ thanked her boyfriend and underlined his gratitude for the moment.

‘Younger Me’ was written about TJ Osborne coming out as gay

Wearing a flashy gold suit jacket, TJ Osborne could barely speak as he took to the Grammys stage to accept the trophy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for the song “Younger Me.”

Defying country music traditions, the Osborne brothers are not originally from Nashville. The duo is also not from Texas, Oklahoma or Mississippi. No, they’re from Maryland. Although it’s not completely unheard of, it’s rare to have a successful country number originating from Maryland.

It’s also not often (or ever) that an openly gay country star is rewarded and accepted into the genre. TJ Osborne has proven that times are changing in country music, as he strives to make the space more inclusive.

Of “Younger Me,” TJ said, “It was written in response to my coming out. I never thought I would be able to make music professionally because of my sexuality. He continued, “And I certainly never thought that I would be here on this stage accepting a Grammy after doing something that I thought was going to change my life in a potentially very negative way.”

The Grammy-winning song’s lyrics include “I’m younger/ I’m overthinking, I’m losing sleep at night/ I’m overthinking if it’s worth it/ If he only knew he’d be fine/ Yeah, I’m younger.”

TJ Thanks Boyfriend Abi Ventura: “I Don’t Know What I Did To Be So Lucky.”

TJ took a moment to spotlight her boyfriend, Abi Ventura. “Here I am tonight, not only to accept this Grammy Award with my brother, who I love so much, but I’m here with a man that I love and who loves me back,” TJ said. “I don’t know what I did to be so lucky.

In February 2021, TJ was officially released in a WEATHER magazine article. He became the only openly gay artist signed to a major country music label.

“I’m very comfortable being gay,” he said. “I find myself on my guard because I don’t want to talk about something that I personally have no problem with. It’s so strange.

He wanted to publicly disclose his sexuality to avoid a jaw-dropping response if he showed up to an awards show with his boyfriend. He said, “People are going to ask, ‘Why do we even have to talk about it?’ and personally, I’m okay with that,” he continued, “But for me to show up to an awards show with a man would be a blowout for people. It wouldn’t be like “Oh, cool!”

TJ stood on stage at the Grammy Awards a year later and thanked her boyfriend.

The Osborne Brothers are nominated for Duo/Group Music Video of the Year at the CMT Awards

The rewards can keep rolling in for the Osborne brothers. The duo is nominated for Music Video Duo/Group of the Year for “I’m Not For Everyone” at the CMT Awards. They face fierce competition from other nominees:

Dan + Shay – “Steal My Love”

Maddie and Tae – “The Woman You Have”

Old Dominion – “I was on a boat that day”

Parmalee – “Take My Name”

Zac Brown Band – “Same Boat”

The CMT Awards air on CBS and Paramount+ on Monday, April 11 at 8 p.m. EST. Kelsea Ballerini and Anthony Mackie are the hosts.

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