Rennie Coleman is tired of waiting for country music to catch up — so he’s bringing his own chair to the table, cowboy hat and all.
The Nashville-raised, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter recently released Some Will Say, a country-rock track about choosing peace over chaos. His latest single, Only Tonight, a melancholic ballad about fleeting but powerful connection, dropped June 13.
Both tracks are produced by Luca Brown (Shaboozey, Karol G, Kali Uchis) and mastered by Grammy winner Emerson Mancini, a trans engineer known for his work with Kendrick Lamar and Paramore. “Having Emerson master these songs was a dream,” Coleman says. “It meant everything to have more queer hands on the project other than my own.”
Telling the Truth Through Music
For Coleman, authenticity has always been at the center of his songwriting. “The first good song I wrote was the first time I was honest,” he says. “I wasn’t trying to act a certain way — it was just me.”
That honesty fuels both singles. Some Will Say channels the strength it takes to walk away from a one-sided relationship. “We’ve all been the one who isn’t wanted,” Coleman says. “But maturity means choosing yourself and sanity over something crap.”
His follow-up track, Only Tonight, is quieter and more reflective. “It’s about those rare moments where love still surprises you,” he says. “Even if it’s fleeting, it reminds you that connection is real. It’s sad and hopeful at the same time — like a dreamy-country music dip.”
As a Gemini, he adds, “I’m a little of both. Fast and slow. I like to sing to the heavens, and I also like singing down in the dirt.”
Pride, Politics, and a Pants-less Promo Photo
Though Coleman describes himself as more of a “chardonnay-on-the-couch gay,” releasing new music during Pride Month was intentional.
“It’s a celebration of my people and my community,” he says. “And right now, it feels more important than ever for queer artists to share their art and lean on each other.”
That decision came with some personal fallout — namely from his mother, who was nervous about the attention. “She had a meltdown over one of the first promo pics I posted last month without pants on Instagram,” he says. “I was like, ‘Mom, they’re just thighs. I’m holding a guitar, wearing a shirt, relax.’”
But he understands her concern. “She’s just worried about my safety. She knows I’ve always been vocal, and considering the current political climate, she’s afraid that certain groups of the population will come for me,” he says. “But I told her I’m not trying to taunt anyone. I just won’t stop expressing myself because of fear.”
While he’s received a handful of hateful DMs (“Someone called me a meth head — it made me laugh”), the majority of feedback has been positive. “I think people on that side need to lighten up and take some deep breaths. It takes so much more energy to hate everyone all the time, and most of it comes from deep sadness, fear, and jealousy. I don’t have time for it.”
Finding Community in a Shifting Genre
Despite the stereotypes, Coleman says country music is more open than some assume — especially among the artists who’ve inspired him.
“Sure, there are plenty of people in country music who are bigots,” he says. “But then there’s Dolly Parton, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, Natalie Maines and The Chicks, Kelsea Ballerini, Tim and Faith. Those are my people.”
“Country music is storytelling — all stories — and I have lots and lots to tell. I’m not gonna stop just because the loudest voices are screaming for us not to exist. Nope.”
The reaction to his music so far has been encouraging. “People keep telling me they don’t even like country, but they love this song,” he says of Some Will Say. “That kind of support means everything.”
Even some past skeptics have changed their tune. “A friend who once told me to give up music and try acting called me after hearing the song and said, ‘I’m so glad you found your people, and I’m so glad you found your sound.’ I was like, that’s right,” he says.
What Comes Next
As an independent artist, Coleman hopes the early momentum will help fund a full album. “These two songs are just the warm-up,” he says. “I just finished writing a new one called Daddy, so get ready.”
He’s manifesting more studio time with Luca Brown, new collaborations (“I have a song for Kacey and one for Maren — call me, ladies!”), and maybe even a tour.
“Don’t Be Scared, Just Do You”
For younger queer artists considering stepping into traditional genres, Coleman’s advice is simple: show up fully.
“Trust your gut. Keep your ears open. Let the universe guide you, pay attention, and work your ass off,” he says. “If you can take all the no’s and rejection and use them to fuel your fire, even better.”
“Bad people are making the rules right now, but they won’t be forever,” he adds. “Every piece of art or dance or song or window treatment has probably been touched by someone queer — so don’t be scared, just do you. Unapologetically.”
And what would younger Rennie say if he could see him now?
“This might sound super egotistical,” he says, “but if I’m being one hundred percent honest, I think what a younger Rennie would say if he could see me now is, ‘Duh.’”
