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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Comment
Rebecca Shaw

Country music is cool now – even the pop girlies are leaning into it. I’ve finally been vindicated

Beyonce accepts Grammy for Cowboy Carter
‘While some country fans wring their hands and whine about the purity of the genre, I want more.’ Photograph: JC Olivera/WireImage

I have lived through some big societal changes in my many years on this ever-heating planet. For example, I recently told younger friends that as a teen I had to buy CD-Roms that gave me a certain number of hours of internet access, and then it would stop. I saw in their baffled little eyes that they were now picturing me in black and white, waving goodbye to the CD-Rom-monger as I boarded my horse and buggy.

I’ve also lived through big changes in LGBTQ+ rights. I was closeted till age 21, whereas many more young people can now be their true selves from the jump – celebrated instead of tolerated.

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