Chappell Roan defies norms with lesbian country song. More queer country anthems

Chappell Roan made music history with the debut of her lesbian country song “The Giver” on “SNL.” Let’s talk about the other LGBTQ+ artists have defied heteronormative standards in country music.

Chappell Roan made music history with the debut of her lesbian country song “The Giver” on “SNL” on Saturday night. The song broke country music norms, highlighting intimate queer relationships — and many LGBTQ+ country artists, like Roan, have defied similar heteronormative standards in their music in the past.

Roan’s new track is her first time going country, and she went big.

Fiddles backed the “HOT TO GO!” singer as she belted about satisfying her female lovers better than any man could: “Take it like a taker, ’cause baby I’m a giver / Ain’t no need to help me, ’cause baby I deliver / Ain’t no country boy quitter / I get the job done.”

On the bridge, Roan shouted at the audience. “All you country boys saying you know how to treat a woman right?” she said. “Well, only a woman knows how to treat a woman right!”

Since Saturday night, Roan’s debut has made huge waves. The choice to premiere the song on “Saturday Night Live” is salient; the season’s first episode drew a massive audience of over 5 million viewers.

Many are deeming “The Giver” a queer country anthem.

Now, all eyes are on Roan, and on queerness in country music.

And while Roan’s performance was entirely unique with her special flair, there are many artists who’ve highlighted LGBTQ+ relationships and discussed queer intimacy in their country tracks before.