Country music artist Chris Housman is opening up about the painful circumstances that pushed him to come out as a gay teenager. The 34-year-old singer, known for his proud LGBTQ+ message and rising success on social media, recently shared his story on the Rooted Recovery Stories podcast.

Housman grew up in a small conservative Kansas town, where conversations about sexuality were rare. He explained that he began exchanging emails with someone from a nearby community and trusted those digital conversations to remain private. But when his family sold their home computer, several of those messages were still saved — and quickly spread through town.

Realizing rumors would soon reach his parents, Housman decided to tell them himself. He was only 18 and had never met another openly gay person in real life. He remembers his parents reacting with confusion, telling him not to share it with others. Their relationship, he says, is still evolving.

Housman also revealed he had suffered sexual abuse from an older family friend when he was a child. He stressed that trauma has nothing to do with his sexuality, a misunderstanding he says some relatives still hold. He later confronted his abuser, though he chose not to report the incident.

Despite these challenges, Housman has built a powerful music career. His breakout song Blueneck celebrates acceptance, while his recent single Guilty as Sin reflects on the loss of his former partner, songwriter Abe Stoklasa.

Today, Housman says years of therapy have helped him heal — and he hopes others remember they are never as alone as they feel.