Brothers Osborne Share ‘Younger Me’ Following Front Man’s Coming Out

The powerful track preaches self-acceptance and optimism.

Written by Chris Parton
Brothers Osborne Share ‘Younger Me’ Following Front Man’s Coming Out
Brothers Osborne; Photo credit: John Peets

Just months after coming out of the closet, Brothers Osborne front man TJ Osborne has written a powerful message of support to his former self — and others like him. And the duo say the time is right to share it.

Titled “Younger Me” and featuring a pulsating, electric-’80s sound and TJ’s dramatic, baritone vocals, the moving song serves to encourage self-acceptance for anyone who feels different. And after years of avoiding it, that’s something the singer finally did by becoming the first country hit maker to come out while signed to a major record label.

For the song, Brothers Osborne reflect on TJ’s journey. Heartfelt lyrics of early rebelliousness and anger turn into worry and doubt about the road ahead, before finally resolving in relief … and even optimism. The personal truth is easy to feel — a hallmark of the country genre — after the towering vocalist came out in a moving feature in Time this February, news largely met with open-armed acceptance by his peers and fans.

“I’ve always wished I could speak to my younger self, give him a hug and show him who he’d become and what he’d achieve,” TJ wrote of the song on social media. “Once I came out, that feeling was so overwhelmingly strong that this song was born and the time to share it is now.”

“Younger Me” arrives alongside the duo’s current single, “I’m Not for Everyone,” which is featured on their 2020 album, Skeletons, and follows the Top 25 radio single, “All Night.” Yesterday (April 15), Brothers Osborne announced the We’re Not for Everyone headlining tour, and they’ll perform on the 56th annual ACM Awards Sunday night (April 18).