John Waters Tells Red Rocks “Country Music Made Me Gay”

Legendary filmmaker and director John Waters returned to his country roots as a special guest for “Rodeo at Red Rocks” on July 22, where he made an honest confession.

“I hate to say this because some of you might take this the wrong way,” he told the crowd, “but country music made me gay.”

Waters joined headliner Orville Peck along with country bad boy Charley Crockett and the British singer and songwriter, Yola. Waters spoke honestly with the audience during his monologue that kicked off the night.

“When I first saw Elvis Presley gyrating,” he said, “and I heard him twitching and moaning and hiccupping through that song, ‘I Don’t Care If the Sun Don’t Shine,’ oh when I heard him go, ‘We’re gonna kiss and kiss and kiss again,’ I tell you, I knew something was up down there, but I didn’t know what it was.”

Waters said he was initially “confused” by the feelings he was having, but then, “I started thinking: Other cowboys, are they all sexy? I didn’t know. Was Gene Autry hot? Of course, I graduated. I went on to Warren Smith and Jerry Lee Lewis and, of course, Roddy Jackson later.”

He hung up pictures of these country, cowboy heart throbs on the walls of his room—but his parents caught on and weren’t too fond of what they were seeing.

“Isn’t it true that the first music we love that our parents hate, that becomes the soundtrack of our life—and we should listen to it ever since?” he mused. “I’m still listening to it. I mean, Outlaw Country’s on my radio. And every time I hear ‘Snake Farm,’ oh God, that makes me horny, that song. And when I hear, ‘If I Could Make a Livin’ Drinkin,’ I feel ambitious. And every time I hear Hawkshaw Hawkins sing that sad song, ‘Lonesome 7-7203,’ I cry my eyes out; I really do.”

After Waters’ heartfelt and honest intro, the kicking’ country evening began! Peck, as usual, stole the show with his sultry, southern crooning and ever-present, fringed leather mask. The gay Canadian country star, who’s voice is often compared to Roy Orbison’s and Roddy Jackson’s, says he dons the telltale mask to keep audiences focused on the music, not his identity. Since his emergence in the music scene, he’s gained a significant LGBTQ following, calling his diverse fanbase “cowfolx.”

Waters and Peck have developed a sort of friendship in the last few years after Waters mentioned Peck in one of his spoken word shows. Since then, the two have worked together on music videos, and now, on the stage.

Waters made sure to compliment the near-capacity crowd on all getting vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, and promised them a “Hillbilly Hayride to Heaven” for the evening.

“Look at you all,” he marveled. “You’ve been freshly released from self-imposed home detention. You’re all needled-up and ready to go, right? It’s a perfect audience. Part hipster, part gay, and part real country fan. Perfect. The Holy Trinity of audiences.”

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