Brian Falduto’s ‘Same Old Country Love Song’ Is for People Who Don’t Like Country Music

Country artist and LGBTQ life coach Brian Falduto who is probably best known as “the gay kid from School of Rock,”  just released his new single “Same Old Country Love Song,” the first from his upcoming EP titled Gay Country.

Falduto says:

“People always seem shocked that I love country music so much and yet I always have. One of the first albums I owned was FAITH by Faith Hill. When Carrie Underwood won American Idol, I started watching country music awards shows and from there it was a deep dive. In college, I started interning for NYC’s first country music radio station in 20 years – NASH FM – where I would end up working for three years post-graduation. I got to meet so many of my favorite artists and see them perform live or watch them give interviews. I went through a really tough break-up at the time and though I was finding comfort in a lot of the songs I was listening to, I couldn’t find one that quite fit my experience. So I decided to try writing my own, originally as a therapeutic experiment. But then I shared it with a friend. And then another. And then a small room full of them. Soon, I was hooked. There was an undeniable fulfillment I was getting from telling my stories through song.”

Falduto was recently named  “one of the 20 most influential, outspoken, and optimistic individuals on the planet” by PrideLife Magazine. He came to national attention after playing the role of Billy, nicknamed Fancy Pants by Jack Black in the cult classic film School of Rock.

Starring in the movie and its accompanying fame made his coming out as a teenager particularly nerve wracking and fraught, due to the inordinate public scrutiny of his private life.

Falduto says of the experience, “My story is one of what happens when we try to label something we don’t understand in order to avoid our own discomfort.”

Now, as a nationally known out advocate, Falduto has traveled the country performing and speaking at Pride events, sharing personal anecdotes that  have offered hope to countless young people through viral moments such as his interview with Now This News or his self-written piece in The Advocate.

Falduto released his first foray into music with the single “God Loves Me Too,” in 2020. “Too” and  the accompanying music video recognized the love and acceptance for queer youth of faith that he never felt he got when he was growing up gay in church.

“Too” took home the Fan Favorite Award at The 2020 International Independent Music Video Awards in addition to garnering support from The Trevor Project, GLAAD, Beloved Arise, and several other LGBTQ-affirming organizations.

Falduto adds:

“Even as recently as four years ago, I was really unclear about my identity as an artist in the country lane. I knew that I would never deny being gay for the sake of being a successful country music artist but I simultaneously felt as though I had to be careful how I pitched myself. How much of my queerness would be acceptable amongst the audience I’m trying to reach? I found familiarity in navigating what might be too much or too little because that’s what I used to do when I was younger to survive. Thanks to continual internal work and the external influence of trailblazers like Kacey Musgraves, Orville Peck, Lil Nas X, TJ Osbourne, Brandi Carlile, and Ty Herndon, I now know what’s possible in this genre (and in life) when you put the rule book down for a minute and dare to be yourself boldly. I refuse to play a game I wasn’t picked for or follow a formula that wasn’t built for me.”

Falduto hops the song provides joy, laughter, and some sense of belonging to those who need it most. “Same Old Country Love Song” was co-written by Tom McGovern, produced by Erik Halbig, and recorded in Nashville, Tennessee. The accompanying Official Lyric Video was created by Alex Ortiz.

Watch and listen to the lyrics video below.