Billy gilman biography 2009

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When he signed his contract in the fall of 1999 with Sony Music Nashville at the age of eleven, Gilman was ready, but his parents were not. And soon he had the opportunity. Later, the bar was raised. But no one thought that the album would sell 29,854 copies in the first week. And he prays for help. Angela worked with Billy on his vocals and stage image, and soon she handed a demo cassette to her friend Greg Piccolo, who was so impressed that he passed the recording on to Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel.

When Billy was 8 years old, his grandmother sent him to study with Angela Bacari, who is still his vocal teacher and now also his manager. Similarly, the track "Awaken The Music" on Everything and More (2003) drew criticism for its "pseudo operatic" pretentiousness, evoking unfavorable comparisons to Queen's bombast and nearing cringe-inducing territory for some listeners.^[72]^[73]Gilman's career encountered significant hurdles during his transition to adulthood, primarily due to vocal changes post-puberty that altered his timbre and diminished his fit within country music's expectations for a maturing male voice.

It was the perfect fit." The single "One Voice," released in advance of Gilman's debut album of the same name, topped the Billboard charts for four consecutive weeks. Siman said, "When we started working with Billy, selling 5,000 copies in a week was the limit of our expectations.

"I pushed them into the music business because I wanted it so much." Fran Gilman makes sure to keep her son grounded by asking him to help around the house--including caring for pets--when he is not on the road.

The spotlight was definitely on Gilman during 2000. In the semifinals on December 5, he performed Celine Dion's "I Surrender," earning high praise from Levine for its power and control, advancing to the finale.^[33]^[34]In the December 13 finale, Gilman delivered Frank Sinatra's "My Way," an original song "Because of Me" co-written by Levine, a duet with Levine on the Everly Brothers' "Bye Bye Love," and a collaboration with guest Kelly Clarkson on "It's Quiet Uptown" from the Hamilton soundtrack.^[35]^[36] Despite strong performances, he finished as runner-up to winner Sundance Head, with Levine noting Gilman's growth from child star to versatile adult artist as a key factor in his competitive edge.^[29]^[30]

Post-2014 Projects and Ongoing Efforts

Following his appearance on The Voice season 11, Gilman released The Complete Season 11 Collection (The Voice Performance) on December 13, 2016, featuring covers performed during the competition.^[37] After a period of limited recordings, he shifted toward bluegrass influences, releasing the single "Roller Coaster" in 2023 under Pinecastle Records.^[38]In 2024, Gilman issued singles including "Til You Come Home" and "That's Bluegrass to Me" featuring Rhonda Vincent.^[39] This momentum continued into 2025 with the release of the single "Waylon" on May 12, a bluegrassballad dedicated to his dog, produced by Pinecastle Records.^[40] Later that year, on August 29, he launched the Delta Queen EP, comprising five original songs emphasizing storytelling in a bluegrass style.^[41]Gilman has maintained an active performance schedule, including appearances at the Barnstable Brown Gala in May 2025 and hosting the Miss America 2026 pageant on September 8, 2025, where he performed "The Good Life."^[42]^[43] He also participated in charity events such as the Jocknroll Charities concert on August 11, 2025.^[44] To mark 25 years since his debut single "One Voice," Gilman embarked on a 25th Anniversary Tour in 2025, featuring chart-toppers and new material at venues like City Winery Boston.^[5]^[45]These efforts reflect Gilman's ongoing commitment to live performances and selective new releases, blending his country roots with bluegrass elements amid a focus on personal narratives in his music.^[46]

Personal Life

Family Relationships

Billy Gilman was born on May 24, 1988, in Westerly, Rhode Island, to William Wendell "Bill" Gilman Jr., an oil company technician, and Frances "Fran" Woodmansee Gilman, a homemaker.^[1]^[47] The family resided in nearby Hope Valley, where Gilman grew up alongside his younger brother, Colin, who was approximately nine years younger.^[10]^[48]Gilman's parents recognized his musical talent early; his mother noted that by age 3½, his vocal abilities were evident, which influenced his path into performing.^[48] The siblings shared a typical brotherly dynamic, marked by closeness interspersed with playful rivalry, as described in early profiles of the family.^[49] Gilman has maintained ties to his Rhode Island roots, dividing time between family there and professional pursuits elsewhere, with no public reports of estrangement or significant family conflicts.^[10]

Sexual Orientation and Public Disclosure

In November 2014, Billy Gilman publicly disclosed his homosexuality via a YouTube video posted on November 20.^[50]^[51] In the video, Gilman, then aged 26, explained that the disclosure was prompted in part by country singer Ty Herndon's earlier announcement that same day and by an incident where a reporter photographed him with his male partner at a fall festival.^[52]^[53]Gilman stated that he had realized his sexual orientation as a teenager but had kept it private amid fears for his career in the country music industry, remarking, "Being a gay male country artist is not the easiest thing."^[50]^[54] He emphasized his happiness in the relationship, noting, "I am now happily sharing my life with who I am," and expressed hope that his openness would encourage others while acknowledging potential professional repercussions.^[51]^[55]The announcement received coverage from multiple outlets, with Gilman receiving supportive responses from fans and some industry figures, though he anticipated challenges given the genre's historical conservatism toward LGBTQ+ visibility.^[56] No prior public disclosures of his sexual orientation had occurred, and rumors had circulated informally for years without confirmation from Gilman himself.^[54]

Activism and Philanthropy

Charitable Initiatives

Gilman served as the National Youth Chairman for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) from 2003 to 2008, leading efforts among teenagers and young adults to support the organization's mission of funding research and providing services for those affected by muscular dystrophy.^[10] He performed on the Jerry LewisMDA Labor Day Telethon starting in 2001, contributing to annual fundraising broadcasts that raised millions for MDA programs.^[28]In April 2012, Gilman released the charity single "The Choice," which he co-wrote and which featured 18 country artists including Vince Gill and Ronnie Dunn, with all proceeds directed to Soles4Souls, an organization distributing shoes to children and adults in need worldwide.^[57] The initiative aimed to fund 500,000 pairs of shoes through song sales and donations, with $1 per pair; Gilman personally donated the first shipment of shoes generated by the effort later that year.^[58]^[59]Gilman has participated in fundraising performances for children's charities, including events with Rock 'N' Jock Charities to support A Wish Come True, a program granting wishes to children aged 3-18 with life-threatening conditions; these partnerships have contributed to raising approximately $500,000 for wish fulfillment over 25 years.^[60] In May 2025, he collaborated with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention on the single "Waylon," directing proceeds toward awareness and prevention programs.^[61] He has also supported The Salvation Army through appearances and endorsements listed in celebrity charity profiles.^[62]

Advocacy Efforts

Gilman has publicly advocated for LGBTQ+ acceptance within the country music industry following his coming out as gay on November 20, 2014, via a video on One Voice Productions' YouTube channel, where he cited industry rejection as a barrier to his career.^[50] He performed the National Anthem at the Human Rights Campaign's 2020 Presidential Candidate Forum on LGBTQ Issues on September 20, 2019, in Los Angeles, signaling support for broader policy discussions on gay rights.^[63] In interviews, Gilman has emphasized authenticity over concealment, stating in 2021 that his disclosure enabled advocacy for personal causes he had long supported, framing it as an extension of prior commitments to visibility and self-expression.^[12]In mental health advocacy, Gilman partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) for the release of his single "Waylon" on May 13, 2025, using social media campaigns to promote awareness during Mental Health Awareness Month and sharing personal experiences with suicidal ideation linked to professional setbacks.^[61] He has described these efforts as drawing from his own battles with industry exclusion after coming out, positioning music as a tool for resilience and stigma reduction.^[64] This aligns with his broader commentary on overcoming bullying and rejection, as detailed in a 2019 video addressing career "pulling" from country radio.^[65]Gilman has also endorsed GLAAD's initiatives for amplifying LGBTQ+ voices, participating in their 2018 Atlanta gala where he urged collective action against discrimination.

For instance, his debut One Voice (2000) was described as a "delightful" showcase of his boy-soprano range, though the inclusion of love songs was seen as awkward given his age of 11, rendering them somewhat incongruous.^[71]Later works faced harsher assessments for production shortcomings and stylistic missteps. Impressed with Gilman's singing voice, Bacari worked with him to improve his vocal skills as well as his stage presence.

However, within a month of its release, it reached gold status (over 500,000 copies sold), and by mid-September, the album went platinum (over 1 million copies sold). The music video for this song became the most successful in the history of Country Music Television. Obviously, there is some concern--particularly in the executive suites of Sony Nashville--about how well Gilman will weather the inevitable change in voice, but there is little doubt that the young singer will make the adjustment and keep on making music America wants to hear.

by Don Amerman

Billy Gilman's Career

Made first public appearance, age eight; signed contract with Sony Music Nashville, 1999; "One Voice," the title single from his debut album of the same name held number one spot on the Billboardcharts for four weeks, 2000; released Classic Christmas, 2000; released Dare to Dream, 2001.

Famous Works

Selected discography
One Voice (includes "One Voice" and "I Think She Likes Me"), Sony Nashville, 2000.
Classic Christmas , Sony Nashville, 2000.
Dare to Dream (includes "She's My Girl" and "She's Everything I Want"), Sony Nashville, 2001.