We love to see it.
Brothers Osborne won the Academy of Country Music Award for Duo of the Year on Monday night (7 March) and, in doing so, TJ Osborne proudly made sure the audience knew who he was thankful to.
Osborne, who came out as gay back in February 2021 in a profile in Time, kissed his boyfriend, Abi Ventura, before going up on stage where he then gave him an honourable mention.
“Thank y’all so much seriously,” he said when he was handed the mic. “It’s such an incredible honor to be at these things. I will say that about a week ago they pulled our single from country radio so I needed a little bit of wind put in our sails. This is feeling good.
“Thanks to everyone at ACM,” he continued. “Abi, I love you. Here’s to a great night in Vegas, baby. Come on.”
It’s not the first time TJ and Abi celebrated an award win with a kiss on camera, having planted a smooch after winning Vocal Duo of the Year at the 2021 CMA Awards.
TJ cemented his pace in queer music history by coming out last year, making him the the first openly gay artist signed to a major country music label.
“I’m very comfortable being gay,” he said at the time. “I find myself being guarded for not wanting to talk about something that I personally don’t have a problem with. That feels so strange.”
Brothers Osbourne’s song “I’m Not for Everyone” (the one got that pulled from country radio) is taken from the LP Skeletons and its video features the inimitable Leslie Jordan.
Watch it below, along with the smooch.
Tuned into the @ACMawards just in time for the gay kiss pic.twitter.com/vLe6HBb8DG
— Lily The Cable Guy (@lilyblueyez) March 8, 2022
These two make quite the pair! Congratulations to @brothersosborne on winning ACM Duo of the Year at this year's #ACMawards! pic.twitter.com/tm1VkExxYQ
— ACM Awards (@ACMawards) March 8, 2022