Crys Matthews
Americana and Country Soul Singer/Songwriter
By Flamy Grant
Flamy Grant (© Weeno Photography)
I could fill this entire spotlight on my dear friend Crys Matthews with a long list of accolades, awards, and accomplishments because, thankfully, many across the country have recognized this powerhouse performer — a bold social justice singer/songwriter whose shining smile alone just might whisk you off to glory. (I’ve seen it happen in real time, y’all.)
But I’d like to share what I get to see sharing green rooms and stages with this unassailably talented artist. Since 2023, I have experienced the pure pleasure of spending my December with Crys traveling across America on a holiday tour we call Make the Yuletide Gay. It’s the perfect moniker for a show with LGBTQIA+ artists singing a mix of holiday classics and original songs, and not just because we are literally queering Christmas by creating safe spaces for our community.
The name suits because Crys is born to make people gay. And while it is very likely she stirs up some new feelings in folks who previously considered themselves straight, in this instance I mean the older definition of the word: keenly alive and exuberant; merry; inducing high spirits.
We don’t often associate joy with social justice work. It’s hard, full of setbacks, and always face-to-face with the worst of what humanity is capable of doing to one another. Which is why Crys Matthews is so remarkable. Yes, she shines a light on the unredeemed parts of our country. Yes, she compels us to better understand the experience of being a Black, “butch-of-center” (her very creative words) lesbian. Yes, she uses her voice and songs to critique the systems that perpetuate abuse.
And she does this vital work while nurturing an inner delight in what it means to be human that those around her simply cannot help but absorb. That head-turning smile she flashes is a manifestation of some foundational, immutable hope that energizes Crys as she fulfills her own mission statement to be a “steadfast reminder that hope and love are the truest pathways to equity and justice.”
What could be gayer than that?
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Reflection and resources at the intersection of faith and culture through an inclusive Christian lens.