Hours after one country artist revealed he is gay, Billy Gilman followed. On Thursday afternoon, the singer took to YouTube to reveal he's gay.

During an emotional five-and-a-half-minute long video, the former child country star gave credit to his friend Ty Herndon for making his road a little easier to follow. However, he also revealed that rumors of his sexual preference likely cost him a record deal in recent years, or at least the chance of a record deal.

“I threw a showcase in Nashville, and no major label showed,” Gilman admits.

“It’s difficult for me to make this video, not because I’m ashamed of being a gay male artist, or a gay artist or a gay person," he continues, "but it’s pretty silly to know that I’m ashamed of doing this knowing that I’m in a genre and an industry that’s ashamed of me for being me.”

Herndon, Vince Gill and Keith Urban are three artists he calls out that were always good to him, whether they knew he was gay or not. Several months ago, a reporter took a picture of Gilman and his partner. He says at that moment he knew what he needed to do.

“It was in that moment that I knew that I’d rather it be from me, than you reading it from somewhere else," he says.

“I can honestly say I’m scared to death."

Musically, Gilman looks to be working on a new project. At one point he turns the camera to a television to show a music video he was working on. The video wraps with him thanking fans. "I love you all and from the bottom of my heart, I thank you," he says.

Country Artists Who Have Come Out as Gay