14 DAY TRIAL // The Internet can offer anyone a shot at those much coveted 15 minutes of fame but, in the case of a little known country singer named Steve Grand, they’re very likely to be extended beyond that.
Before this 4th of July holiday weekend, few knew of Steve but, today, almost 1 million people have viewed his beautiful video for the song “All-American Boy.”
“All-American Boy” is a country ballad that reverses the traditional roles, presenting a gay man’s campfire-crush and would-be brief romance with another man.
Speaking with GMA, Steve says that the ballad, as emotional as it might be, isn’t necessarily about the plight of the gays.
“I wrote it from the most [pure] genuine place of my soul. It's not about being gay. It's about longing. It's about that longing for someone,” he says.
He explains that he maxed out on his credit card and invested $7,000 (€5,472) in the song and the making of the video, which is, you will admit even if you don’t agree with the message, a beautifully shot and edited short film.
As a side note, those who have not seen the video yet will find it here, on YouTube. *Please note that some discretion is recommended before viewing it.
On the topic of being gay and writing the song from his heart, Steve tells GMA that he had a very hard time coming out to his parents, as they refused to accept him until just recently.
Saying this, he tears up.
“I felt like I was really a shame to my parents, and I felt like there was no way I could ever make them proud. I felt like I was a constant disappointment,” he says.
“I'm so moved by my mom. She said, ‘You're touching so many people, and you're doing a really beautiful thing and I love you so much and am proud of you’,” Steve explains.
This is what brings him most satisfaction now that he’s what they call an “Internet star”: knowing that his story resonates with people from all over the world, that his music brings them comfort at a difficult time.