U.S. country music singer-songwriter Chely Wright has confirmed she is gay.

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People.com recently announced a celebrity planned to come out as homosexual in this week's issue of its magazine.

The announcement sparked much media speculation about who the star would be.

"There had never, ever been a country music artist who had acknowledged his or her homosexuality," Wright, 39, told People. "I wasn't going to be the first."

She went on to say she later experienced a change of heart.

"Nothing in my life has been more magical than the moment I decided to come out," Wright said.

The award-winning musician is to publish her memoir, "Like Me," later this week. She is also to release "Lifted off the Ground," her first album in five years, People.com noted.