Add Carrie Underwood to the list of stars who've come out in support of marriage equality.
The country songstress, who was raised Baptist, spoke at length about the topic in an interview with The Independent, noting that her Christian upbringing is at the core of her attitude toward same-sex marriage.
"As a married person myself, I don’t know what it’s like to be told I can’t marry somebody I love, and want to marry," Underwood is quoted as saying. "I can’t imagine how that must feel. I definitely think we should all have the right to love, and love publicly, the people that we want to love."
The British publication also notes that while the 29-year-old Underwood was raised Baptist, she now attends a nondenominational "gay friendly" Christian church with her husband, pro hockey player Mike Fisher.
"Above all, God wanted us to love others," she noted. "It's not about setting rules, or [saying], 'Everyone has to be like me.' No. We're all different. That’s what makes us special. We have to love each other and get on with each other. It’s not up to me to judge anybody.”
How Underwood's country fanbase will take the news remains to be seen, but among those to praise the superstar for her faith-based support was the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).
"We hope that other country music performers will join them in speaking (or singing) out for LGBT equality," GLAAD officials said in a statement on the group's website.
Take a look at other celebrities who've spoken out in favor of LGBT rights:
