Beth Ditto plays Gigi Roman, an openly lesbian country singer and one of the main Roman siblings vying for control of the family music empire, married to Kayla (Meagan Holder), forming a central queer couple in the show's country music dynasty premise. This representation is highlighted in promotional materials and interviews, with producer Jason Owen (gay himself) explicitly stating intent to include gay leads to promote inclusivity in country music for middle America audiences, countering past industry exclusions. Beth Ditto emphasizes the activist value of such visibility, especially for queer kids in the conservative South, portraying Gigi's queerness as a career barrier tied to her identity.

Casting choices prioritize authentic queer and plus-size performers like Ditto over traditional country star archetypes. While the primary plot revolves around family rivalries, assisted suicide, infidelity, and legacy struggles following matriarch Dottie's death—echoing soapy dramas like Empire or Nashville—these identity elements influence character arcs and subplots without being the foundational driver. No race or gender-swapping occurs, and themes lack overt lectures on systemic oppression or traditional norm critiques, but the deliberate embedding of non-traditional sexualities as prominent family features marks significant influence. The show faced no major 'woke' backlash, with cancellation attributed to declining ratings and clichéd execution rather than ideological pushback, though isolated comments link its failure to overreaching inclusivity.