John Travolta News

Willie Nelson's heroes have always been cowboys, regardless of their sexual orientation.

It seems only logical, therefore, that the country legend has released a gay cowboy song that was written long before Brokeback Mountain rode onto the scene with its tale of taboo rancher romance.

Nelson debuted "Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly (Fond of Each Other)" on Howard Stern's satellite radio show Tuesday, after recording the song last year at his Pedernales studio in Texas, according to his Lost Highway record label.

The song, which includes lyrics such as "What did you think all them saddles and boots was about?" and "Inside every cowboy there's a lady who'd love to slip out," was written by Texas-born songwriter Ned Sublette in 1981.

Sublette said he wrote the song in response to the buzz generated by 1980's Urban Cowboy, starring John Travolta, and that he had always pictured Nelson singing it.

"The song's been in the closet for 20 years," Nelson said in a statement. "The timing's right for it to come out. I'm just opening the door."

"Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly (Fond of Each Other)" was made available exclusively through iTunes Tuesday, just in time for Valentine's Day.

The song has added meaning for Nelson's longtime tour manager, David Anderson, who revealed his homosexuality to Nelson two years ago.

"This song obviously has special meaning to me in more ways than one," Anderson told the Dallas Morning News. "I want people to know more than anything--gay, straight, whatever--just how cool Willie is...his way of thinking, his tolerance, everything about him."

Coincidentally, Nelson's song, "He Was a Friend of Mine," is featured on the Brokeback Mountain soundtrack.

With the film vying for a leading eight Academy Awards next month, the country crooner could not have chosen a better moment to unleash his latest offering.