Caleb Shomo is an American singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer best known as the founder and lead vocalist of the rock band Beartooth. He gained public attention in May 2026 after publicly coming out as a “proudly gay man” in an emotional social media statement, following years of speculation and recent homophobic backlash over his appearance in a music video .
Quick Facts
Full Name: Caleb Joshua Shomo
Age: 33 (born December 1, 1992)
Nationality: American
Occupation: Musician, Singer, Songwriter, Producer
Known For: Frontman of Beartooth; Former member of Attack Attack!; Coming out as gay in May 2026
Marital Status: Married (previously, no current public confirmation)
Children: Not confirmed
Early Life and Background
Caleb Shomo was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, in a religious household where his father served as a pastor . He began playing piano at age four, taught himself multiple instruments, and dropped out of high school at 15 to pursue music . By age 15, he had already joined the metalcore band Attack Attack! as a keyboardist .
Career and Achievements
Shomo rose to fame as the lead vocalist and keyboardist of Attack Attack! from 2008 to 2012, appearing on their albums Someday Came Suddenly, the self-titled Attack Attack!, and This Means War . He left the band in 2012 due to struggles with clinical depression and substance abuse, seeking a healthier path .
In 2013, Shomo founded Beartooth as a solo studio project, recording all instruments and vocals himself in his basement . Beartooth’s debut album Disgusting (2014) produced their first gold single, “In Between.” Subsequent albums Aggressive (2016), Disease (2018), Below (2021—which topped the Rock and Alternative charts), and The Surface (2023) built a catalog of over 1 billion streams . Rolling Stone named Beartooth one of “10 Artists You Need to Know,” and Forbes noted they are “inching towards becoming the latest arena headliner” .
Beartooth’s sixth album, Pure Ecstasy, is set for release on August 28, 2026, via Fearless Records .
Why He Is In the News
Shomo is in the news following his announcement on May 23, 2026, that he is a “proudly gay man” . The revelation came after he temporarily stepped away from social media amid homophobic backlash over his appearance in the music video for Beartooth’s single “Free,” which featured flashy outfits and makeup . In his statement, Shomo wrote: “I spent a decade burying feelings with alcohol… this is a massive part of [learning to love myself]” . The announcement has drawn support from fellow musicians including Disturbed’s David Draiman, who compared Shomo to rock icons like David Bowie and Freddie Mercury .
Conclusion
Caleb Shomo is a multiplatinum rock frontman who transformed personal pain into anthemic music for millions of fans. His decision to publicly embrace his identity marks a new chapter of honesty and self-acceptance, one that he hopes will encourage others struggling with similar issues to “give yourself grace” and “do the hard work instead of burying it down” .
