Shania Twain, the legendary country music singer and songwriter, recently called on the country music industry to be more inclusive. She made the remarks while accepting the Equal Play Award at the CMT Music Awards, which recognize artists for their music and music videos.
Twain Promises to Champion Underrepresented Voices
During her acceptance speech, Twain promised to champion deserving country artists who are currently overlooked. She emphasized the need for an all-inclusive country music genre that provides equal workspace for all talent, regardless of gender, age, or race. Twain is an advocate for elevating diverse and underrepresented voices in country music.
Twain Supports Young Female Artists and Rising Stars
Twain also voiced her support for upcoming young female artists and rising stars in the industry, including Lily Rose, Lindsay Ell, Hailey Whitters, BRELAND, Robyn Ottolini, and Mickey Guyton. She praised their talent and encouraged them to continue pushing the boundaries in the industry.
Twain Teases Upcoming Tour
In addition to calling for more inclusion in the industry, Twain teased her upcoming Queen of Me tour. She wants to represent and speak for inclusion in the music industry on stage as well. The BoykinZ, a vocal group that she is excited about, will join her on tour.
Red Carpet Looks and Performances at 2023 CMT Music Awards
Moving on to another aspect of country music at the 2023 CMT Music Awards held in Austin, Texas; there was much talk about red carpet fashion among country music stars. Kelsea Ballerini made her red carpet debut with boyfriend Chase Stokes while wearing a Dolce & Gabbana outfit before hosting the show. Lainey Wilson also wore a colorful jumpsuit with a plunging neckline paired with a metallic studded belt, and she was nominated for four awards.
Star-Studded Performances at the Awards Show
Several country music stars also performed at the awards show, including Shania Twain, Gwen Stefani, and Carly Pearce. There was also a tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd featuring several musicians, including Slash and LeAnn Rimes. Kane Brown performed with his wife Katelyn to sing their duet “Thank God” on television. Darius Rucker performed with The Black Crowes to sing one of the band’s hit songs “She Talks to Angels.”
Highlights of 2022 CMT Music Awards
The 2022 CMT Music Awards saw Lainey Wilson lead the pack with four nominations, including video of the year. Several awards were presented in categories such as Female Video of the Year, Male Video of the Year, Group/Duo Video of the Year, Breakthrough Female Video of the Year, Breakthrough Male Video of the Year, Collaborative Video of the Year, and CMT Performance of the Year. Blake Shelton won the coveted Video of the Year award for “No Body”.
The country music industry has come a long way when it comes to inclusivity, but there is always room for improvement. Shania Twain is right – it’s time for all voices to be heard in country music.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
