Shania Twain Calls for Inclusive Country Music at CMT Awards
Country music legend Shania Twain took the stage at Sunday's CMT Awards, accepting the prestigious Equal Play Award and using her platform to champion a cause she believes is long overdue: equal play and diversity in country music.
In her acceptance speech, Twain reflected on her iconic 1999 hit "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!", saying it had become an empowering anthem for women and people from all walks of life. The phrase, she said, has been adopted by communities worldwide and has brought her immense joy.
Twain emphasized the need for inclusivity in country music, stating that the genre's rich history has raised and nurtured many talented artists, including herself. However, she claimed the industry standard does a disservice to these diverse voices, failing to provide equal opportunities for women, people of color, and other underrepresented groups.
To drive her point home, Twain highlighted several emerging acts on her upcoming "Queen of Me" tour, including Lily Rose, Lindsay Ell, Hailey Whitters, Mickey Guyton, and more. She vowed to continue advocating for change, saying she will do everything in her power as a trailblazer to ensure all artists receive fair play regardless of their background.
Twain's commitment to equality was further demonstrated when she performed acappella with African American singing group The BoykinZ, whom she had met through Kelly Clarkson. This moment marked a special connection between Twain and the rising country stars.
As Twain wraps up her message, it's clear that she will not be silenced on this issue. With her platform and influence, she is determined to create a more inclusive country music industry where everyone has a chance to shine.
Country music legend Shania Twain took the stage at Sunday's CMT Awards, accepting the prestigious Equal Play Award and using her platform to champion a cause she believes is long overdue: equal play and diversity in country music.
In her acceptance speech, Twain reflected on her iconic 1999 hit "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!", saying it had become an empowering anthem for women and people from all walks of life. The phrase, she said, has been adopted by communities worldwide and has brought her immense joy.
Twain emphasized the need for inclusivity in country music, stating that the genre's rich history has raised and nurtured many talented artists, including herself. However, she claimed the industry standard does a disservice to these diverse voices, failing to provide equal opportunities for women, people of color, and other underrepresented groups.
To drive her point home, Twain highlighted several emerging acts on her upcoming "Queen of Me" tour, including Lily Rose, Lindsay Ell, Hailey Whitters, Mickey Guyton, and more. She vowed to continue advocating for change, saying she will do everything in her power as a trailblazer to ensure all artists receive fair play regardless of their background.
Twain's commitment to equality was further demonstrated when she performed acappella with African American singing group The BoykinZ, whom she had met through Kelly Clarkson. This moment marked a special connection between Twain and the rising country stars.
As Twain wraps up her message, it's clear that she will not be silenced on this issue. With her platform and influence, she is determined to create a more inclusive country music industry where everyone has a chance to shine.
Shania's speech was fire 
! She needs to keep doing what she's doing, no need for platitudes 
. Industry change ain't gonna happen overnight, but with people like Twain leading the charge, there's hope 
. The CMT Awards are just a start tho 
, it's about creating real opportunities for artists outside of their comfort zones 
.
the industry needs a major shakeup already, its been too long since weve seen some real representation on country charts... twains speech was fire btw love how she highlighted those emerging acts, lily rose and mickey guyton are my new faves 
cant wait to see what else shes got planned for her "queen of me" tour 
. I'm definitely tuning in to see more of them shine!
! I mean, who else can make an iconic song like "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" sound empowering and universal at the same time? It's crazy how one phrase can resonate with people from all walks of life and bring joy to so many. And you know what's even crazier? The fact that she's using her platform to call out the industry for being less inclusive 
! And that performance with The BoykinZ? Chills all around 
. She's not just a legend, she's a game-changer too 
.
. i mean, come on, it's not like the industry didn't have diverse voices before... but now they're suddenly being "underrepresented"? sounds like a lot of whining to me 
. and what's with all these new acts she's putting out? is this just a ploy to seem cool and trendy again? 
.
. Shania Twain's message about inclusivity and diversity in the genre hits home for me. Its refreshing to see an artist use their platform to amplify underrepresented voices, especially women of color like Mickey Guyton. The fact that she's not only promoting these artists on her tour but also using her influence to advocate for change is really inspiring 
! But for real tho, it's about time someone speaks up about inclusivity in country music. I mean, we've been living in a world where diversity and equality aren't always the norm, but Shania is using her platform to change that 
.
. And let's be real, it's about time we see more women in country music taking center stage 
. Shania's message is clear: everyone deserves fair play, regardless of their background 
! She's been talking about this for ages, but it's dope to see someone with her level of influence actually doing something about it 
. And I love how she used that acappella performance with The BoykinZ as a nod to those who've paved the way for her 
. It's about time we start seeing more women and people of color in country music, and Shania's leading the charge