Country music icon Shania Twain has made a powerful statement about the need for greater diversity and equity in the industry, calling for "an all-inclusive country music" where artists are celebrated regardless of their background or identity.
At the recent CMT Awards, where she received the Equal Play Award, Twain used her acceptance speech to highlight the lack of representation in country music. She acknowledged that even her own hit song, "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!", had become an anthem for women and communities around the world, but noted that it was often overlooked in favor of more traditionally male-dominated sounds.
"I believe in an all-inclusive country music," Twain declared. "We're family." She emphasized that the industry standard is currently failing to recognize the rich contributions of artists from diverse backgrounds, and instead perpetuating a narrow and exclusive vision of what country music should be.
Twain's comments were met with applause from the audience, but also underscored the need for greater change within the industry. To address this, Twain plans to spotlight more diverse acts on her "Queen of Me" tour this year, including Lily Rose, Lindsay Ell, Hailey Whitters, Mickey Guyton, and others.
"I will continue to do my best as a trailblazer," Twain said, emphasizing that she is committed to using her platform to amplify the voices of underrepresented artists. She called on fans and fellow industry professionals to join her in advocating for greater equity and diversity in country music, regardless of factors such as gender, age, or race.
Twain's message was reinforced by a powerful performance with the African American singing group The BoykinZ, whom she had recently met through Kelly Clarkson's talk show. The performance highlighted the importance of connecting with artists from diverse backgrounds and celebrating their contributions to the genre.
As Twain continues her "Queen of Me" tour, fans can expect an all-star lineup of country music's most innovative and trailblazing artists – a true reflection of the inclusive vision that Twain is fighting for.
At the recent CMT Awards, where she received the Equal Play Award, Twain used her acceptance speech to highlight the lack of representation in country music. She acknowledged that even her own hit song, "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!", had become an anthem for women and communities around the world, but noted that it was often overlooked in favor of more traditionally male-dominated sounds.
"I believe in an all-inclusive country music," Twain declared. "We're family." She emphasized that the industry standard is currently failing to recognize the rich contributions of artists from diverse backgrounds, and instead perpetuating a narrow and exclusive vision of what country music should be.
Twain's comments were met with applause from the audience, but also underscored the need for greater change within the industry. To address this, Twain plans to spotlight more diverse acts on her "Queen of Me" tour this year, including Lily Rose, Lindsay Ell, Hailey Whitters, Mickey Guyton, and others.
"I will continue to do my best as a trailblazer," Twain said, emphasizing that she is committed to using her platform to amplify the voices of underrepresented artists. She called on fans and fellow industry professionals to join her in advocating for greater equity and diversity in country music, regardless of factors such as gender, age, or race.
Twain's message was reinforced by a powerful performance with the African American singing group The BoykinZ, whom she had recently met through Kelly Clarkson's talk show. The performance highlighted the importance of connecting with artists from diverse backgrounds and celebrating their contributions to the genre.
As Twain continues her "Queen of Me" tour, fans can expect an all-star lineup of country music's most innovative and trailblazing artists – a true reflection of the inclusive vision that Twain is fighting for.
. Like, I've always loved her songs but never really thought about how they might be perceived as "woman anthems" over time. It's like, I get it, the industry has traditionally been pretty male-dominated, but it's cool that Shania is using her platform to bring more underrepresented artists onto the scene 
. I'm excited to see what she has planned for her tour and if it'll actually make a difference in bringing more diverse voices to country music 
. Maybe we'll finally get to hear some fresh perspectives on the genre, you know?
Shania Twain is right, its not fair to overlook artists just because they dont fit the traditional mold. I mean, have you seen some of these artists performing live? They bring so much energy and passion to their music 
. And yeah, it would be awesome if we could celebrate all kinds of sounds, not just the usual country twang 
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. Its about time we give a shoutout to Lily Rose, Lindsay Ell, and Hailey Whitters - they deserve our love and support 
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. We need more inclusive country music that reflects the world we live in 
.
twain's been in the industry for decades, so why is she only now speaking up? and what exactly does she mean by "an all-inclusive country music"? is it just gonna be more of the same old stuff with some new faces thrown in?
. Seriously though, it's about time someone spoke up about this industry-wide problem. I mean, who knew "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" was just a anthem for women everywhere? It's crazy how Twain's own song is now seen as part of the issue 
. Anyways, I'm hyped to see more diverse acts on her tour – it's gonna be like a country music party with all the cool kids! 
And kudos to The BoykinZ for bringing that energy to the stage 
she's already startin' to make some changes with her tour, but we need more than that 
we need more labels and radios to play diverse artists all the time, not just when they're popular 
we need more festivals and events that showcase country music from all around the world 
I love how Shania Twain is using her platform to bring change to country music. It's about time, right? I mean, I grew up listening to her songs and they're still my faves to this day! But now she's like a superhero for country music diversity 
. Can't wait for her "Queen of Me" tour!
. i'm all for more acts like Lily Rose and Mickey Guyton being featured on tour 
. Twain's message is clear: industry standards gotta shift 
. let's hope she inspires a whole new wave of trailblazers in country music 
that she's not just talking about it, but putting her money where her mouth is with her tour lineup. The fact that she's including artists from diverse backgrounds like Lily Rose and Hailey Whitters is a huge step forward for the industry. We need more of this kind of inclusivity and representation in country music! 
Time to throw shade on those bro-country vibes and bring on the diversity 
, we can't keep perpetuating this narrow vision of country music 
, I'm so hyped to see the change we're gonna see 
! It's like, we can't keep ignoring the fact that art is supposed to reflect our world, right? I mean, have you seen the demographics of who's actually getting played on the radio? It's still super skewed towards white men. And Twain's all about recognizing and celebrating women and communities of color in country music – it's about time! 
The BoykinZ performance was pure fire 
, by the way. It's not just about Twain being a trailblazer, it's about creating space for more voices to be heard. And I think we need more fans and industry pros getting on board with this inclusive vision