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From left to right, Maddie Marlow and Tae Dye of Maddie & Tae; Carrie Underwood; and Hannah Mulholland, Naomi Cooke and Jennifer Wayne of Runaway June perform at the CMT 2018 Artists' Ceremony in Nashville. (Al Wagner / Invision / AP)
Emily Yahr
Reporter style covering pop culture and entertainment
Wednesday night, in Nashville, the show was quite unusual: a country music show where women artists far outnumbered men.
It was intentional, with CMT's annual artists of the year having decided to honor only women: Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, Kelsea Ballerini, Hillary Scott, Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman.
[Carrie Underwood’s new album isn’t political. But here’s why it still makes a statement.]
"This year, we are moving the special to reflect what is happening in our fans' culture and lives," said Leslie Fram, Senior Vice President of CMT last month. She was one of the most virulent voices about the gender imbalance that is the subject of much discussion in country music, where there is a serious lack of women on the radio, listed on lists of streaming and included in the list of festivals. "Dedicating one of the biggest parties of its kind to applaud the country's female artists not only strengthens our commitment, but we hope to spark a much needed change in the industry."
The 90-minute special was purely festive, with performances of Laureates collaborating with Gladys Knight, Tori Kelly, Brandi Carlile and Alison Krauss. But the artists did not hesitate to avoid frustrations. A pre-recorded segment featured singers calling country radio, known as the public launching pad.
Ashley Monroe, Angaleena Presley and Miranda Lambert, known as Pistol Annies, perform at the 2018 CMT Artists' Ceremony. (Rick Diamond / Getty Images for CMT)
"I do not know why they do not play women on country radio," Lambert said. "I think women do their job and that's really not a reflection for us. At the end of the day, the best song should win, no matter who sings it. "
"They say women do not want to hear women," Morris added, echoing a common explanation given by radio programmers who insist on the demographics of the listeners. "I will have to call BS about this because I grew up listening to women. That's why I'm here today.
"For a while," the country "was a trend," noted Ballerini, citing party songs centered on the men who took over the country radio. "We are not saying that this music is bad, we are just saying that you let people out."
This paved the way for acceptance speech by Fairchild and Schlapman, also known as half of the Little Big Town quartet.
"I can not say enough about CMT to honor women and celebrate women when it's really important right now. And I'm humble and I hope I can live up to that honor, "said Fairchild. Then she turned her attention to her phone and started reading.
"But I just want to say in case anyone would watch: this Danielle Bradbery, June Runaway, Kelleigh Bannen, Kassi Ashton, Ashley McBryde, Pope Cassadee, RaeLynn, Mickey Guyton, Lucie Silvas, Jillian Jacqueline, Heather Morgan, Abelly Anderson, Sellers, Tenille Townes, Rachel Wammack, Maddie & Tae, Carly Pearce, Ruthie Collins, Maggie Rose, Caitlyn Smith, Lindsay Ell, Jana Kramer, Clare Dunn, Lauren Alaina, Margo Price, The Femininity Group, Natalie Stovall Kree Harrison, Brooke Eden, Candi Carpenter, Lillie Mae, Emily Hackett, Little Feather, Kalie Shorr and Lacy Cavalier are here to support you and play on the radio if you wish.
The audience enthusiastically applauded the long list, which includes acts on large labels; independent artists; singers who had singles flop on the radio; and some who have recently had their first successes. Yet these 35 names only scratch the surface of Nashville's talented singer-songwriter. It's a shocking and disturbing contrast to hear this list and compare it, for example, to this week's Top 50 list of country radio, which contains only five women's songs.
In other words, in just 45 seconds, Fairchild has provided one of the most powerful moments of the year awards. Social media started to buzz and some of the named artists could not really believe what they had just heard.
Not to mention the show was crowned by an exceptional medley of Carrie Underwood, accompanied by Maddie & Tae and the trio Runaway June, the two acts with which she toured next year. It was another rare show at a national competition: six women appeared on the stage and sang songs performed by female stars: "Stand by Your Man", "9 to 5", "Rockin & # 39" with the rhythm of the rain, "Independence Day," "Wild One," "Why I have not heard of you," "Man! I feel like a woman "and Underwood's own" Pretty Cry ".
Underwood also showed frankness in her acceptance speech, while she was addressing her honored colleagues.
"Thank you, CMT, for that. We need more things like that, "said Underwood. "But I absolutely want to tell all the incredible and talented women who have been to the scene tonight: you are not here because you are women. You are here because you are good. "
Read more:
After a year of uncertainty, Maddie & Tae are back. And ready to talk about everything.
Carrie Underwood, Kelsea Ballerini and Maren Morris Speak Out: Do not Train Women Against Each Other
The evolution of Kelsea Ballerini is an intriguing lesson for country music
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