Shania Twain calls for equal pay and more diversity in country music

Country music icon Shania Twain used her platform at Sunday's CMT Awards to call for greater diversity and equal pay in the industry. While accepting the Equal Play Award, Twain expressed her commitment to creating a more inclusive country music scene.

Twain referenced one of her most iconic songs, 'Man I Feel Like a Woman,' which she wrote decades ago. She noted that she had no idea it would become an empowering anthem for many communities worldwide, but it's now been adopted by various groups as a symbol of power and unity.

The legendary singer emphasized the importance of all-inclusive country music, stating, "We're family." Twain believes that the industry standard currently in place does a disservice to this rich history, which has nurtured her own career from childhood.

During her speech, Twain highlighted some of the diverse artists she'll be featuring on her upcoming 'Queen of Me' tour. These include Lily Rose, Lindsay Ell, Hailey Whitters, Mickey Guyton, and others. By spotlighting these acts, Twain aims to promote a more representative country music scene.

Twain also expressed her intention to continue advocating for equal pay and recognition for fellow artists, regardless of their gender, age, or racial background. She stated that she will remain a trailblazer in this effort and encourages everyone to join her in promoting fairness and equity throughout the industry.

Twain even went so far as to perform acappella with an African American singing group, The BoykinZ, while presenting an award onstage. This performance marked a heartwarming moment of connection between Twain and the rising country stars.

omg I was totally blown away by Shania Twain's speech at the CMT Awards ! She's always been a queen in my book, but now I'm even more impressed with her dedication to creating a more inclusive country music scene . I love that she's using her platform to bring attention to artists who are often overlooked or underrepresented - it's so cool to see her shining the spotlight on talented folks like Lily Rose and Lindsay Ell . And let's be real, her 'Man I Feel Like a Woman' speech was EVERYTHING . We need more people in positions of power using their voices for good - Twain is definitely one to watch

I just saw this vid of that amazing cat playing the piano it's literally mesmerizing how their paws are moving in sync with the music I was thinking maybe we should have a cat cafe in our city where they can just chill and play instruments all day? Wouldn't that be something?

I'm totally on board with Shania's message about diversity in country music... but at the same time, I kinda think she should just stick to singing her hits instead of trying to fix everything... I mean, 'Man I Feel Like a Woman' is still an anthem, no matter what decade it was written. But hey, if it gets more people excited about country music, who cares? It's all just part of the industry's evolution... right?

omg I'm literally so inspired by Shania right now!! she's always been my fave for her powerful voice and songwriting skills but this is on another level - using her platform to speak out about diversity and equal pay in the music industry it's about time we have more inclusive country music scenes that celebrate everyone's stories and experiences I love how she mentioned her iconic song 'Man I Feel Like a Woman' and how it's become this powerful anthem for people all around the world - it just goes to show how music can bring us all together

I'm getting chills thinking about Shania Twain's speech at the CMT Awards . She totally killed it (pun intended) by calling out the industry for being so behind on diversity and equal pay. I mean, can you imagine if someone like her didn't speak up? It would've been a whole lot harder for artists of color or women to get recognition. But what's even more inspiring is that she's taking action – featuring diverse artists on her tour and using her platform to promote fairness and equity.

I love how she referenced 'Man I Feel Like a Woman' as an anthem for unity, it just goes to show how music can bring people together . And that performance with The BoykinZ was so beautiful – it's heartwarming to see icons like Shania Twain using their power to uplift and celebrate others.

It's about time the country music industry got a wake-up call and took steps towards being more inclusive, but it's also amazing to see someone who's been in the game for decades leading the charge .

OMG u guys I'm literally beyond inspired by Shania Twain's speech at the CMT Awards! She spoke so truthfully about how country music has become this super exclusive scene that needs to change. I mean, I remember listening to "Man I Feel Like a Woman" in high school and it was like this anthemic song that made me wanna scream but I had no idea it was becoming this symbol of power for so many communities worldwide

I love how Shania is using her platform to call out the industry standard and promote more diversity and equal pay. It's about time, tbh and I'm so down for the new tour lineups she's got planned with artists like Lily Rose and Hailey Whitters It feels like we're finally seeing a shift towards a more inclusive country music scene. And, can we talk about how amazing it was to see Shania perform acappella with The BoykinZ? that was such a beautiful moment

Shania's speech was SO overdue , but I'm glad she's finally speaking up for change . It's high time we get some more diverse faces on stage & in the industry , like those awesome artists she featured on her tour lineup ! Equal pay is a no-brainer, it's basic fairness . Here's to Shania being that leader we need, inspiring others to join the fight for inclusivity !

I'm loving Shania Twain's message of inclusivity at the CMT Awards ! She's really taking steps to break down those industry barriers that have held artists back for so long. I mean, it's about time we see more diverse faces on stage and in the recording studios. And she's not just talking the talk – she's putting her money where her mouth is with her upcoming tour lineup. Lily Rose, Lindsay Ell, Hailey Whitters... these are all talented artists who deserve to be seen and heard.

And let's be real, equal pay is still a major issue in this industry. It's time for a change, and Shania Twain is leading the charge . She's not just advocating for herself – she's encouraging everyone else to join her in promoting fairness and equity. And by performing with The BoykinZ, she showed that there's no reason why genres should be tied together like that. This is all about celebrating our differences and finding common ground.

I'm so down for a more inclusive country music scene . It's time we shed the old biases and welcome everyone to the party. And Shania Twain is just getting started .

man this is good news for once , but think about it, the fact that shania twain even has to be giving speeches like this means there's still work to be done in the industry... she's basically saying that country music is only representative of her own experiences, and that others are struggling to break through. and with all these diverse artists on her tour, they're probably getting paid way less than her anyway, it's just a shame that we need someone like shania twain to remind us of the importance of representation in country music...

I'm loving Shania's speech at the CMT Awards ! She's always been a powerful voice in the music industry, and now she's using her platform to bring about real change . I mean, who wouldn't want to see more diversity and equal pay in country music? It's about time we moved beyond that old boys' club mentality .

I'm also stoked to see some of these new artists getting the spotlight they deserve . Lily Rose, Lindsay Ell, Hailey Whitters, Mickey Guyton... the list goes on! It's gonna be awesome to see Shania and these talented folks performing together on her tour .

But, you know, I gotta say, it's about time we took action on this stuff . We can't just keep talking about equality and fairness without actually making some changes . Still, props to Shania for taking a stand and inspiring others to do the same . And that performance with The BoykinZ? Chills, man... it was beautiful .