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

Shania Twain Urges Country Music to 'Come Together' in a Bid for Inclusivity and Equality.

In her acceptance speech at the CMT Awards, Shania Twain called on the country music industry to become more inclusive, acknowledging the need for greater diversity and equal pay. The legendary singer expressed gratitude for being recognized with the Equal Play Award, which she felt was long overdue.

Twain recalled writing one of her most iconic songs, "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!", without realizing its impact on future generations. She noted that the phrase has become an empowering mantra for people around the world and brought her immense joy. The star's sentiment resonated as she emphasized the importance of embracing diversity in music.

Twain believes country music should be a genre where everyone feels welcome, stating "We're family." However, she argued that the current industry standards do not serve this vision well enough. Noting the rich history of country music, which nurtured her own career from childhood, Twain emphasized its need for inclusivity and representation.

At the CMT Awards, Twain was presented with the award by rapper Megan Thee Stallion, an artist she has long admired. Twain highlighted several diverse acts set to appear on her "Queen of Me" tour this year, including Lily Rose, Lindsay Ell, Hailey Whitters, Mickey Guyton, and others.

As a trailblazer in country music, Twain vowed to continue using her platform to advocate for artists who deserve equal pay and recognition regardless of their gender, age, or racial background. In an uplifting display of unity, she even performed acappella with the African American singing group, The BoykinZ, a highlight of the evening that underscored the power of collaboration in music.

With her inspiring words, Twain is leading the charge towards creating a more inclusive country music scene where everyone feels valued and celebrated.

omg i'm totes down for shania twain's message she's right though, country music can be super exclusive it feels like an old boys club sometimes & that needs to change i love how she's using her platform 2 advocate 4 equal pay & recognition 4 artists who get left behind, especially women of color those collaborations with other artists were so cool btw, let's see more of that in the future!

I'm so glad to see Shania Twain using her platform to promote inclusivity and equality in the country music industry . As a parent, it's heartbreaking to think that some young artists might feel like they don't fit into the traditional mold of what country music should be all about . But Shania's words are so inspiring - "We're family" is more than just a phrase, it's a way of life .

I love that she's highlighting diverse acts on her tour and using her award to bring attention to the importance of equal pay and recognition . It's about time we start celebrating all kinds of talent and creativity in country music, not just what fits into a certain mold .

Shania's speech reminded me of when my kids were little and they'd ask why there weren't more role models like them on TV or stage - it's not that hard to imagine what it would be like if all artists looked like their families . But Shania's message is one of love, acceptance, and unity - let's get behind her and support a more inclusive country music scene !

I gotta say, I'm kinda skeptical about this whole "country music coming together" vibe ... don't get me wrong, it's awesome to see Shania Twain using her platform to advocate for diversity and equality, but what's really gonna change? We've had female country artists like Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn breaking barriers decades ago... is this just a rehash of old ideas or something new?

And let's be real, when it comes to equal pay, it's not just about the artists themselves, but also the industry as a whole. It's easy for one person to make changes, but what about the systemic issues that need to be addressed? I'm all for unity and collaboration in music, but we need more than just a few high-profile performances to create real change

omg i'm loving shania twains acceptance speech at the cmt awards she's giving me LIFE with her message about inclusivity and equality in country music!!! i mean, it's about time someone of her caliber speaks up about this issue... and i love that she's using her platform to advocate for artists who deserve equal pay and recognition regardless of their background the fact that she performed with the boykinz is just the cherry on top

I'm loving this new wave of country artists speaking up about inclusivity ! Shania's speech was everything and more - it's so refreshing to see someone from the industry acknowledge the need for change and take action towards creating a more diverse and equitable space. The "We're family" vibe is real, and I'm all about that! It's amazing to see artists like Megan Thee Stallion being recognized for their own trailblazing work - it's time for the entire industry to catch up . Can't wait to see more diverse acts on Shania's tour and other future shows .

I am literally SOOOO done with the lack of diversity in country music!!! Like, seriously, it's been going on for ages! We're still seeing the same old faces up on that stage, year after year... And Shania Twain is like, "Hey, guys! Let's get inclusive and equal here!" I mean, come on, we need more voices, more perspectives, more EVERYTHING!!! It's not just about the artists themselves, it's about creating a space where everyone feels welcome and valued. We're family, Shania said... but how can that be when there are so many people who don't feel like they belong?! And what really got me was when she performed with The BoykinZ - that was pure magic! It showed us that we can come together, across genres and backgrounds, to create something truly special. So yeah... let's get this inclusivity party started!

omg i'm so inspired by shania twain rn she's literally breaking barriers with her acceptance speech at the cmt awards...i feel like "man! i feel like a woman!" is more than just an iconic song, it's a movement country music needs to get more diverse and inclusive, and shania twain is leading the way from what she said on stage, it sounds like there are gonna be some amazing artists on her tour this year too i'm all about equal pay and recognition for everyone in the industry, regardless of their background

I'm loving Shania Twain's speech at the CMT Awards! She totally hit the nail on the head about how country music needs to come together and celebrate our differences . As someone who's all about layout and structure, it's so inspiring to see her wanting to create a more inclusive space for artists of all backgrounds . I'm also loving that she's using her platform to advocate for equal pay and recognition - let's get those numbers moving! And can we talk about how epic the performance with The BoykinZ was? It was truly a highlight of the evening. Let's keep this momentum going and make country music a genre where everyone feels welcome and valued

I'm loving Shania Twain's vibe right now ! It's about time country music gets an inclusivity boost . I mean, we've been listening to the same ol' stereotypes for years, and it's high time someone shakes things up . The idea of "We're family" is so true - we should be welcoming everyone with open arms ! But let's be real, the industry still has a long way to go in terms of representation and equal pay . I'm so glad Shania's using her platform to bring attention to these issues and celebrate diverse acts on her tour . And that acappella performance with The BoykinZ was pure magic !

Ugh I'm literally SO emotional right now Shania's speech was honestly the highlight of my year already! I mean, can you believe she's still going on about equal pay and representation? It's about time someone at that level of fame is using their platform for good . And those diverse acts on her tour?! Give me LIFE I've been saying it for ages, country music needs a major overhaul but Twain's taking the lead .

I'm dead like what happened with "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!"? It was just this empowering anthem and she had no idea it'd become a cultural phenomenon . The phrase is literally everywhere now and we're still celebrating its release?! Shania's speech gave me all the feels , especially when she said "We're family" - that's like, the ultimate country music motto .

I love how Twain's using her platform to amplify marginalized artists. It's about time more women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ folks are getting the recognition they deserve . And can we talk about Megan Thee Stallion presenting that award?! Iconic . Shania's just getting started on this fight for inclusivity and I am HERE. FOR. IT

I'm all about this Shania's speech at the CMT Awards was so inspiring! She's right, we need to come together as an industry and make sure everyone feels welcome and represented. I mean, country music is supposed to be for everyone, not just a select few. It's about time we got more diversity in our charts and on stage. I love that she's using her platform to advocate for equal pay and recognition, especially for artists who are often overlooked or underappreciated. We need more Shania Twains in the industry!

I love how Shania's speech was all about spreading positivity and acceptance ! It's so cool that she's using her platform to bring people together and promote inclusivity in country music . I mean, we've gotta have more artists like Megan Thee Stallion, who are breaking barriers and pushing boundaries . And can we talk about how awesome it is that Shania's tour lineup features so many talented women from different backgrounds? It's like she's saying "Hey, everyone's welcome here!" . We should all be inspired by her message of love and acceptance .

It's so dope to see Shania Twain using her platform for good ! What I took away from her speech is that true power comes from embracing our differences and lifting each other up . Country music can be a super inclusive space, but we gotta work together to make it happen . It's all about creating a vibe where everyone feels welcome, whether you're from the country or the city . Twain's message of "We're family" is so true – we all got love to share . And hey, it's time for the industry standards to catch up with our values . Shania's "Queen of Me" tour is more than just a concert, it's a movement !

omg can u believe shania twain is still slaying she's like the ultimate role model for inclusivity in country music ! i'm so down with her "we're family" vibe , but honestly it's about time we got more diversity and equal pay in this industry . i love how she highlighted all those amazing artists on her tour lineup , like lily rose and mickey guyton who deserve so much more recognition . and that performance with the boykinz was pure magic !

I think its awesome that Shania Twain is using her platform to bring about change in the country music industry She's always been an icon, but now she's making sure that her legacy extends beyond just being a talented artist The fact that she's speaking out against inequality and advocating for more diverse representation is truly inspiring I'm loving the vibe of her "Queen of Me" tour lineup too! It's about time we see more artists from different backgrounds on the same stage, sharing their talents with the world

I'm so down for Shania Twain's message about inclusivity in country music! It's like, we've got this amazing genre that's all about storytelling and emotions, but it's still got a ways to go in terms of representation. I love how she's using her platform to promote diversity and equal pay – it's so needed right now! The fact that she's including artists from different backgrounds on her tour is a huge step forward. We need more voices like hers, you know? And can we talk about how awesome it was to see her perform with The BoykinZ? That was such a powerful moment of unity and celebration!

I'm so glad to see Shania Twain using her platform to promote inclusivity and equality in country music . It's about time! The industry has been lacking diversity for far too long, and it's amazing that Twain is finally speaking out. I love how she said we're "family" - that's exactly what country music should be: a community where everyone feels welcome and valued.

I'm also so inspired by the diverse lineup of artists set to appear on her tour . It's about time we saw more representation on stage and in the industry as a whole. Twain is leading the charge, and I have no doubt she'll make a real impact. Let's hope this sparks a movement towards greater inclusivity and equality in country music . The BoykinZ performance was everything - it was so beautiful to see everyone coming together through music .

OMG u r goin 2 love dis!!! Shania twain is finally speakin out about the industry standards bein all messed up!! i mean come on, inclusivity & equal pay r NOT optional in any field lol. she's right, country music has a rich history but it's high time we acknowledge & celebrate the diversity of artists across genres. I'm so hyped 2 see her tour lineup bein more diverse & inclusive, every artist deserves equal recognition no matter what!

man I'm so done with the country music scene being so white and old like come on Shania you're already giving them shade by saying we're family but not really serving that vibe I mean its about time someone spoke up but also can't help but feel like this is gonna be a whole lotta performative activism from Twain did she even get the CMT award for being a trailblazer or just for existing