Country music icon Shania Twain used her acceptance speech at the CMT Awards to champion a more inclusive industry, calling for equal play and diversity among artists. Her remarks, which came as she received the Equal Play Award, highlighted the importance of representation in country music.
Twain referenced one of her most iconic songs, "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!", saying it had become an empowering anthem for many communities around the world. However, she noted that its impact was not always intentional and rather a result of her own influence.
The legendary singer emphasized the need for an all-inclusive country music industry, stating, "We're family." She argued that the current state of affairs does a disservice to the genre's rich history and her own career, which was shaped by it from a young age.
In her speech, Twain also shone a spotlight on several emerging artists she is featuring on her "Queen of Me" tour. These acts include Lily Rose, Lindsay Ell, Hailey Whitters, Mickey Guyton, and others, showcasing the diversity of talent in country music.
Twain vowed to continue breaking down barriers as a trailblazer, advocating for equal play regardless of an artist's gender, age, or race. Her message was further reinforced by her performance with African American singing group The BoykinZ, who are rising stars in their own right.
As Twain concluded her remarks, she urged the industry to come together and celebrate its diversity, ensuring that all artists receive fair representation. With her powerful voice and commitment to change, Shania Twain is driving a new era of inclusivity in country music.
				
			Twain referenced one of her most iconic songs, "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!", saying it had become an empowering anthem for many communities around the world. However, she noted that its impact was not always intentional and rather a result of her own influence.
The legendary singer emphasized the need for an all-inclusive country music industry, stating, "We're family." She argued that the current state of affairs does a disservice to the genre's rich history and her own career, which was shaped by it from a young age.
In her speech, Twain also shone a spotlight on several emerging artists she is featuring on her "Queen of Me" tour. These acts include Lily Rose, Lindsay Ell, Hailey Whitters, Mickey Guyton, and others, showcasing the diversity of talent in country music.
Twain vowed to continue breaking down barriers as a trailblazer, advocating for equal play regardless of an artist's gender, age, or race. Her message was further reinforced by her performance with African American singing group The BoykinZ, who are rising stars in their own right.
As Twain concluded her remarks, she urged the industry to come together and celebrate its diversity, ensuring that all artists receive fair representation. With her powerful voice and commitment to change, Shania Twain is driving a new era of inclusivity in country music.
 it's about time we have more diverse voices in country music - it's been a pretty homogenized genre for too long
 it's about time we have more diverse voices in country music - it's been a pretty homogenized genre for too long  . i mean, Lily Rose and Lindsay Ell are killing the game right now, and it's amazing to see artists like Hailey Whitters and Mickey Guyton getting recognition
. i mean, Lily Rose and Lindsay Ell are killing the game right now, and it's amazing to see artists like Hailey Whitters and Mickey Guyton getting recognition  . Shania's "Queen of Me" tour is more than just a concert series - it's a movement towards equality and representation in country music
. Shania's "Queen of Me" tour is more than just a concert series - it's a movement towards equality and representation in country music  . we need more trailblazers like her who aren't afraid to speak up for what's right
. we need more trailblazers like her who aren't afraid to speak up for what's right  . let's keep supporting these emerging artists and celebrate the diversity that makes country music so special!
. let's keep supporting these emerging artists and celebrate the diversity that makes country music so special! 

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. It's amazing how one iconic song can have such a powerful impact on an entire community, and it's awesome that she's acknowledging the influence she has. The "Queen of Me" tour is going to be epic with all those talented artists featured - I'm so down for more representation!
 It's amazing how one iconic song can have such a powerful impact on an entire community, and it's awesome that she's acknowledging the influence she has. The "Queen of Me" tour is going to be epic with all those talented artists featured - I'm so down for more representation!  . It's awesome that she's using her platform to uplift emerging artists from different backgrounds, like Lily Rose and Mickey Guyton
. It's awesome that she's using her platform to uplift emerging artists from different backgrounds, like Lily Rose and Mickey Guyton  . I'm all about that #EqualPlay life - let's get the industry on board and make sure everyone has an equal chance to shine
. I'm all about that #EqualPlay life - let's get the industry on board and make sure everyone has an equal chance to shine  !
! ! It's about time we see more artists from different backgrounds getting the recognition they deserve. I mean, who wouldn't want to hear Lily Rose or Mickey Guyton kill it on stage alongside Shania Twain?
! It's about time we see more artists from different backgrounds getting the recognition they deserve. I mean, who wouldn't want to hear Lily Rose or Mickey Guyton kill it on stage alongside Shania Twain?  The fact that she's using her platform to advocate for equal play and fair representation is everything + more
 The fact that she's using her platform to advocate for equal play and fair representation is everything + more  . And can we talk about how awesome it was to see her perform with The BoykinZ? It's a beautiful thing to see artists from different walks of life coming together to celebrate their differences
. And can we talk about how awesome it was to see her perform with The BoykinZ? It's a beautiful thing to see artists from different walks of life coming together to celebrate their differences  .
. their unique voices and stories need to be told and celebrated too!
 their unique voices and stories need to be told and celebrated too!  and i love that she's using her platform to uplift emerging talent
 and i love that she's using her platform to uplift emerging talent  let's raise our hands for more inclusive country music
 let's raise our hands for more inclusive country music  . The fact that she's not just talking the talk but also walking the walk with her tour featuring artists from all walks of life is everything
. The fact that she's not just talking the talk but also walking the walk with her tour featuring artists from all walks of life is everything  !
! Let's be real, country music has been lacking representation for far too long, but Shania Twain is leading the charge
 Let's be real, country music has been lacking representation for far too long, but Shania Twain is leading the charge  . Her message of unity and equality is infectious, and I'm loving the vibe she's bringing to the table
. Her message of unity and equality is infectious, and I'm loving the vibe she's bringing to the table 



 
  anyway she's all about promoting equal play and representation in country music, which is totes necessary
 anyway she's all about promoting equal play and representation in country music, which is totes necessary  and its so cool that twain performed with the boykinz, those guys are talented
 and its so cool that twain performed with the boykinz, those guys are talented  , and it's about time! The fact that she's featuring diverse artists on her tour is a huge step forward
, and it's about time! The fact that she's featuring diverse artists on her tour is a huge step forward  . We need more representation behind the scenes too
. We need more representation behind the scenes too  , not just on stage. Can't wait to see what other trailblazing moves she makes in this new era of inclusivity
, not just on stage. Can't wait to see what other trailblazing moves she makes in this new era of inclusivity  . Have you seen how crammed they are with ads? It feels like they're more interested in peddling merchandise than celebrating actual talent
. Have you seen how crammed they are with ads? It feels like they're more interested in peddling merchandise than celebrating actual talent  . And don't even get me started on the website β it's still a nightmare to navigate
. And don't even get me started on the website β it's still a nightmare to navigate  .
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