Shania Twain's powerful speech at Sunday's CMT Awards calls for greater diversity and inclusion in the country music industry, a genre that has largely been dominated by white artists.
The legendary singer-songwriter used her acceptance of the Equal Play Award to urge industry leaders to promote more equity and representation. "We're family," she said, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity. However, Twain noted that the current standard in the industry is doing a disservice to those who are underrepresented.
Twain cited her own journey, from writing hits like "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" to becoming a trailblazer for women in country music. She said that one phrase has empowered countless communities worldwide and become a source of strength for many.
As she accepted the award, Twain also used the platform to highlight other talented artists she's showcasing on her upcoming "Queen of Me" tour, including Lily Rose, Lindsay Ell, Hailey Whitters, Mickey Guyton, and others. Her message is clear: it's time to give all artists equal play, regardless of their background.
Twain's commitment to promoting diversity in country music extends beyond the awards stage. She even connected with African American singing group The BoykinZ during her acceptance speech, highlighting a newfound friendship sparked by Kelly Clarkson's surprise introduction on her daytime talk show.
The legendary singer-songwriter used her acceptance of the Equal Play Award to urge industry leaders to promote more equity and representation. "We're family," she said, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity. However, Twain noted that the current standard in the industry is doing a disservice to those who are underrepresented.
Twain cited her own journey, from writing hits like "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" to becoming a trailblazer for women in country music. She said that one phrase has empowered countless communities worldwide and become a source of strength for many.
As she accepted the award, Twain also used the platform to highlight other talented artists she's showcasing on her upcoming "Queen of Me" tour, including Lily Rose, Lindsay Ell, Hailey Whitters, Mickey Guyton, and others. Her message is clear: it's time to give all artists equal play, regardless of their background.
Twain's commitment to promoting diversity in country music extends beyond the awards stage. She even connected with African American singing group The BoykinZ during her acceptance speech, highlighting a newfound friendship sparked by Kelly Clarkson's surprise introduction on her daytime talk show.
! Country music has been super dominated by white artists for far too long and it's time for a change. I mean, who says you can't be country and black or latino or asian? It's all about being true to yourself and your roots. I've seen so many talented artists like Mickey Guyton and Lindsay Ell killing it on the charts and they totally deserve more recognition. And Shania's tour lineup is fire 
! She's using her platform to uplift other artists and that's something we should all be rooting for 
. It's time for country music to get more diverse and inclusive, and I'm so glad Shania is leading the charge 
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. shania's own story is so inspiring - from writing hits to becoming a trailblazer, she's literally paved the way for others like lily rose, mickey guyton and hailey whitters who are killing the game right now 
. it's not just about equal play, it's about giving all artists a chance to shine and be seen 
. and yay for shania connecting with The BoykinZ that's so cool 
Shania is literally the ultimate queen! I'm so proud of her for speaking up and using her platform to fight for diversity in country music 
It's not just about equal play, it's about making sure everyone has a chance to shine. And Shania's been doing this for ages, paving the way for women like Lily Rose, Lindsay Ell, and Mickey Guyton to take center stage. 
I mean, come on, who doesn't love those talented artists?! 
And let's not forget her connection with The BoykinZ - it's a beautiful moment of friendship and unity. We need more moments like this in our industry. It's time for change, and Shania's leading the charge! 
anyway i've been to a few of her concerts and I'm def feeling that vibe of inclusivity and empowerment, even if it was just for a night 
And you know what's even cooler? The fact that Twain is taking this issue seriously and not just talking about it, she's putting her money where her mouth is. 
Its all about time for country music to step up their diversity game! 