Shania Twain Uses CMT Awards Stage to Push for Equal Play in Country Music
Country music icon Shania Twain is making a powerful statement about the need for greater diversity and equity in the genre she helped shape. The legendary singer-songwriter was honored with the Equal Play Award at Sunday's CMT Awards, and in her acceptance speech, she called on the industry to do better.
Twain's hit song "Man! I Feel Like a Woman" may have become an anthem for women's empowerment decades ago, but for Twain herself, it was always about more than just personal expression. Speaking candidly about how one phrase can have a lasting impact, Twain revealed that the words have taken on a life of their own, inspiring countless communities around the world and becoming a symbol of female power.
"This is what I love about music," Twain said. "It has the ability to bring us together, to make us feel less alone." And yet, despite this unifying force, country music – an industry with a rich history and tradition – has struggled to live up to its ideals.
"We're family," Twain declared, "but the current standard does a real disservice to that heritage. It's time for change."
Twain used her platform to highlight several emerging artists from underrepresented backgrounds who are breaking through in the industry. From country-pop sensation Lily Rose to trailblazing singer-songwriter Mickey Guyton, these talented musicians embody the diversity and inclusivity Twain is fighting for.
As she accepted her award, Twain also performed a poignant acoustic segment with African American singing group The BoykinZ, sisters who are rising stars in their own right. This moment of connection was made possible by Kelly Clarkson, who surprised them with a surprise meeting backstage – an encounter that sparked a sense of community and shared purpose.
Twain's commitment to equal play and diversity extends beyond her performances; she vows to continue using her influence as a "trailblazer" to amplify the voices of fellow artists. And in a moment of heartfelt defiance, she shouted out her vision: "Let's ensure all our fellow artists get equal play, regardless of gender, age or race."
For country music fans and industry insiders alike, Twain's message is a clarion call for change. Can this beloved genre live up to its potential as a force for inclusivity and empowerment? Only time will tell – but with Twain at the forefront, the fight for equal play and diversity has just gotten a whole lot louder.
Country music icon Shania Twain is making a powerful statement about the need for greater diversity and equity in the genre she helped shape. The legendary singer-songwriter was honored with the Equal Play Award at Sunday's CMT Awards, and in her acceptance speech, she called on the industry to do better.
Twain's hit song "Man! I Feel Like a Woman" may have become an anthem for women's empowerment decades ago, but for Twain herself, it was always about more than just personal expression. Speaking candidly about how one phrase can have a lasting impact, Twain revealed that the words have taken on a life of their own, inspiring countless communities around the world and becoming a symbol of female power.
"This is what I love about music," Twain said. "It has the ability to bring us together, to make us feel less alone." And yet, despite this unifying force, country music – an industry with a rich history and tradition – has struggled to live up to its ideals.
"We're family," Twain declared, "but the current standard does a real disservice to that heritage. It's time for change."
Twain used her platform to highlight several emerging artists from underrepresented backgrounds who are breaking through in the industry. From country-pop sensation Lily Rose to trailblazing singer-songwriter Mickey Guyton, these talented musicians embody the diversity and inclusivity Twain is fighting for.
As she accepted her award, Twain also performed a poignant acoustic segment with African American singing group The BoykinZ, sisters who are rising stars in their own right. This moment of connection was made possible by Kelly Clarkson, who surprised them with a surprise meeting backstage – an encounter that sparked a sense of community and shared purpose.
Twain's commitment to equal play and diversity extends beyond her performances; she vows to continue using her influence as a "trailblazer" to amplify the voices of fellow artists. And in a moment of heartfelt defiance, she shouted out her vision: "Let's ensure all our fellow artists get equal play, regardless of gender, age or race."
For country music fans and industry insiders alike, Twain's message is a clarion call for change. Can this beloved genre live up to its potential as a force for inclusivity and empowerment? Only time will tell – but with Twain at the forefront, the fight for equal play and diversity has just gotten a whole lot louder.
Shania Twain's message is so needed in country music right now 
I'm all about that inclusivity life, you feel? It's time for the industry to recognize that everyone deserves an equal shot at the spotlight 
Those emerging artists like Lily Rose and Mickey Guyton are killing it and they deserve all the love 
And can we talk about how powerful it is when people from different backgrounds come together on stage? The BoykinZ performance was everything 
Let's keep pushing for change and make country music a more vibrant and diverse space 
I'm so over these award shows that just rehash the same old tokenism 
. Like, Shania Twain is giving a great speech about equality and all, but where's the follow-through? We need to see some real action from the CMT and other industry players if they want to make a change 
. It's not like these awards are gonna magically fix everything just because one person says so 
. And can we talk about how this is happening on Shania Twain's watch? What about all the other artists who've been pushing for equality and diversity in country music? This feels like a Band-Aid solution to me 
. Still, I guess it's better than nothing 
.
twain's message is so powerful too, everyone should get equal play regardless of gender, age, or race - that's just fair 
I'm totally on board with Shania's message here... it's about time country music caught up to its own ideals 
. It's like they're stuck in a time warp or something 
. But Twain using her platform to shine light on emerging artists from underrepresented backgrounds? That's exactly what we need more of 
.
. But Twain's all about creating those connections & making things happen. And honestly, I think the country music scene is going to be just fine with her at the helm 
! I'm so proud of her for using her platform to speak out against inequality in country music. It's about time someone called out the industry for not living up to its own ideals 
. I'm definitely feeling inspired to use my own voice to advocate for change in the music industry now 
!
. I'm loving that she used her platform to highlight some amazing emerging artists from underrepresented backgrounds 
. And can you imagine if Kelly Clarkson showed up on stage with The BoykinZ? 
.
1st of all those emerging artists she highlighted r so talented and shouldve been getting the spotlight sooner not just because they r from underrepresented backgrounds, but also cuz their music deserves attention regardless 
meanwhile twain is over here shouting out for equal play and diversity, and im lowkey rooting for her 
cant wait 2 see what else twain does to push for change in country music 
she's literally speaking straight to my soul like did u see her shoutout to kelly clarkson lol thats such an amazing story btw i've been saying for ages that country music needs more diversity and twain is finally using her platform 4 change!!! 
. I've always been a fan of her music, but this is on a whole different level 
.
i'm literally so inspired by Shania right now!!! 
And I LOVE that she used her platform to shine a light on some amazing emerging artists who are breaking down barriers and pushing boundaries 