Karen Fairchild Kimberly Schlapman Little Big Town Cowgirl Magazine
Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman.

The 2018 CMT Artists of the Year used their platform to celebrate the women of country music. There’s been lots of conflict due to women not being fairly represented on country radio, but it seems like the industry is working towards making a change that will positively impact dozens of hardworking female artists.

Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild graciously thanked CMT for shining a spotlight on female country singers, but recognized that there’s still work to do, “I can’t say enough about CMT for just honoring women and celebrating women when it’s really important right now. And I’m humbled and I hope I can live up to this honor. But I just want to say in case anyone’s watching: that Danielle Bradbery, Runaway June, Kelleigh Bannen, Kassi Ashton, Ashley McBryde, Cassadee Pope, RaeLynn, Mickey Guyton, Lucie Silvas, Jillian Jacqueline, Heather Morgan, Abby Anderson, Aubrie Sellers, Tenille Townes, Rachel Wammack, Maddie & Tae, Carly Pearce, Ruthie Collins, Maggie Rose, Caitlyn Smith, Lindsay Ell, Jana Kramer, Clare Dunn, Lauren Alaina, Margo Price, the Sisterhood Band, Natalie Stovall, Kree Harrison, Brooke Eden, Candi Carpenter, Lillie Mae, Emily Hackett, Little Feather, Kalie Shorr and Lacy Cavalier are there for you to support — and play on the radio if you want to.”

Carrie Underwood also had a powerful moment of her own as she celebrated the ladies who work so hard to break ground in country music, “Thank you, CMT, for doing this. We need more things like this. But I definitely want to say to all of the incredible, amazing talented women that have been on this stage tonight: You are not here because you are women. You are here because you are dang good.”

Earlier in the evening, Carrie performed a stellar medley with Runaway June and Maddie and Tae that was the definition of girl power. Watch below!

https://twitter.com/CMT/status/1052876950191136768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1052876950191136768&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Farts-entertainment%2F2018%2F10%2F18%2Fseconds-cmt-just-aired-one-most-powerful-award-show-moments-year%2F

Female country artists are constantly breaking ground! Learn more about the Pistol Annie’s upcoming album here.