As Country Music Evolves, Grammy Museum Spotlights Female Icons

The country music space is a tight-knit community, yet female songwriters and performers have long faced challenges in their rise to western stardom. Despite obstacles like the gender gap on country music radio, the likes of Sara Carter, Patsy Montana and Wanda Jackson paved the way for Dolly Parton, Rosanne Cash, Shania Twain and Taylor Swift.

Another success is Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter LeAnn Rimes, who is scheduled to make a special public appearance on May 31 in celebration of the Grammy Museum’s new exhibit, “The Power of Women in Country Music.” According to the Recording Academy, the exhibit has been traveling around the country since 2018. A localized, expanded version will open to the public on May 27 through Oct. 2 to offer a chronological account of country music icons, from the Carter Sisters during the 1920s to last year’s Grammy Awards.

Marissa R. Moss, author of “Her Country: How the Women of Country Music Became the Success They Were Never Supposed to Be,” will moderate the public program. And Rimes plans to share stories and sing a few of her popular hits as well as new songs from her upcoming studio album, god’s work, dropping on Sept. 16. As the show progresses, it is becoming apparent that more women in country music are joining together to break the glass ceiling and evolve the sounds of the genre.

“The museum’s creative team and I reached out to the passionate music author Marissa Moss to join the program with me so we can have a no holds barred conversation on the past, the present and the future of women in country music. Well, really for all kinds of music,” says Rimes. “Through this program, I really hope to emphasize the importance of women in country music and the massive impact they are having on the industry.”

Kelsey Goelz, Grammy Museum associate curator and curator of the exhibit, says that a growing number of women in the country music space are banding together. One example is Nashville-based Song Suffragettes, a group of female country singer-songwriters that stand against systemic gender disparity in the music industry and help new female talent find a stage.

Another changemaker is singer-songwriter Nicolle Galyon, who is featured in the exhibit and founded Songs and Daughters, an all-female music brand and imprint of the Nashville record label, Big Loud. Budding contemporary country artists Mickey Guyton, Rissi Palmer, Leah Turner and Carly Pearce will also be highlighted in the exhibit.

“I’m really excited to show how some of these artists crossed over into different genres, also expanding the country genre into Americana, bluegrass, folk and rock ‘n’ roll,” says Goelz. “I think we’re getting to see a lot more diversity in the genre. There are some amazing Black women in country music who are releasing albums and writing lyrics that are extremely fearless and providing a new perspective within the genre.”

Rimes explains that country music is a largely male-dominated space. While women do play a key role, she says that they are often discounted for the huge commercial successes that they have brought to labels and radio. Females are also “quietly dismissed,” the artist adds, for the creative pioneering that they brought, and continue to bring, into the industry.

Many female country music artists make brave moves, writing and singing about seemingly uncomfortable themes and topics, Rimes explains. But while this raw music exposes the heart and soul of country, revealing a broader, more honest view of humanity, she says that many label gatekeepers immediately try to conceal the rawness from the listener.

“Go and truly listen again to the music of these women in the exhibit and witness their bravery once more,” Rimes says. “Absolutely inspiring. The industry needs to keep listening to and nourishing more women artists, songwriters, producers and engineers to truly bring about the reformation the genre truly deserves.”

Rimes recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of her album Blue. Her music career and contributions, Goelz says, serve as both the inspiration behind the exhibit, and a blueprint for the future of country.