CMT Announces ‘Next Women Of Country’ Class Of 2024

Author Lauren Hoffman

January 24th 1:41 PM

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 23: (Back Row L-R) Colbie Caillat, HunterGirl, Karley Scott Collins, The Castellow's Ellie Balkcom, Twinnie, Kylie Frey, Mae Estes, Ella Langley, Tigerlily Gold's Kendra and Krista Slaubaugh, Kimberly Perry (Front Row L-R) The Castellow's Lily Balkcom and Powell Balkcom, Denitia, Emily Ann Roberts, CMT's Leslie Fram, Anne Wilson, Lauren Watkins, Madeline Merlo and Tanner Adell attend CMT Next Women of Country: Class of 2024 at City Winery Nashville on January 23, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danielle Del Valle/Getty Images)

It’s that time of year again, and CMT has revealed the 14 names in the “Next Women Of Country” Class of 2024.

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A ceremony was held on Tuesday (1/23) at City Winery Nashville hosted by Leslie Fram, CMT’s Senior Vice President of Music and Talent, alongside Kimberly Perry and Colbie Caillat. Together, they introduced the new class while celebrating 11 years of its “long-running effort to support, promote and develop female talent.”

The Class of 2024 includes Anne Wilson, Denita, Ella Langley, Emily Ann Roberts, HunterGirl, Karley Scott Collins, Kylie Frey, Lauren Watkins, Madeline Merlo, Mae Estes, Tanner Adell, The Castellows, Tigirlily Gold, and Twinnie.

“I’m overwhelmed with gratitude to be a part of this year’s #CMTNextWomen of Country. It’s truly an honor that I don’t take lightly. My love for Country music and the beautiful community of artists in it is immense. It’s a dream to be walking alongside these incredible female artists with the support of an organization I’ve loved since ever since I can remember. Thank you @CMT for including me,” Anne Wilson shared on

I'm overwhelmed with gratitude to be a part of this year's #CMTNextWomen of Country. It's truly an honor that I don't take lightly. My love for Country music and the beautiful community of artists in it is immense. It’s a dream to be walking alongside these incredible female… pic.twitter.com/oaeC6VAHlG

— Anne Wilson (@Annewilsonmusic) January 23, 2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Twitter.

“Such an honor to be a part of the @CMT Next Women of Country Class of 2024. This class is made up of some of my favorite women in country music right now, and I’m truly grateful to be among them. #CMTNextWomen,”

Such an honor to be a part of the @CMT Next Women of Country Class of 2024. 🤍 This class is made up of some of my favorite women in country music right now, and I'm truly grateful to be among them. #CMTNextWomen pic.twitter.com/iDC8jr8aNz

— Kylie Frey (@kyliefrenchfrey) January 23, 2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kylie Frey posted on Twitter.

What a dream!!! So honored to be part of the #CMTNextWomen Class of 2024 😭🙌🏼 It means so much to be included in this talented group of women ♥️ Thank you @cmt!!! pic.twitter.com/s3Ey8ZpyBI

— Emily Ann Roberts (@emilyann_music) January 23, 2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Emily Ann Roberts posted on Twitter, “What a dream!!! So honored to be part of the #CMTNextWomen Class of 2024 It means so much to be included in this talented group of women. Thank you @cmt!!!

“2024 just keeps getting better… So honored to be included in @cmt’s Next Women of Country Class of 2024 alongside so many badass women,” Ella Langley captioned a post on Instagram.

Lauren Watkins captioned her post to Instagram stating, “I am beyond honored to be part of #CMTNextWomen Class Of 2024! I feel so proud to be associated with such amazing girls in country music.. and I’m so glad to get to do this with y’all @cmt thank you, thank you, THANK YOU.”

To date, 125 female artists have been added to CMT‘s Next Women of Country program. Among the group are some leading ladies of country music today including Lainey Wilson, Kacey Musgraves, Ashley McBryde, and Kelsea Ballerini.

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Top Five Country Songs About Powerful Women

5 - "Like A Lady" - Lady A - 2021
It’s a perfect song for a lady making her own rules for going out in town. The song’s chorus includes the lyrics, “‘Cause I feel like a lady / Sippin’ on tequila with my Levi’s on / A lady / Singin’ to the music playin’ all night long / Yeah, I’m feeling right, I’m living my life, I do what I like / ‘Cause I feel like a lady, a lady.”
4 - "Girl" - Maren Morris - 2019
From the CMA’s Album of the Year (2019) of the same name. The song’s chorus includes the lyrics, “What you feel is natural / But I don’t wanna feel this anymore / Pick yourself up off the kitchen floor / What you waitin’ for? / Girl, won’t you stop your cryin’? / I know that you’re tryin’ / Everything’s gonna be okay / Baby girl, don’t you hang your head low / Don’t you lose your halo / Everyone’s gonna be okay / Baby girl.”
3 - "The Champion" - Carrie Underwood - 2018
What a powerful song. It was recorded to serve as an opening theme for NBC Sports’ Super Bowl LII television broadcast. It was also used for the 2018 Summer Olympics. Carrie recorded the song with Ludacris. The chorus includes the lyrics, “I am invincible, unbreakable / Unstoppable, unshakeable / They knock me down, I get up again / I am the champion, you’re gon’ know my name / You can’t hurt me now, I can’t feel the pain / I was made for this, yeah, I was born to win / I am the champion.”
2 - "I'm A Survivor" - Reba McEntire - 2001
Used as the theme song for Reba’s CW sitcom, Reba, this song sings of a woman overcoming odds to make it on her own. The chorus includes the lyrics, “The baby girl without a chance / A victim of circumstance / The one who ought a give up, but she’s just / Too hard-headed! / A single mom who works two jobs / Who loves her kids and never stops / With gentle hands and a heart of a fighter / I’m a survivor.”
1 - "Man! I Feel Like A Woman" - Shania Twain - 1997
“Let’s Go girls!” This is the ultimate anthem to empower women. The chorus includes the lyrics, “Oh, oh, oh, go totally crazy, forget I’m a lady / Men’s shirts, short skirts / Oh, oh, oh, really go wild, yeah, doin’ it in style / Oh, oh, oh, get in the action, feel the attraction / Color my hair, do what I dare / Oh, oh, oh, I wanna be free, yeah, to feel the way I feel / Man, I feel like a woman (hey!).”