Spotlighting Women Supporting Women In Country Music

By Kelly Fisher

March 2, 2026

Photo: Getty Images

Women in country music have had a powerful way of telling authentic stories in their music for decades.

Legends who blazed trails that helped inspire up-and-coming hitmakers have often empowered others throughout their own careers. That includes Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire. McEntire recalled a lesson from her father when she spoke with iHeartCountry at the inaugural Power of Women: Nashville event in May 2025. She was honored, alongside Kelsea BalleriniMickey Guyton and Sheryl Crow for her impact on the music industry and philanthropic efforts.

“‘You leave a place better than where you found it.’ And so, that’s what I want to do in my career,” McEntire said. “I want to learn from Dolly, and Loretta (Lynn), and Tammy (Wynette), and Anne MurrayBarbara MandrellBrenda Lee. I want to learn from them. They worked hard to get where they are. I worked hard to (get to) where I am. But I also want to help Kelsea and Brittney (Spencer) and all the other new girls coming up. They’re doing so good, and they’re strong women. That’s what it takes to be in this business – in any business – you gotta be a strong woman, put your foot down, know how to get what you want to get, and you have a goal in your career and you work hard to get there. ...I was proud to be a part of it. It was a strong room. You could feel the strength. And as I said in my acceptance speech, when women get together, they can move mountains. That’s true. I know because I had a very strong grandmother, mother, sisters, aunts, cousins, they’re very strong. When you get all of us together, we’re going to come up with something great.”

Others continued carrying the torch forward, including by supporting one another in music and forming long-lasting friendships. Shania Twain, Wynonna Judd, Trisha Yearwood, Miranda Lambert, Carly Pearce, Lainey Wilson, Ella Langley, Lauren Alaina and many others have left lasting impacts in the music industry Megan Moroney recently said on iHeartCountry House Party that “it’s just really cool to see so many women killing it,” and female artists are “giving the guys a run for their money.

In honor of International Women's Month (International Women's Day is Sunday, March 8), scroll below for a gallery spotlighting women supporting women in country music. 

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17th Academy Of Country Music Honors – Backstage
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 21: In this image released on September 18, 2024, (L-R) Emmylou Harris, Trisha Yearwood and Lauren Alaina attend the 17th Academy Of Country Music Honors at Ryman Auditorium on August 21, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images
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Country Music Hall Of Fame And Museum Debuts New Exhibition, The Judds: Dream Chasers
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 08: Naomi Judd (L) and Wynonna Judd (R) speak onstage for the new exhibition debut, The Judds: Dream Chasers, at The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on August 8, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images
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48th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards - Arrivals
LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 07: (L-R) Singers Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, and Faith Hill arrive at the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 7, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Photo: Getty Images
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CMT Crossroads: LeAnn Rimes & Friends
ARRINGTON, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 16: (L-R) Carly Pearce, Brandy Clark, LeAnn Rimes, Ashley McBryde and Mickey Guyton attend CMT Crossroads: LeAnn Rimes & Friends at Sycamore Farms on February 16, 2022 in Arrington, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images
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2025 Stagecoach Festival - Day 1
INDIO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 25: (L-R) Kendra Slaubaugh and Krista Slaubaugh of Tigirlily Gold pose onstage at the T-Mobile Mane Stage during the 2025 Stagecoach Festival on April 25, 2025 in Indio, California.
Photo: Getty Images
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2021 iHeartCountry Festival Presented By Capital One – Show
AUSTIN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 30: (L-R) Madison Marlow and Taylor Dye of Maddie & Tae performs onstage during the 2021 iHeartCountry Festival Presented By Capital One at The Frank Erwin Center on October 30, 2021 in Austin, Texas.
Photo: Getty Images
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2022 CMT Artists Of The Year - Show & Backstage
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 12: Carly Pearce and Lainey Wilson attend the 2022 CMT Artists of the Year at Schermerhorn Symphony Center on October 12, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images
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Lainey Wilson: Whirlwind World Tour - Nashville, TN
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 02: Lainey Wilson and Ella Langley perform on stage during "Lainey Wilson: Whirlwind World Tour" at Bridgestone Arena on October 02, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images
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CMA Fest 2022 - Day 2
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 10: (L-R) Carly Pearce and Wynonna Judd perform during day 2 of CMA Fest 2022 at Nissan Stadium on June 10, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images
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CMT The Judds Love Is Alive The Final Concert Featuring Wynonna - Show & Inside
MURFREESBORO, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 03: (L-R) Brandi Carlile, Kelsea Ballerini, Ashley McBryde, Martina McBride, Wynonna Judd, Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman, Karen Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook of Little Big Town perform onstage for The Judds Love Is Alive.
Photo: Getty Images
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9th Annual ACM Honors - Backstage And Audience
NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 01: Loretta Lynn and Miranda Lambert pose backstage during the 9th Annual ACM Honors at the Ryman Auditorium on September 1, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images
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65th GRAMMY Awards - Premiere Ceremony
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 05: Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde, winners of Best Country Duo/Group Performance award for "Never Wanted to Be That Girl" pose in the press room during the 65th GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony at Microsoft Theater.
Photo: Getty Images
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Save The Music & SongFarm.org's 4th Annual "Hometown to Hometown" Event
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 05: (L-R) Caylee Hammack, honoree Mickey Guyton and Brittney Spencer attend Save The Music & SongFarm.org's 4th annual "Hometown to Hometown" event at City Winery Nashville on June 05, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images
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2023 People's Choice Country Awards - Arrivals
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 28: Kelsea Ballerini and Carly Pearce attend the 2023 People's Choice Country Awards at The Grand Ole Opry on September 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images
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60th Academy of Country Music Awards - Show
FRISCO, TEXAS - (L-R) Lainey Wilson, Reba McEntire, and Miranda Lambert perform onstage during the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 08, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
Photo: Getty Images
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2023 CMT Music Awards – Executives
AUSTIN, TEXAS - (L-R) Carrie Underwood and Wynonna Judd attend the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023 in Austin, Texas.
Photo: Getty Images
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15th Annual Academy of Country Music Honors - Backstage
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - (L-R) Shania Twain, Tiera Kennedy, and Wynonna Judd attend the 15th Annual Academy of Country Music Honors at Ryman Auditorium on August 24, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images
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The 59th Annual CMA Awards - Show
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - Megan Moroney performs onstage during the 59th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 19, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images
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Variety Power Of Women: Nashville - Arrivals
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - Kelsea Ballerini and Sheryl Crow attend the Variety Power Of Women: Nashville on May 01, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images North America
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CMT Next Women of Country: Class of 2024 Event
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - Kimberly Perry and Colbie Caillat attend CMT Next Women of Country: Class of 2024 Event at City Winery Nashville on January 23, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images
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CMT Next Women of Country: Class of 2024 Event
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - Ellie Balkcom of The Castellows, Kendra Slaubaugh of Tigirlily Gold, Powell Balkcom of The Castellows, Krista Slaubaugh of Tigirlily Gold and Lily Balkcom of The Castellows attend CMT Next Women of Country: Class of 2024.
Photo: Getty Images
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CMT Next Women of Country: Celebrating the Songs of Loretta Lynn
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - Caylee Hammack, Leslie Fram, Brandon Young and Clare Bowen of Bowen Young, Wendy Moten, Tiera Kennedy and Brooke Eden pose at CMT Next Women of Country: Celebrating the Songs of Loretta Lynn at City Winery Nashville.
Photo: Getty Images
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Class Of 2023 Medallion Ceremony
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - (L-R) Tanya Tucker and Wynonna Judd attend the Class of 2023 Medallion Ceremony at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on October 22, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images
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Save The Music & SongFarm.org's 4th Annual "Hometown to Hometown" Event
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - Honoree Mickey Guyton, Julie Williams, honoree Trisha Yearwood, Caylee Hammack, Kelsea Ballerini, Brittney Spencer, honoree Leslie Fram attend Save The Music & SongFarm.org's 4th annual "Hometown to Hometown" event.
Photo: Getty Images
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Class Of 2023 Medallion Ceremony
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - (L-R) Tanya Tucker joins Brandi Carlile onstage during the Class of 2023 Medallion Ceremony at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on October 22, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images
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Kelsea Ballerini's "Presenting PATTERNS" Special Album Release Event
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - (L-R) Karen Fairchild, Jessie Jo Dillon, Kelsea Ballerini, Alysa Vanderheym and Hillary Lindsey attend Kelsea Ballerini's "Presenting PATTERNS" special album release event.
Photo: Getty Images
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CMA Fest 2023 - Day 1
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - Jo Dee Messina and Carly Pearce perform on stage during day one of CMA Fest 2023 at Nissan Stadium on June 08, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images
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2011 CMT Artists Of The Year
NASHVILLE, TN - Faith Hill presents Honoree Taylor Swift at the 2011 CMT Artists of the year celebration at the Bridgestone Arena on November 29, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images
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Launch of Golden West Boots Founded by Lainey Wilson
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - (L-R) RaeLynn, Lainey Wilson and Lauren Daigle attend the launch of Golden West Boots at Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottoms Up on June 04, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images
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CMT Next Women of Country: 10-Year Anniversary & Class of 2023 Reveal
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - Maddie Font and Tae Kerr of Maddie and Tae and Mickey Guyton (C) attend CMT Next Women of Country: 10-Year Anniversary & Class of 2023 Reveal at City Winery Nashville on January 17, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images
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58th Academy Of Country Music Awards - Show
FRISCO, TEXAS - Carly Pearce and Trisha Yearwood perform onstage during the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas.
Photo: Getty Images
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2015 Billboard Music Awards - Show
LAS VEGAS, NV - Recording artists Faith Hill (L) and Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town perform onstage during the 2015 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Photo: Getty Images
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Launch of Golden West Boots Founded by Lainey Wilson
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - (L-R) Guest, Ella Langley, Kimberly Schlapman and Daisy Pearl Schlapman attend the launch of Golden West Boots at Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottoms Up on June 04, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images
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The 56th Annual CMA Awards - Show
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - (L-R) Kelly Clarkson, Kelsea Ballerini and Carly Pearce perform onstage at The 56th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 09, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Photo: Getty Images
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The WBs "Reba" Show - With Guest Dolly Parton
LOS ANGELES - Singer Dolly Parton (L) and actress/singer Reba McEntire appear on the set of The WB's "Reba" at 20th Century Fox Studios on February 15, 2005 in Los Angeles, California.
Photo: Getty Images
Carly PearceKelsea BalleriniDolly PartonReba McEntireShania TwainWynonna JuddElla LangleyMiranda Lambert
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