Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 36th annual MusicRow Awards, presented by City National Bank, we take a closer look at the Female Artist of the Year category. This category is voted on by MusicRow’s subscribers to honor outstanding achievements by a Nashville female artist during the eligibility period.
This year’s winners will be announced online on all MusicRow platforms on Tuesday, Aug. 27.
Click here to see the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.
Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribers. Voting is now open and closes on Aug. 9 at 5:00 p.m. To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, becoming a MusicRow subscriber here.
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Kelsea Ballerini continues to make history year after year. When the Knoxville native released her debut album, The First Time, she became the only female country artist to hit No. 1 with the first three consecutive singles from a debut album. Since, she has garnered seven No. 1 hits and five consecutive top 10 entries on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. She has also won two ACM Awards, was nominated for four Grammy Awards and she was honored at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, among many other accolades. Ballerini hosted the 2024 CMT Music Awards for the fourth year, where she led in nominations. She has been inducted as a Grand Ole Opry member, and was recently named a new face of Covergirl. After the release of her latest project, Rolling Up The Welcome Mat, she made her Saturday Night Live debut, was nominated for Best Country Album at the Grammys, and was on the cover of TIME Magazine’s TIME100 Next issue. She recently released “Cowboys Cry Too” with Noah Kahan and is gearing up for the unveiling of her next album.
Groundbreaking singer-songwriter Miranda Lambert has earned accolades as an artist, entertainer, entrepreneur, advocate and businesswoman. In addition to being the most-awarded artist in ACM history, the Texas native has won three Grammy awards, 14 CMA Awards and is a TIME100 honoree. Her discography includes seven No. 1 solo albums, 10 No. 1 radio singles and countless Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum certifications. She held her twice-extended Las Vegas residency “Velvet Rodeo,” and has collaborated with Leon Bridges, Enrique Iglesias, the B-52s, Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow and Elle King. Lambert is a New York Times best-selling author and the first female bar owner on lower Broadway. She recently launched her Wanda June Home collection, exclusive to Walmart, and her ldyllwind clothing and boot line available at Boot Barn. Her nonprofit, MuttNation Foundation, has raised over $10 million to date. She was featured on the Twisters soundtrack and is getting ready to release her next album.
After bursting onto the scene with her smash hit “Tennessee Orange,” Megan Moroney continues to showcase her true to-life storytelling, identifiable vocals and strong-minded yet fiercely-sensitive point of view. The double-Platinum tune became Moroney’s first No. 1 at country radio and notched her first CMT Music Award for Breakthrough Female Video of the Year. The Georgia native got her start singing covers with her dad and brother. The release of her powerhouse debut album, Lucky, led Moroney to massive commercial and critical success. With the lived-in intimacy and electrifying impact of her songwriting, the record also led to her ACM New Female Artist of the Year win, along with award nominations from CMA, iHeart, and Billboard. With over one billion streams to date, Moroney recently released her sophomore album, Am I Okay? The project features exceptional singles “No Caller ID,” “28th of June,” “Indifferent” and “Man on the Moon.”
Kacey Musgraves continues to put out impactful music with each album she releases. The Texas native unveiled her sixth studio album, Deeper Well, earlier this year, which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Top County Albums and Folk Albums charts, and No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. With focus tracks such as “Deeper Well,” “Too Good To Be True,” “Cardinal” and “The Architect,” Musgraves continued to show off her mastery of songwriting and artistry. She also returned to the Saturday Night Live stage following the album’s release. Musgraves appeared on a host of collaborations this year, including “She Calls Me Back” with Noah Kahan, “Overtime” with Rainbow Kitten Surprise and “I Remember Everything” with Zach Bryan. The latter single went on to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and was nominated for two Grammy Awards, winning Best Country Duo/Group Performance. Musgraves also spent some time executive producing the competition show My Kinda Country with Reese Witherspoon.
Since leaving her Kentucky hometown at 16, Carly Pearce has had no reason to look back. With a sound that is fiercely rooted in the classics, yet embraces the genre’s forward progression, Pearce has won a Grammy Award, four ACM Awards, two CMA Awards, a CMT Music Award and has been inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry and the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame. Pearce was first introduced with Platinum certified “Every Little Thing” and triple-Platinum duet “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” with Lee Brice. Her third studio album, 29, includes hits “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” with Ashley McBryde and “What He Didn’t Do.” The duet with McBryde became the third duet between two solo women to top Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart. Her recently-released Hummingbird album continues to show off her honest lyrics and timeless musicality. The project features her top five radio smash “We Don’t Fight Anymore” with Chris Stapleton, and her newest single, “Truck On Fire.”
Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Lainey Wilson has become a force in the music industry. As the reigning ACM and CMA Entertainer of the Year, her unique sound and spirit has led her to earn numerous accolades and develop a diehard fan base. Nearly 10 years after leaving her small town in Louisiana, she earned her first Platinum No. 1 hit with “Things A Man Oughta Know.” She’s built on that success, scoring six more No. 1 smashes and becoming the lead female artist with the most No. 1 hits this decade. Wilson has earned two Grammy nominations, nine ACM Awards, seven CMA Awards and became an official member of the Grand Ole Opry. Thus far, her music has taken her worldwide. Wilson also made her acting debut in season five of Paramount’s smash hit series Yellowstone. She is currently gearing up for the release of her next album, Whirlwind, containing previously-released tracks “Country’s Cool Again,” “4x4xU” and top-15-and-rising single “Hang Tight Honey.” Wilson is also in the middle of her “Country’s Cool Again Tour” across North America.
