In an exciting revelation, CMT has officially introduced the 14 talented artists selected for the 2024 class of the CMT Next Women of Country (NWOC) franchise. This initiative, a vital component of CMT’s overarching Equal Play initiative, is dedicated to nurturing and spotlighting emerging female talent within the country music genre. The unveiling of the Class of 2024 took place at the exclusive City Winery Nashville event, attended by VIP industry leaders and media.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary last year, the CMT Next Women of Country program has solidified its position as a leading platform for discovering and promoting female artists in country music.
CMT Next Women of Country Class of 2024
- Anne Wilson
- Denitia
- Ella Langley
- Emily Ann Roberts
- HunterGirl
- Karley Scott Collins
- Kylie Frey
- Lauren Watkins
- Madeline Merlo
- Mae Estes
- Tanner Adell
- The Castellows
- Tigirlily Gold
- Twinnie
Notably, CMT has enlisted esteemed mentors for the 2024 class, including CMT’s Leslie Fram, co-host Kimberly Perry, and artist Colbie Caillat. This trio will guide and support the new class, continuing the tradition of mentorship within the NWOC franchise.
In a groundbreaking move, CMT’s NWOC has joined forces with the Song Suffragettes, a female singer-songwriter collective, for a year-long partnership. This collaboration, announced by Leslie Fram and industry influencer Todd Cassetty, aims to advance women in country music through joint educational initiatives with Change The Conversation and The Change Agent·cy. As a special celebration of this partnership, NWOC will host a showcase with Song Suffragettes at City Winery on February 27th.
CMT’s flagship series, CMT Hot 20 Countdown, hosted by Carissa Culiner and Rissi Palmer, will dedicate a three-hour special episode to introduce the Class of 2024. Scheduled to air on February 10th, the episode will feature exclusive interviews and performance clips from each inductee.
Leslie Fram, SVP, Music & Talent, CMT, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “It’s an honor and a privilege to welcome this latest group of artists to CMT’s Next Women of Country. For the past 10 years, this franchise has represented the best and brightest new talent in all of country music, and this year is no exception.”
She continued, “And in the spirit of providing greater opportunities and visibility for female voices in our format, we’re thrilled to join hands and partner with our friends at notable singer-songwriter collective, Song Suffragettes, to work together towards our collective goal: greater parity for underrepresented female voices in our format.”
Throughout the upcoming year, the 2024 CMT NWOC class will receive comprehensive cross-brand support across various CMT platforms, including CMT, CMT Music, PlutoTV’s ‘CMT Equal Play’ channel, CMT Hot 20 Countdown, CMT.com, and @CMT social channels. Additionally, the artists will benefit from cross-promotional opportunities with Paramount Media’s MTV Entertainment Group brands, live events, the Paramount Times Square NYC Billboard, and more.
As part of its commitment to social impact, CMT will collaborate with Nashville-based social impact firm, The Change Agent·cy, to provide the 2024 NWOC class with opportunities to support charitable causes and social issues. This year’s focus will be on voter registration and mental health.
Since the launch of its “Next Women of Country” campaign in 2013, CMT has been a steadfast advocate for promoting female talent in the male-dominated country music format. The initiative has grown significantly, showcasing emerging female artists across various CMT screens, digital series, and tours featuring superstar acts.
The Class of 2024 adds to the impressive roster of 125 female acts that have been part of the NWOC program, including successful alumni such as Ashley McBryde, Brandy Clark, Kacey Musgraves, and many more. For updates and additional information, visit CMT Next Women of Country and follow @CMT on social media using #CMTNextWomen.
