Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert and Lainey Wilson want their fellow female country artists to know: You can sit with us.
The trio is set to debut their new song, “Trailblazer,” at the Academy of Country Music Awards (ACMs) on Thursday night, as the ladies will pay homage to the trailblazing artists that came before them. McEntire, who is hosting the show for the 18th time, told Yahoo Entertainment she thinks it’s a great time to be a woman in country music.
“I do agree that it’s better than it’s ever been — and is growing,” the 16-time ACM winner said after rehearsals at the Star in Frisco, Texas, where the ACMs are being held Thursday night. “We were at the Variety luncheon the other day for powerful women of Nashville, and there was so much power and strength [in the room] but also love and adoration for each other.”
McEntire was at the event alongside singers Kelsea Ballerini, Sheryl Crow and Mickey Guyton.
“It’s a lift up, not a competition anymore,” McEntire continued. “Let’s all build [each other] up, be a unit, because when women get together we can move mountains.”
Like everything in Texas, the ACMs are going big for the show on its 60th anniversary. Although Lambert has only been part of two of the six decades of country music that will be celebrated onstage, she credits friendships with other female artists in the industry for being her support system through her career.
“What sticks with me the most is how country music is such a community and a family and how we welcome the new generations with open arms,” she explained to Yahoo. “It’s been really amazing to see, and so I’m trying to do that too because people do that with me.”
The girls really stick together
Lambert recognized collaborators and friends McEntire and Wilson as people she leans on.
“I feel like the girls really stick together,” she said, “and [there are] some really amazing girls coming out. I feel really happy that we’re all here to lift each other up and have each other’s backs.”
Wilson, who is nominated for seven ACMs tonight, agreed.
“I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have that support system — and just a support system in general,” she told Yahoo. “Everybody from the women in my family, to my friend group in Nashville, to other artists like Miranda and Reba. I mean, they’re the ones that I can call and vent to.”
Wilson continued, “They lift me up and encourage me. I try to just watch how they deal with things and listen and learn, and the wisdom that they’re willing to share with me, it’s pretty sweet.”
The 60th Academy of Country Music Awards stream live on May 8 at 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
