Why Are Country Music Festivals Still a Boys' Club?
Why Are Country Music Festivals Still a Boys' Club?
Female artists like Kacey Musgraves and Ella Langley are dominating country music, yet major festival lineups tell a different story. It's time for a change.
It's been a banner year for women in country music, hands down. We've seen Kacey Musgraves light up stages, Ella Langley break records, and Shania Twain make a triumphant return, collecting her well-deserved flowers. These artists, and many others, are not just making waves- they're creating a tsunami of talent that fans are absolutely devouring.
Yet, when we look at the upcoming festival lineups, a stark and frankly baffling paradox emerges. Some festivals, like Texas' Two Step Inn, are hitting the right notes. They're featuring a female headliner in Langley, alongside incredible artists such as Kaitlin Butts, Carter Faith, Jo Dee Messina, Pam Tillis, and Lorrie Morgan.
Chicago's Windy City Smokeout even has Megan Moroney as one of its headliners.
This shows it's absolutely possible to celebrate the diverse talent within the genre.
The All-Male Echo Chamber
But then we hit the big ones. Stagecoach, often seen as a genre leader, has an entirely male headliner slate: Riley Green, Zach Top, Garth Brooks, and Florida Georgia Line. Gulf Coast Jam is following suit with Bailey Zimmerman, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, and Zach Top.
It's an interchangeable run of dudes, and it's not just about gender, it also highlights a lack of diversity in other areas, with very few Black country artists on these bills, if any at all.
Now, to be fair, if you dig deeper into Stagecoach's poster, you'll find a well-curated list of artists like Brothers Osborne, Willie Nelson, Kelly Clarkson, Stephen Wilson Jr., Charley Crockett, and Shaboozey. They even throw in some curveballs from other genres. But for a festival that claims to be more than just radio airplay, its top-tier lineup feels like “a huge missed opportunity.”
Where Do We Go From Here?
Consider this: Stagecoach sits at a mere 17.6 percent women, with 0.0 percent nonbinary or trans artists.
Gulf Coast Jam hasn't even announced a woman yet, though they promise more artists soon.
This runs completely contrary to the trends showing that women are not only some of the most bankable artists in country music today but also driving best-selling festivals across the industry, just look at Olivia Rodrigo's Daisy Chain Fields.
Booking massive lineups is complex, no doubt. Radius clauses, artist relationships, sponsorships, and the outsized influence of country radio (which still plays far more men than women) all play a part. But these are challenges, not excuses, for ignoring the undeniable talent and commercial power of female country artists.
The fans are ready. The artists are ready. When will the festivals catch up?
