Pictured above: Carter Faith
It is no secret that the country music scene is overwhelmingly dominated by men. The numbers don’t lie: according to a study done by Jada Watson in conjunction with WOMAN Nashville, men make up 80% of country radio airplay while women hold at 10% and mixed-gender groups the other 10%. That being said, this year’s CMA Fest lineup featured an incredible roster of women who are facing the industry head-on and building huge momentum.
Hosted by the Country Music Association, CMA Fest is the world’s longest-running country music festival. Held annually in Nashville, Tennessee, the event takes over the city with various shows, activations, meet & greets, and marketplaces. The 2026 festival was a smash hit and averaged over 100,000 fans each day. A majority of the day-time performances are free to the general public, making CMA Fest a valuable opportunity for up-and-coming artists to find new fans in those that are drawn in by larger acts.
Some standout ladies at this year’s fest include:
A runner-up on Blake Shelton’s team on “The Voice,” Emily Ann Roberts is quickly becoming a star. The self-proclaimed “yeehaw meemaw” has amassed over a million followers on Instagram and TikTok where she is curating a fanbase of followers who are not only sticking around for the music, but for the magnetic woman behind it. In glancing around her CMA Fest performance at the Dr. Pepper Amp Stage, it was clear that this was not a set to miss. Crowds packed into the area to hear hits like “Whole Lotta Little” and “He Set Her Off.” Roberts’ interacted with the crowd like a country-Disney princess, making little girls at the barricade squeal in delight as she waved to them from the stage. She is unapologetically feminine and has no qualms about sharing it. Roberts sums it up best with a lyric from “Pretty in Pink:” why be one of the guys when you’re one of the girls?
Willow Avalon poses a very similar question to her audience. A Georgia-born “southern belle raisin’ hell,” her blend of country, pop, and Americana has propelled her to sharing stages with the likes of Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, and Zach Bryan, all while maintaining her very distinct feminine voice. Avalon’s latest release and sophomore album, Pink Pocket Pistol, shows off this masterful blend with tracks like “Hypothetically Speaking (ft. Kaitlin Butts)” - a witty track of female vengeance and friendship. Her full-length set at the Dr. Pepper Amp Stage was an afternoon delight, and her brief set at Nissan Stadium was the cherry on top.
Carter Faith is one of today’s country music’s biggest sweethearts. Her performance at CMA Fest’s Riverfront Stage was highly anticipated, and with good reason! Her debut album Cherry Valley features a rich insight into heartbreak and young adulthood, and was nominated for the Academy of Country Music Award for Album of the Year. Faith is touring with the likes of Post Malone and Kasey Musgraves, bringing the country girl gang gospel to massive audiences.
Elizabeth Nichols shot to stardom only last year with the release of her debut single “I Got a New One” and the subsequent cover of the tune by Kelly Clarkson. Her honest lyrics have become a sort of anthem for the ladies of Gen Z and have gained her an enthusiastic fanbase across the US. Nichols’ performance at CMA Fest’s Good Molecules Reverb Stage was packed with fans admiring her whimsical stage presence and singing the day away to her wittiest jabs. Her first headline tour begins this fall.
For more information on CMA Fest, and to purchase tickets for next year’s festival, visit https://cmafest.com/
