LOOK: Song Suffragettes, Celebrates 10 Years Of Championing Women In Country With Star Studded Show
Nashville’s longest-running, all-female, singer-songwriter show, Song Suffragettes, celebrated 10 years last night at Belmont University’s The Fisher Center.
Photo Credit: Catherine Powell
Where would country music be if it wasn't for all the women? In 10 years, Song Suffragettes has showcased over 400 talented women out of over 4,000 who have submitted to play the show. With weekly sell-outs, Song Suffragettes vocally combats widespread discrimination against women in the music industry by giving female talent a place to play, grow and evolve with fellow creatives. Since its inception, 44 Song Suffragettes women have gone on to receive record deals (Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, Carly Pearce, GAYLE, Brittney Spencer, Megan Moroney) and over 60 have landed music publishing deals.
To celebrate this massive milestone, country fans from around the city flocked to this one of a kind performance! The evening kicked off with CMT and ACM Award winners Maddie & Tae who performed three number one hits – two of their own - “Girl In A Country Song” and “Die From A Broken Heart” - and one by The Judds - “Have Mercy”.
Photo Credit: Catherine Powell
After a welcome from the night’s co-hosts Kelleigh Bannen and Song Suffragettes’ Founder Todd Cassetty, a writers’ round followed with songwriting royalty Laura Veltz and Liz Rose who performed Dan + Shay’s “Speechless” and Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well” respectively along with a cover of “Strawberry Wine” in honor of singer-songwriter Matraca Berg who was unable to perform due to sickness.
After Bannen’s introspective interview with Wynonna, bluegrass and gospel legends The Isaacs – minus brother Ben – and the Belmont Bluegrass Ensemble – minus the male members – took the stage performing an all-women bluegrass version of The Judds’ “Why Not Me” to an impassioned response from the night’s audience.
Wynonna and her band then wowed the crowd with stripped-down performances that included “What It Takes,“ “Love Is Alive” and “Flying High.” Afterwards, Cassetty and Bannen welcomed all performers back to the stage and invited all attending Song Suffragettes alumnae to join Wynonna on stage for an emotional performance of The Judds’ classic “Love Can Build A Bridge”. With the audience on their feet, the touching finale filled with 42 female voices brought tears to the eyes of many both on-stage and off.
Song Suffragettes’ Founder Todd Cassetty presents Wynonna Judd with the 2024 Yellow Rose of Inspiration Award at Song Suffragettes’ 10th Anniversary Show Photo Credit: Catherine Powell
Says Cassetty of the evening, “I never dreamed that 10 years after starting Song Suffragettes in 3rd & Lindsley’s tiny Backstage room, we would be packing the house of a venue like The Fisher Center. It is beyond comprehension that 450 of the most talented women I have ever met have now played our show performing more than 8,041 original songs. Last night was show #536, and I genuinely look forward to the next 536.”
Cheers to the next ten years of celebrating women's voices in country music!
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