Lainey Wilson Wins Entertainer of the Year at 2023 Country Music Association Awards, First Woman Since Taylor Swift in 2011

Despite facing an industry that often underrepresents women, Lainey Wilson triumphs at the 2023 CMA Awards amid signs of potential changes in the country music landscape.

Lainey Wilson was named as the Entertainer of the Year at the 2023 CMA Awards, becoming the first woman to win the accolade since Taylor Swift back in 2011.
Wilson, known for her single “Things a Man Oughta Know,” also scored the Album of the Year award affirming her presence in an industry that frequently underrepresents women.
The award show highlighted a shift towards inclusivity and diversity with artists like Jelly Roll and diverse collaborations taking center stage, aiming to challenge the assumptions of race and gender stereotypes within the country music scene.
Despite these strides, the night also brought attention to the persistent issue of underrepresentation - since the inception of the CMA Awards only 10 of the 57 acts named Entertainer of the Year are women or women-led, and only one Black artist has ever been nominated or won this award.
Artists expressed hope that the recognition of diverse talent is not just a fleeting phenomenon but marks a potential turning point for the country music landscape.