The Highwomen on How They Changed Country Music: ‘Everyone’s a Little Gayer’
In their first full band interview in years, Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, Natalie Hemby, and Amanda Shires assess what they've done, what's still needed, and if they'll ever make another album
In their first full band interview in years, Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, Natalie Hemby, and Amanda Shires assess what they've done, what's still nee
Read Full Story at Rolling Stone →Why This Matters
The Highwomen’s reckoning with their legacy in country music arrives at a cultural inflection point where genre boundaries are collapsing and representation is no longer optional. Their collective voice—rooted in queer identity, feminist advocacy, and sonic reinvention—has redefined what it means to be a woman making mainstream country music, forcing the industry to confront its own contradictions between tradition and progress.
Background Context
Formed in 2016 as a direct response to the exclusionary policies of the Country Music Association’s all-male "Highwaymen" tribute, The Highwomen emerged as both a creative and ideological challenge to Nashville’s old guard. Their 2019 self-titled debut album didn’t just hit commercial marks—it weaponized storytelling, from Shires’ blue-collar realism to Morris’s genre-blurring experimentation, to expose the industry’s blind spots long before corporate DEI initiatives took center stage.
What Happens Next
The question of a second album looms larger than nostalgia—it’s a referendum on whether these artists will double down on their cultural disruptor role or retreat into the safer confines of genre that once tried to box them out. Meanwhile, rising queer and female country acts will scrutinize their next move: Will The Highwomen’s fragmentation embolden new collectives, or will their silence be misinterpreted as surrender?
Bigger Picture
The Highwomen’s arc reflects a broader reckoning in Americana and roots music, where identity-driven artistry isn’t just celebrated but demanded. Their influence can be traced in the surge of openly LGBTQ+ country performers and the erosion of the "traditional" label as a gatekeeping mechanism—suggesting that the genre’s future belongs to those who refuse to be confined by its past.
