CMT has officially unveiled its Next Women of Country: Class of 2025, continuing the franchise’s decade-long mission to spotlight and support rising female talent in country music.
This year’s class includes seven powerhouse artists:
- Alexandra Kay
- Dasha
- Kaitlin Butts
- Kat Luna
- Lanie Gardner
- Meghan Patrick
- MŌRIAH
These artists got the surprise of a lifetime when none other than Lauren Alaina (a 2014 NWOC alum) broke the news to them in person at CMT Studios. Their reactions and conversations with Alaina will air on the CMT Hot 20 Countdown special on Saturday, March 8, and Sunday, March 9, at 9 AM ET/8 AM CT.
CMT is going all-in to celebrate the 2025 class, rolling out promotions across its platforms, including CMT Music, PlutoTV’s ‘CMT Equal Play’ channel, and a major Times Square billboard takeover in NYC. These rising stars will also receive career-boosting exposure on Apple Music, Spotify playlists, and cross-brand collaborations within the Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Network portfolio.
Since its launch in 2013, Next Women of Country has become a game-changing platform for female country artists in an industry where women often fight for equal airplay and recognition. With alumni like Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce, Lainey Wilson, Maren Morris, and Mickey Guyton, it’s clear that this program has an eye for future country superstars.
We’ve covered Next Women of Country extensively over the years, from past class announcements to the franchise’s milestone 10th anniversary in 2023.
As CMT continues to champion female artists, this year’s Next Women of Country class is set to make waves. Keep an eye on these names—chances are, they’ll be dominating country music in no time.