NWOC alum Lauren Alaina surprises new inductees for annual CMT Hot 20 Countdown special, airing Saturday, March 8th & Sunday, March 9th at 9AM ET/8AM CT
NASHVILLE – (March 7) – CMT today revealed the seven new artists named to its CMT Next Women of Country (NWOC) franchise, the brand’s celebrated effort to support and promote developing female talent.
The CMT Next Women of Country: Class of 2025 includes:
Alexandra Kay
Dasha
Kaitlin Butts
Kat Luna
Lanie Gardner
Meghan Patrick
MŌRIAH
The 2025 class was surprised by multi-Platinum singer-songwriter Lauren Alaina (NWOC class of 2014) at CMT Studios where she exclusively sat down with each of rising stars, surprising them with the exciting news and discussing the musical journeys that brought them to this moment. The interviews will air as part of the brand’s annual three-hour CMT Hot 20 Countdown special airing Saturday, March 8th and Sunday, March 9th at9AM ET/8AM CT. Ahead of the episode, CMT will air an entire rotation of star-packed female videos and support the new class reveal on the Paramount NYC Times Square Billboard, with promos running throughout the entire week.
Over the next year, the 2025 CMT NWOC class will receive cross-brand support for their music and videos on CMT, CMT Music, PlutoTV’s ‘CMT Equal Play’ channel, flagship series CMT Hot 20 Countdown, CMT Digital franchises. @CMT social channels, curated Apple Music and Spotify playlists, the Paramount NYC Times Square Billboard and other cross-promotional opportunities and events within the Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Network brand portfolio.
A staunch advocate for country music’s female artists, CMT launched its “Next Women of Country” campaign in 2013 as a substantial, meaningful effort to support and expose developing female talent, both signed and unsigned, in a male-dominated format. Since its inception, the franchise has expanded to include various digital series and nationwide tours anchored by superstar acts including Jennifer Nettles, Martina McBride, Sara Evans, Tanya Tucker and Maddie & Tae. The prestigious franchise recently marked its milestone 10th anniversary last year, solidifying its stature as one of the longest-running, leading female discovery platforms in country music.
The 2025 class marks a total of 132 female acts named as part of the program, including notable alumni of the franchise who have achieved both commercial and critical acclaim: Ashley McBryde, Brandy Clark, Brittney Spencer, Brooke Eden, Caitlyn Smith, Carly Pearce, Ella Langley, Gabby Barrett, Ingrid Andress, Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, Lauren Alaina, Lindsay Ell, Maren Morris, Megan Moroney, Mickey Guyton, Morgan Wade, Miko Marks, Reyna Roberts, Tanner AdX ell and Tiera Kennedy, to name a few.
For updates and more information, follow @CMT on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and TikTok and use #CMTNextWomen to join the conversation.
ABOUT CMT NEXT WOMEN OF COUNTRY: CLASS OF 2025:
ALEXANDRA KAY: With over 8.5 MILLION social media followers, Alexandra Kay, who starred in Netflix’s Westside, holds the rare and extraordinary ability to genuinely connect with audiences just by being her authentic true self via heartfelt melodies, her “refreshing brand of storytelling…custom-made for the country music genre” (People), and “angelic, yet soaring vocals” (American Songwriter). Cementing herself as a force to be reckoned with in the industry, the bright and tenacious rising star Billboard acclaimed “an adept, propitious singer-songwriter,” dropped her debut album “All I’ve Ever Known” in 2023. The project reached #1 on iTunes All Genre and Country charts globally and earned a spot in the Top 10 on Billboard’s Country Album, Emerging Artist and HeatSeeker charts, independently. Now, signed to BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville and named to Pandora’s “2025 Artist to Watch: Country” list, she wrapped a milestone 2024 with a headlining tour, opening slot on Jelly Roll’s Beautifully Broken Arena Tour and featured on the acclaimed Twisters movie soundtrack. Ready to take 2025 to the next level, the songstress is giving a glimpse into her sophomore album with the confidently spunky, contagiously catchy, up-tempo sing-along “Cupid’s A Cowgirl” and hits the road on her headlining “Cupid’s A Cowgirl” Tour in US & Canada before heading across the pond for her international headlining “All I’ve Ever Known” U.K. & Europe Tour that already sold out in Amsterdam, Glasgow, Birmingham, Belfast and Manchester.
DASHA: Since childhood, Dasha never doubted if she’d make it in music—only when. After spending years writing over one thousand songs—including her soon-to-be platinum single, “Austin (Boots Stop Workin’),” when finally arrived. What followed was nothing short of sensational. The singer landed coveted spots at country music meccas in 2024, Stagecoach, Austin City Limits, CMT Awards and CMA Fest. Her year didn’t stop there, though. She sold-out her first global headlining tour, Dashville USA, and performed on two of the biggest televised broadcasts of the year – Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve. The song went on to become one of the most-streamed country songs in 2024 and won the People’s Choice Country Awards for Female Song. “This past year I was blown away by how many little girls were riding the rails at my shows,” Dasha says. “No one connects with perfection. For me, navigating the highs and lows of this industry means accepting that I’m going to make mistakes. This journey isn’t always going to be smooth, and the bumps along the way make for a far more interesting ride.”Dasha just released the first single from her forthcoming sophomore country project, “Not At this Party” as she prepares to hit the road for the remainder of 2025 with Kane Brown, Thomas Rhett and Dylan Scott. “This is where I’m supposed to be. I love this community…and I think you can tell I’m really excited to be here.”
KAITLIN BUTTS: “Unafraid to test boundaries” (Rolling Stone), Kaitlin Butts fearless approach to country music is helping her reach new heights. In 2024, Butts released her acclaimed album Roadrunner!. She leaned into her lifelong love of musical theater and dreamed up a modern-day reimagining of the soundtrack to her all-time favorite musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, which ended up on numerous best-of year-end lists. “With the last album I wanted to write about the struggles I’d seen people go through or experienced myself, so a lot of the songs had a sadness or darkness to them,” Butts explains. “I feel like Roadrunner! is much closer to what I’m like onstage, where there’s real emotion and truth but also humor and a tendency to poke fun. It’s all those different versions of me at once.” Butts also hit the road hard in 2024, making her Lollapalooza debut, opening for Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne and Flatland Cavalry, and trekking across the U.S. on her first-ever coast-to-coast headline tour. In 2025, the Tulsa-born, Nashville-based Butts is gearing up for another banner year. Butts will join Lainey Wilson on her “Whirlwind” tour this Summer, and will also be featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s latest “American Currents” show. In the exhibit, Butts will join artists like Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton and others in the museum’s halls in Nashville. Butts has also joined the 2025 Opry Next Stage Class alongside Kashus Culpepper, Tigerlily, Tucker Wetmore, Dasha, Avery Anna and Chayce Beckham.
KAT LUNA: Latina country artist Kat Luna, formerly of duo Kat & Alex, is blazing her own path. Over the past year, Luna set out to find herself again, both personally and professionally. This period of growth led the Cuban American country songstress to pen some of her most compelling and honest music yet, kicking off a new chapter as a solo artist. As a child, Luna grew up the daughter of first-generation Cuban immigrants, with her “Cuban Cowboy” grandfather introducing her to artists ranging from Toby Keith to Celia Cruz. She began singing in school, eventually appearing on Univision’s La Banda and La Voz, a Telemundo program similar to The Voice. Luna later emerged in the national spotlight when she competed on American Idol, later signing a record deal as part of duo Kat & Alex. Since embarking on her journey as a solo artist this past year, Luna has given fans a preview of what her musical future holds. Luna recently shared her excitement to start anew by releasing track, “That Girl,” with Billboard remarking “track after track, Luna keeps steadily building her resume as a compelling country vocalist and emotionally transparent writer.” Luna now looks ahead to her next chapter as she continues to record new music with producer Nathan Chapman (Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Lady A). Luna is currently represented by Sony Music Nashville, Neon Coast (Management), UTA (Booking Agency) and Warner Chappell Nashville (Publishing). With her Cuban roots, powerful vocals, and love of country music storytelling, Luna is gearing up for an exciting 2025.
LANIE GARDNER: Lanie Gardner’s extraordinary journey is a testament to her unmatched talent and unwavering determination, from her roots in the Appalachian Mountains to international stages. A gifted storyteller and songwriter from an early age, Lanie crafted a distinctive blend of classic rock and country influences that quickly set her apart. Her career skyrocketed after her cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” went viral, approaching 60 million views. Now, Gardner holds her own with her debut album A Songwriter’s Diary, which was released in October 2024 via BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. The 10-track collection, written entirely by Gardner, invited listeners on a deeply personal journey through her roots and creative beginnings. Fast forward, she just released her fiery new track “Buzzkill,” marking a bold new chapter in her sound, after being featured on the soundtrack for the film Twisters, alongside Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert and more. Named an Amazon Music 2025 Artist To Watch and CMT Next Up Artist, Lanie’s rise has been marked by significant milestones, such as touring with Jelly Roll and ZZ Ward. The momentum continues into 2025 as she prepares to hit the road supporting Corey Kent on his Black Bandana Tour and make her debut at Stagecoach, alongside headliners Jelly Roll, Zach Bryan, and Luke Combs. Her soulful sound and captivating stage presence have earned her widespread acclaim and a dedicated fan base. As she continues her ascendancy, Lanie remains a genre-defying artist.
MEGHAN PATRICK: Ontario native, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Meghan Patrick is as real as they come. She playfully blends her tough-as-nails exterior with a casual, cool narrative—showing the world that women can be sexy, strong, intimate, and gritty. A back-to-back CCMA Female Artist of the Year with 19 CMAOntario Awards, Patrick has proven her staying power in country music. Her latest album, Golden Child, is her most personal work yet, peeling back the layers of her journey through therapy, self-reflection, and a deeper sense of authenticity. “I made this record exactly how I wanted to, I told exactly the story I wanted to tell, I told the truth and when you tell the truth, you have nothing to worry about.” This clean slate musically and emotionally has allowed her to release the most impactful songs of her career. With a background that includes fronting a 10-piece funk act, studying opera and jazz, and even touring as part of a bluegrass group, Patrick’s versatility and powerful storytelling set her apart as one of country music’s most compelling voices.
MŌRIAH: MŌRIAH’s Mexican heritage is evident in her work as an actress, producer (music and film), recording artist and songwriter. The Los Angeles native, who now calls Nashville home, delivered her first single on October 4, 2024. The buoyant “Hasta Mañana” was first released in English, and on November 1, MŌRIAH released a Spanish version in honor of the Dia De Los Muertos holiday. The song blends traditional Mariachi with classic country, and music lovers are taking notice. Billboard says MŌRIAH’s “country sound, mariachi flair and dulcet vocal […] is both extremely promising and proudly confident.” The Tennessean says her music is “among the first to blend a strong Latin and mariachi influence into country music,” and Music Row Magazine’s Robert Oermann raves, “It’s high time we had a Latina country star.” MŌRIAH has a passion for celebrating individuality, diversity, and culture, and works to tell uplifting stories that highlight and represent women of color. She often points to the words of her grandfather who said, “‘La música no tiene fronteras’ which means ‘music has no borders.’” MŌRIAH invites listeners into her culture which is marked by hospitality, humility and dancing, and she looks forward to releasing her debut LP later this year.
