From Beyoncé's new country album to Shania headlining Glastonbury, country music is reaching new heights of popularity. Who are the women leading the charge, who are the icons who inspired them, and how many barriers are still left to be broken?
We speak to one of its biggest female stars, Carly Pearce, who went from working at Dollywood aged 16 to becoming a Grammy and three-time Country Music Association winner.
We explore the sexism still facing women in the industry as female singers remain dramatically underrepresented on US country radio, charts and awards. We also discuss the growth of the genre in the UK, why it's inspired countless films and TV shows, and its history and icons from Dolly Parton and Linda Martell to Patsy Cline.
We're joined by Marissa Moss, author of Her Country; Beverly Keel, co-founder of Change The Conversation; Alex Hannaby, Head of UK at Big Machine; Simeon Hammond Dallas, singer-songwriter; Helen Brown, arts journalist; Professor Francesca Royster, author of Black Country Music; Nicole Taylor, screenwriter; and Zoe Hodges, music journalist.
Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucy Wai Editor: Louise Corley
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Demi Moore, Sexual assault allegations at Harrods, Women in war
Respite care in NI, Pregnancy loss language, Sex workers and banking
Elizabeth Strout, Girls Will Be Girls, Women's safety, Labour women and donations
Weekend Women's Hour: Saoirse Ronan, Tracey Emin, Nikki Doucet on women’s football, Friends 30th anniversary
Dame Tracey Emin, Doreen Soulsby, Dame Maureen Lipman, Young Adult Fiction
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Saoirse Ronan, Nikki Doucet on women’s football, JoJo, Vaccinations
Kim Cattrall, Sex offender treatment, At-home cervical screening, Author Sarah Pearse
Sandi Toksvig, Breast cancer study, Carrie Hope Fletcher
Weekend Woman's Hour: Tracy-Ann Oberman, the SEND system, Sarah Owen MP
Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre, Adoption breakdown, Visual artist Bharti Kher, Fawzia Mirza
New chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee, Tracy Chevalier, France rape trial
Carol Vorderman, Film director Ellen Kuras, SEND provision for black and Asian minority ethnic families.
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Andrew Tate investigation, Prisoners early release scheme, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Paralympics wrap up
Weekend Woman's Hour: Breast implant rare cancer risk, Ellen Burstyn, Paralympian medallists
Rebecca Cheptegei's killing, Alison Lapper, Ellen Burstyn
Eluned Morgan, Female right-wing US campaigners, The history of understanding women's bodies
Breast implant rare cancer risk, Gemma Arterton, Nonna’s cookbook
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