Variety will host the first-ever Power of Women: Nashville event on Thursday, May 1, coinciding with the accompanying issue releasing Tuesday, April 29. The event, presented by Lifetime, will celebrate the inaugural Power of Women: Nashville honorees, who will each appear on four separate covers of the issue, as well as the accomplished women profiled in the annual Women’s Impact Report: Nashville, which highlights the industry’s most philanthropic women who have made a significant impact through their work. In line with Variety‘s Power of Women celebrations in Los Angeles and New York, each honoree will highlight a charity of their choosing, to which Variety will make a donation as part of the event.
This year’s Power of Women honorees include multiple Grammy award-nominated and two-time CMA-winning artist and songwriter Kelsea Ballerini, who is the newest judge on NBC’s hit competition series, “The Voice.” Ballerini recently released her critically acclaimed studio album “Patterns,” and is celebrating the Feel Your Way Through Foundation, which raises money for nonprofits centered around mental health. Other honorees include Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Mickey Guyton, who released her most recent studio album, “House on Fire,” in 2024, and will highlight The Loveland Foundation which focuses on bringing opportunity and healing to communities of color, especially to Black women and nonbinary individuals; Grammy award-winning singer and Golden Globe-nominated actress Reba McEntire, whose NBC sitcom “Happy’s Place” was recently renewed for a second season; and CMA, ACM and Grammy award-winning artist Lainey Wilson, who released her fifth studio album “Whirlwind” in 2024, for the Heart Like A Truck Fund which supports a variety of causes focused on changing lives for the better and celebrating triumph.
The event will be hosted by nine-time Grammy award-winning musician Sheryl Crow, who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023.
Actress and activist Ashley Judd will attend the event to introduce the upcoming four-part documentary event “The Judd Family: Truth Be Told,” premiering on Lifetime May 10th and 11th. Profiling one of the greatest country music families of our time, the doc examines Naomi Judd’s complicated bond with her daughters, Wynonna and Ashley, that both tied them together and drove them apart.
“As the Power of Women franchise continues to expand, we are thrilled to celebrate the incredible women of Nashville who have been driving the entertainment industry forward for decades,” said Variety CEO and Group Publisher Michelle Sobrino-Stearns. “We are deeply grateful to our partners at Lifetime for their unwavering support in making this franchise a cornerstone of our industry.”
“The impact of these extraordinary honorees reminds us that true power lies in uplifting others and creating meaningful change,” said Elaine Frontain Bryant, EVP and Head of Programming, A&E, Lifetime & LMN. “This year, as we bring Variety’s Power of Women to Nashville for the first time, we celebrate not only their achievements but also the power of storytelling, community, and advocacy. Lifetime is proud to continue shining a light on these remarkable women with Variety.”
Lifetime is the Presenting Partner of the event. Exclusive, curated gift bags will be given to honorees and guests at the event with entertainment, beauty, health and fashion products, from companies including Rare Beauty, BÉIS, Tower 28, Mario Badescu, tarte cosmetics, Uncommon James, Supergoop!, Bombas, Grande Cosmetics, OSEA and more.
