The Highwomen

Amanda Shires came up with the idea for The Highwomen in 2018 after she looked at country radio playlists and saw how few women were being played. She called Brandi Carlile, who was riding high off her Grammy-winning album By the Way, I Forgive You, and they decided to form a supergroup that would mirror the star power of The Highwaymen, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson. Producer Dave Cobb suggested they recruit Maren Morris, then one of the biggest crossover stars in country, and Natalie Hemby, a celebrated Nashville songwriter who had penned hits for Miranda Lambert and others.

The four women wrote and recorded their debut album in early 2019 with Cobb producing. The album features songs that tackle themes of female empowerment, family, and resilience, including the lead single Redesigning Women and the Grammy-winning Crowded Table. It also includes a cover of Fleetwood Mac's The Chain as a hidden track and a spoken-word verse by British singer Yola on the title track.

The Highwomen have not toured extensively as a headliner, but they performed at major festivals like Austin City Limits in 2019 and Stagecoach in 2021. In 2020, they won CMA Vocal Group of the Year and ACM Group of the Year, along with two Grammy Awards. A second album, The Highwomen & Friends, was released in 2021, featuring collaborations with other artists. Each member continues to pursue solo work, but the group remains active as a collective. [edit]

In 2018, Amanda Shires was driving home from a show when she heard a statistic on the radio: only a tiny fraction of songs played on country radio were by women. She had just released her album To the Sunset and was thinking about how to make a bigger statement. She called Brandi Carlile, who had recently performed at the Grammy Awards with Elton John and was at a peak moment in her career. Carlile was immediately on board.

Dave Cobb, the producer who had worked with both Shires and Carlile, suggested they bring in Maren Morris, whose pop-country hit The Middle had made her a household name. Morris agreed, and the trio then asked Natalie Hemby, a songwriter whose credits include Pontoon and White Liar, to round out the group. The four met at Cobb's studio in Nashville and wrote the song Highwomen in one day, channeling the spirit of the outlaw supergroup that inspired their name. [edit]

The Highwomen's sound is rooted in classic country and folk-rock, with harmonies that recall the Eagles and the storytelling of Emmylou Harris. Their debut album blends acoustic guitars, fiddles, and pedal steel with modern production, creating a warm, organic feel. Lyrically, the songs address gender equality, family, and perseverance, often with a wry sense of humor. On The Highwomen & Friends, the group expanded into pop-infused country and collaboration, working with artists like Yola and Sheryl Crow. [edit]

The Highwomen sparked a broader conversation about women in country music. Their formation was a direct response to the genre's gender gap, and their success at awards shows and on the charts demonstrated that female-driven country could sell. The group's name itself is a political statement, reclaiming the outlaw legacy for women. Brandi Carlile's visibility as an openly gay artist also brought LGBTQ+ representation to mainstream country. The Highwomen have been credited with inspiring other female artists to collaborate and push for radio play. [edit]

The Highwomen do not have an official fandom name, lightstick, or fan color. Their fans, often referred to as Highwomen supporters, organize listening parties and share stories about how the group's music empowers them. The song Crowded Table has become an anthem for inclusivity, with fans posting photos of their own crowded tables on social media. [edit]

The group's name is a direct gender-swapped homage to The Highwaymen, the outlaw country supergroup. The song Highwomen features a spoken-word verse by British singer Yola, who was invited after Carlile heard her music. The debut album includes a hidden cover of Fleetwood Mac's The Chain. Amanda Shires originally wanted to call the group The Honky-Tonk Women, but the Rolling Stones connection led them to The Highwomen instead. [edit]