george strait tour 2023 nashville

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George Strait Announces Six Stadium Concerts for 2023

George Strait concerts are going to be bigger than ever in 2023. The country music legend has just announced six stadium shows, set for May through Aug. 2023.

Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town will open for him during all six shows.

While Strait has been playing one-off stadium shows — including for 51,000 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis in November 2021 — this marks his first dedicated run of stadium shows. Right now, the six shows listed below are his only six shows listed for 2023.

Both Little Big Town and Stapleton opened the Minneapolis show, and in a press release, the Strait and Stapleton shared admiration for one another. When the 70-year-old announced his plans to retire from the road in 2012, he left open the possibility for something like this. At the time he made it clear that the touring life was not for him any longer, but he still very much liked performing.

The first stop is scheduled for May 6 in Glendale, Ariz. Strait will then play three shows in June, one in late July and another in early August. Tickets for all shows go on sale on Nov. 4 at 10AM local time.

George Strait's 2023 Stadium Tour Dates:

May 6 — Glendale, Ariz. @ State Farm Stadium June 3 — Milwaukee, Wisc. @ American Family Field June 17 — Seattle Wash. @ Lumen Field June 24 — Denver Colo. @ Empower Field at Mile High Stadium July 28 — Nashville, Tenn. @ Nissan Stadium July 29 — Nashville, Tenn. @ Nissan Stadium Aug. 5 — Tampa, Fla. @ Raymond James Stadium

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George Strait Announces 2023 Stadium Tour Dates

Fans of George Strait will have six major opportunities to see the King of Country live in 2023, alongside one of the country’s most respected and beloved musicians, Chris Stapleton , for one-off stadium dates in Phoenix, Seattle, Denver, Milwaukee, Nashville and Tampa. Joining 89x Platinum music icon Strait and eight-time GRAMMY-winner Stapleton for all dates are special guests, Little Big Town .

Tickets to all shows go on sale next Friday, Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. local time at GeorgeStrait.com . American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 10 a.m. local time through Thursday, Nov. 3 at 10 p.m. local time.

“When I walk through those curtains and see those smiling faces, my feet don’t touch the ground again ’til I walk back out and get on that bus that got me there. That’s from a song I wrote called ‘I’ll Always Remember You.’ It’s a true statement,” Strait shared exclusively with Billboard of the announcement. “When we talked about doing these six shows next year with Chris, it was a no brainer for me. I was all in.”

“I love doing these shows with George about as much as I like doing anything. There’s nothing to compare it to,” adds Stapleton. “So many of his songs are in the ethos of what country music is. Playing these shows together is a great experience all the way around.”

George Strait w/ Chris Stapleton & special guests Little Big Town 2023 Stadium Shows: May 6              Glendale, Ariz.  ||  State Farm Stadium June 3              Milwaukee, Wisc.  ||  American Family Field June 17            Seattle, Wash.  ||  Lumen Field June 24            Denver, Colo.  ||  Empower Field at Mile High Stadium July 29            Nashville, Tenn.  ||  Nissan Stadium Aug. 5             Tampa, Fla.  ||  Raymond James Stadium

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George Strait on Riding Into Stadiums Again in 2023: ‘It Just Felt Right’ (Exclusive)

Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town will join the legend on six shows starting next May.

By Melinda Newman

Melinda Newman

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George Strait

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In 2012, Strait announced that he wasn’t “retiring,” but that “the old road-warrior days are just going to be over” after more than 30 years of touring . In 2016, he began an affiliation with Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, which saw him playing several times a year at the venue (the Las Vegas dates will be on hiatus for 2023 except for Dec. 2-3). He has sprinkled his calendar with a handful of arena, festival and stadium dates each year, but next year marks his biggest stadium commitment in nearly a decade. 

Each year, Strait and Messina Group CEO Louis Messina, who has been promoting Strait’s concerts for around 30 years, and Messina Group senior vp Bridget Bauer talk about what’s next, Messina says. “There’s something about him and Chris together that’s magical. They love playing with each other,” Messina continues. “I said, ‘We should do something a little different than we’ve been doing.’ We’ve been doing one or two stadiums every year, but we said, ‘This is  all  we should do.’ Having him and Chris together and Little Big Town up there, it’s a pretty, pretty amazing show.”

Stadium tickets will be available through an American Express pre-sale Oct. 26 and start at $59. The general public on-sale begins Nov. 4. 

The ability to still sell out stadiums five decades into his career fills Strait, 70, with gratitude. “It’s amazing,” he says. “I’ve got the best fans in the world and I’m glad they still come out to hear us play. My whole career has been amazing as far as that goes. I’ve been blessed to be with a great record company, MCA, and although they don’t play me much anymore, country radio was really good to me for a lot of years and I really appreciate those years.”

And Strait has been great for country radio. With iconic songs like “Amarillo by Morning,” “The Chair,” “The Fireman” and “All My Ex’s Live in Texas,” his 61 top 10s on Billboard ’s Country Airplay chart are the most of any artist, as are his 100 total entries on the chart. On Hot Country Songs , his 44 No. 1s also set a record, as do his 86 top 10s. 

With so many smashes, Strait’s shows are usually wall-to-wall hits, and while he tries to change the set list up, “there are certain songs that I feel we have to do – I don’t want anything thrown at me!” he jokes. “I’m kidding, of course, but I just know when I go to see a certain artist it’s usually because of certain songs. If I don’t hear them, I’m disappointed.”

While many artists find it hard to build a connection with their fans in a huge stadium, Strait says he’s just the opposite, and incredibly, still gets butterflies before he hits the stage. “For me it’s very personal. I can feel every person out there. It’s a huge vibe. Huge,” he says. “I’m always very nervous days or even weeks before. The day of, I’m not very good to be around, I don’t think. It all goes away though as soon as I walk onstage.”

Strait has known Stapleton and Little Big Town for years. The lineup played a stadium show in Minneapolis in November 2021 (in a concert rescheduled from the pandemic) and in Kansas City this past July, but Strait says the dates were less of a test run for the 2023 stadium shows than they were simply playing with his friends: “They’re both super talented artists. I love working with both.”

During the Kansas City date, Stapleton’s wife, Morgane, asked the pair when they were going to do a duet together. “They go, ‘We’re going to figure something out,’” Messina says, though he adds, “George and Chris aren’t the most talkative people in the world when it comes to giving an answer. Though at least when you have Morgane pushing the envelope a little bit, that sure makes it easier instead of me asking. I know they love working with each other.”

Strait’s last release was 2019’s  Honky Tonk Time Machine,  which was his 27th album to debut at No. 1 on Billboard ’s Top Country Albums chart, the most of any artist. While he says he can’t promise that he’ll have new music by the time the first stadium date rolls around in May, “we could possibly have something new by then. It’s been a while for me and I’m definitely getting the itch.”

Though the first date isn’t until May, Strait is getting the itch to get back onstage as well, as he quotes his own lyrics from a 2011 song to describe his long love affair with his audience. “By the time showtime arrives every night, I’m usually tired of waiting and champing at the bit to go,” he says. “’When I walk through those curtains and see those smiling faces, my feet don’t touch the ground again till I walk back out and get on that bus that got me here’ — that’s from a song I wrote called ‘I’ll Always Remember You.’ It’s a true statement.”

Strait doesn’t rule out a similar run in 2024. “Whether or not we do it again the following year depends on how we all feel it went when we’re finished with these shows,” he says. “Chris and I haven’t talked about 2024 at this point.” Messina adds that a tour with shows 20 weekends in a row isn’t going to repeat, but a short outing could happen again. “It depends upon how he likes it or doesn’t like it,” he says. “The good thing about George Strait is we can do anything that he wants to do.”

George Strait 2023 tour dates:

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Friday 28 July 2023

George Strait , Chris Stapleton , and Little Big Town

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1 Titans Way 37219 Nashville, TN, US

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GEORGE STRAIT AND CHRIS STAPLETON EXTEND RUN OF STADIUM SHOWS, NEW DATES ADDED FOR 2024

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Setting venue attendance records across seven stadium shows this summer, country music icon George Strait and eight-time GRAMMY winner Chris Stapleton continue the excitement into 2024 with nine new dates. Also returning alongside the King of Country and Stapleton for the extended run of one-off stadium dates are special guests and GRAMMY Award-winning band Little Big Town . In addition to summer shows in Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Ames, Charlotte, East Rutherford, Salt Lake City, Detroit and Chicago, Strait will also supersize his longstanding Strait to Vegas show with a December date at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium to mark the 37th installment of the engagement. Tickets to most shows go on sale next Friday, Sept. 22 at 10 a.m. local time via GeorgeStrait.com , with tickets to the Jacksonville show on sale Friday, Oct. 20 at 10 a.m. local time. American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Friday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. local time through Thursday, Sept. 21 at 10 p.m. local time. Of the few opportunities to see Strait perform live, Pollstar opines, “Strait remains the most worthy inheritor of Merle Haggard or Willie Nelson’s mantle of country icon through the meaningful fluidity with which he moves through country’s various sub-strains with the same ease and enjoyment that marked both men’s Country Music Hall of Fame careers.” “I’ve always said we have the best fans in the world, and to see so many of them show up for these shows just makes us want to keep bringing them more,” shares Strait. “I’ve also missed performing in Las Vegas during NFR, so I’m happy to see that show come together in 2024. See you soon!” George Strait w/ Chris Stapleton & special guests Little Big Town 2024 Stadium Shows:

About George Strait George Strait is the unambiguous King of Country Music, having sold more than 105 million albums and counting while earning more than 60 major entertainment industry awards as well as countless nominations and becoming the only act in history to have a Top 10 hit every year for over three decades. With 33 different Platinum or multi-Platinum albums, he’s earned the third-most certifications of any artist in any genre, following only The Beatles and Elvis Presley, and with a total of 60, Strait has more No. 1 songs than any other artist in history (including Elvis). The Texas troubadour released 2019’s best-selling Country album, Honky Tonk Time Machine , on MCA Nashville, produced by Strait and Chuck Ainlay, the album quickly became Strait’s record-extending 27th No. 1 Billboard Country album. Comprised of 12 original titles plus Strait’s version of the Johnny Paycheck classic “Old Violin,” Honky Tonk Time Machine marks an incredible 30th career studio album from the Country Music Hall of Fame member, who earned his 100th entry on the Billboard Country Airplay chart with his single “The Weight of the Badge” from the project. Since his record-breaking Cowboy Rides Away Tour in 2014, Strait has performed for limited engagements, most notably at Las Vegas’s T-Mobile Arena for his long running “Strait to Vegas” series. In 2022, he also made his 31st appearance at the iconic Houston Rodeo on the event’s final night and headlined two nights at Fort Worth’s Dickies Arena. 2023 has seen Strait set concert attendance records at multiple venues as he has teamed up with Chris Stapleton for a series of one-off stadium shows in just six markets, with Little Big Town also appearing on each date. About Chris Stapleton Kentucky-born Chris Stapleton is an eight-time GRAMMY, 14-time CMA and 10-time ACM Award winner and one of the country’s most respected and beloved musicians who will release his highly anticipated new album, Higher , on November 10 (Mercury Nashville). Produced by Dave Cobb, Morgane Stapleton and Chris Stapleton and recorded at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A, the record consists of 14 tracks that showcase Stapleton’s supernatural voice and musical versatility with songs that defy easy categorization. Already receiving overwhelming notice, the album's lead single, “White Horse,” recently achieved the biggest add day of the last 12 months at country radio and marks the highest chart debut of Stapleton's career. Released to critical acclaim, Billboard praises, “‘White Horse’ finds Stapleton pairing an outlaw swagger with some heaven-scraping vocals, going for the gusto throughout the chorus to try and match the guitar snarl.”

The new music adds to another landmark year for Stapleton, who is nominated for three awards at this year’s 57th Annual CMA Awards: Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Musical Event of the Year. He was also named Entertainer of the Year at the 58th ACM Awards—resulting in a prestigious ACM Triple Crown Award—and Male Vocalist of the Year at the 2022 CMA Awards, his sixth time earning the award, setting the record for most wins ever in the category. Additionally, in February, he performed the National Anthem at Super Bowl LVII and has collaborated in recent years with Adele, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, Justin Timberlake, P!nk, Sheryl Crow, Santana and many more. About Little Big Town GRAMMY, ACM, CMA, AMA and Emmy Award-winning group, Little Big Town – consisting of members Karen Fairchild, Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman, and Jimi Westbrook – first entered the music scene over 20 years ago with hit songs “Boondocks,” “Bring It On Home,” “Good As Gone” and the GRAMMY-nominated “Little White Church.” The band’s breakthrough albums Tornado and Pain Killer produced multiple No. 1 singles, including “Pontoon,” “Tornado,” and “Day Drinking,” as well as the history-making, best-selling country single of the year (2015) “Girl Crush.” 2017’s The Breaker debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Charts to critical acclaim. The album features their GRAMMY-winning, multi-week No. 1 single, “Better Man,” as well as the 2019 GRAMMY-nominated, “When Someone Stops Loving You.” The band’s self-produced ninth studio album, Nightfall , was released January 2020 and hit the top of the Billboard Country Charts. The record included critically acclaimed and GRAMMY-nominated “The Daughters,” “Over Drinking” and “Wine, Beer, Whiskey” – the latter of which has reached almost 400 million global streams. In September 2022 they released their tenth studio album, Mr. Sun, which debuted as the Top Country Album released by a Group in 2022. Little Big Town has earned more than 45 award show nominations and has taken home nearly 20 awards, including multiple GRAMMY, AMA, People’s Choice, CMA and ACM Awards, in addition to an Emmy award.

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GEORGE STRAIT’S LONGTIME MANAGER, CHAMPION AND FRIEND, PASSES AWAY AT AGE 80

"GEORGE STRAIT: THE KING AT KYLE FIELD" SET FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024

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Every song George Strait played on his 2023 tour: Get the setlist:

GLENDALE, Ariz. – State Farm Stadium near Phoenix is the first of only seven stadiums the man they call the King of Country plans to play in 2023 with special guest Chris Stapleton , who joined him on three songs, including a cover of Townes Van Zandt's "Pancho and Lefty."

And George Strait rose to the occasion with a set that took us from his 1981 breakthrough hit "Unwound" to selections from his latest " Honky Tonk Time Machine. " Along the way, he dusted off a decent number of the songs he's taken to the top of Billboard's country singles chart — he had plenty to choose from, as he's topped the chart more times than any artist in the history of the genre — from "The Chair" to "All My Ex's Live in Texas" and "Check Yes or No."

Here's a look at every song he played at his tour launch.

Review: George Strait hinted at riding away and Chris Stapleton 'Outlawed' at Arizona concert

George Strait set list

"Deep in the Heart of Texas"

"I Got a Car"

"The Fireman"

"How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls"

"Here for a Good Time"

"I Can Still Make Cheyenne"

"Check Yes or No"

"Drinkin’ Man"

"Waymore’s Blues"

"The Weight of the Badge"

"Ocean Front Property" 

"Nobody in His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her"

"When the Credits Roll"

"Misery and Gin"

"Pancho and Lefty"

"You Don’t Know What You’re Missing"

"Love’s Gonna Make It Alright" 

"I Saw God"

"Every Little Honky Tonk Bar"

"The Chair"

"Give it Away"

"Amarillo By Morning"

"I’ll Always Remember You"

"Troubadour"

"All My Ex’s Live in Texas" 

"You Wreck Me"

"Take Me to Texas"

"The Cowboy Rides Away"

Nashville summer concerts: Our picks, from Beyoncé to Blink-182 and more

Summer concerts can't come soon enough.

From sweaty festivals to sunset-soaked amphitheaters and every venue in-between, the upcoming concert season may be the most red-hot — pun intended — in Nashville to-date.

Which concert gets your sought-after ticket money this summer? We pooled Tennessean staffers — you know, everyday music lovers in Music City — to find out which one-night club show, arena spectacle or all-week festival they believe should be among the city's most buzzed-about in the coming months.

Some look forward to tried-and-true touring ear-busters, while others diverge from the beaten path at bluegrass jams, hardcore shows and all-star jams. Let's dig into this year's picks.

July 15: Beyoncé at Nissan Stadium

The songs. The spectacle. The stagecraft ... it's all on display when Beyoncé comes to town. What more does anyone need to say? The "Renaissance" tour rolls into town in three months, and it can't get here soon enough. — Leimkuehler

July 16: Blink-182 at Bridgestone Arena

Reunited punk trio Blink-182 made an electric — and expectedly crass — return to the stage last week at Southern California's much-hyped Coachella, giving a taste of the forthcoming summer tour — the first featuring marquee members Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker and Tom DeLong in nearly a decade. Bonus: Hardcore favorite Turnstile opens the gig, the band's second Bridgestone Arena appearance in as many years. — Leimkuehler

July 22: Ed Sheeran at Nissan Stadium

Ed Sheeran —  an adopted Tennessee Titans fan who once briefly called Nashville "home"  — returns to Music City nearly five years after his first Nissan Stadium headlining gig in 2018. At the time,  the singer-songwriter toured solo  in front of his stadium-sized audiences — a move unlike other large-scale pop shows typically anchored by backup players and flashy visuals. Now, with plenty of new music in his back pocket, we can only wonder what Sheeran's got planned for his new run of shows. — Leimkuehler

July 27: The Chicks at Bridgestone Arena

Last year’s Bonnaroo festival had Tool as one of its headliners – but I’m not sure anyone rocked harder on the grounds than The Chicks. It’s not every day the country trio formerly known as the Dixie Chicks return to Nashville – a town that largely turned its backs on the group after making a stance against the Iraq War in 2003. I’d urge even casual fans to secure a seat at Bridgestone Arena, and be reminded of how undeniable hits like “Wide Open Spaces” – and to discover that these players and vocalists can still blow the roof off an arena. — Dave Paulson, music reporter emeritus

July 28-29: George Strait at Nissan Stadium

Nashville scores two nights this year with the semi-retired country hitmaker — and he's bringing a who's-who of artists to sing with him. Chris Stapleton plays main support on the gig, while Little Big Town opens the show. — Leimkuehler

Aug. 14: Lyle Lovett and His Large Band at Ryman Auditorium

Lyle Lovett appears regularly in Nashville, and I’ve seen at least six of his shows here. His songs are smart, his banter is funny, and the music is never more entertaining than when he appears with his full band. — Heather Fritz Aronin, planning editor and resident Lyle Lovett expert

Sept. 8: Smashing Pumpkins with Interpol at FirstBank Ampitheater

While I enjoy Smashing Pumpkins, I'm going to this show to see Interpol. I remember hearing them for the first time on VH1 in 2008 after moving to a new town and subsequently hearing them in several skate videos after. The tension, sadness and ferocity in Paul Bank's voice is unmatched and continues to remain in my rotation to this day. — Liam Kennedy, visual journalist and reformed sad boy

Sept. 10: Tennessee is For Lovers at The Caverns

Emo kids, unite. The Caverns in rural Grundy County hosts this summer "Tennessee is For Lovers," a traveling festival of fan-favorite Warped Tour-era bands. Curated by "Ohio Is For Lovers" outfit Hawthorne Heights, the Volunteer State stop on this rolling fest features post-hardcore band Underoath, semi-local punk group Bayside, New Jersey favorite Thursday and more. — Leimkuehler

Sept. 12-13: Arctic Monkeys at Ascend Amphitheater

Rock 'n' roll fans have waited a half-decade for British torchbearer Arctic Monkeys to return to Music City. When the band finally steps foot on stage in Nashville this September, it'll be in support of a new album, "The Car." Let's just hope they don't cut any corners on the hits, because a Monkeys gig doesn't seem complete without "505," "I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor" and "R U Mine." — Leimkuehler

More Tragedy: George Strait Drummer & Tour Manager Tom Foote Has Died

Trigger News Ace in the Hole Band , Erv Woolsey , Gene Elders , George Strait , Horton Foote , Mike Daily , Terry Hale , Tom Foote --> 5 Comments

This story has been updated. The tragedies continue to accrue for George Strait’s musical family and crew in 2024, with one of Strait’s long-running right-hand men passing away after losing two other important members of his entourage earlier in March. Tom Foote goes so far back with George Strait, it was Foote who helped hire George in 1975 to front the San Marcos, TX band called Stoney Ridge. Foote founded Stoney Ridge with bass player Terry Hale, steel guitarist Mike Daily, Ron Cabal on lead guitar, and singer Jay Dominguez at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, now known as Texas State. They played mostly honky tonk and Western Swing covers. But when singer Jay Dominguez left the band, a search went out for a new singer. An agricultural science student at Southwest Texas named George Strait answered a flyer, and became the new frontman. Foote briefly left the band after graduating college, but returned shortly after it reformed as the “Ace in the Hole Band” behind Strait, which still backs the country legend to this day. The Ace in the Hole Band’s first official gig was on October 13, 1975 at the Cheatham Street Warehouse, with Ted Stubblefield on drums. But Tom Foote quickly replaced him later that year. Along with playing drums, Foote was also the de facto manager of the band, booking many of the gigs, and handling the logistics. “We didn’t even know what success was in the music business or how to get it,” Foote once said of the group’s early years. “But the first time I heard George sing, I thought, ‘Well, this my chance to find out.’“ Tom Foote would remain Strait’s drummer until 1983 when he was replaced by Roger Montgomery. But Foote stayed on as Strait’s official road manger—a position he held all the way until his death on Monday, April 29th. Foote wasn’t feeling well at a rehearsal on Monday, and was later found dead. No cause of death has been given at this time. “I was never the greatest drummer in the world. I could play a good Texas shuffle and a good Bob Wills tune, but I’d always done the business and the booking,” Foote once said . “I always enjoyed the business end, so it’s worked out.” Tom Brooks Foote was raised in Houston, and graduated from Bellaire High School before moving to San Marcos for college. Foote came from a creative family. His uncle was playwright Horton Foote, famous for the 1962 screenplay for To Kill a Mockingbird , as well as for writing the 1982 award-winning country music film Tender Mercies starring Robert Duvall. Tom Foote’s death comes after George Strait’s business manager Erv Woolsey passed away, as did long time fiddle and mandolin player for the Ace in the Hole Band, Gene Elders, both on March 20th . Foote had recently traveled to Nashville to pay his respects to Woolsey. Steel guitar player Mike Hale, and bassist Terry Hale are the only remaining original members of the Ace in the Hole Band. George Strait released the following statement about the death of Tom Foote: “We lost another one of our good friends and a huge part of our musical journey yesterday. Tom Foote, our one-time drummer and long-time road manager for around 48 years, suddenly passed away at his home after our rehearsal. The band and I were with him most of the afternoon and he was great. Just doing what he loved to do which was making sure we were taken care of. 2024 is taking its toll on the Ace in the Hole group. We’re all heartbroken to say the least. Rest in peace brother Tom. You will be hugely missed. I’ll see you down the road amigo.”

Ace in the Hole Band , Erv Woolsey , Gene Elders , George Strait , Horton Foote , Mike Daily , Terry Hale , Tom Foote

Such sad news, my prayers out to his family and friend. Nice to know that he was related to Horton Foote, Tender Mercies is one of my favorite movies of all time.

May he Rest In Peace!

I got to know Tommy well and enjoyed booking many shows through him around Texas in his other role as a talent buyer in the regional music scene. Tommy was always a kind guy with a unique (and old school) demeanor who had hours of stories to tell. Just wish I had taken a little more time to hear more of them.

Rest in peace, my friend.

Prayers to the family. I’ll listen to his stories one day; i know where he lives now…🙏

Deepest sympathies to Tom Foote’s family, George Strait and the Ace in the Hole band family. May God comfort you as only He can during time of great trials. Keep the faith and remember, God will make a way for all things to work for His glory. May God bless you all.

Man, this is just beyond sad. I wouldn’t doubt if George calls it quits for good this time without the two most important people behind him. The two who got him to where he is today.

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Set List: George Strait’s 2024 Tour

Listen to the hits performed on the blockbuster tour.

27 Songs, 1 hour, 32 minutes

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20 country artists you need to watch in 2024

Posted: March 19, 2024 | Last updated: March 21, 2024

A new year has arrived, which means that it's time to start thinking about what you want your playlist to look like in 2024. If you're tired of listening to the same-old, same-old, consider country music's crop of exciting new artists.

Here are 20 country artists to keep your eye out for in 2024. Whether you're more of a traditionalist or love pop-country, these new talents offer something for everyone. 

Priscilla Block

She's already gone viral on TikTok and sold a ton of records, but for whatever reason, Priscilla Block isn't a household name just yet. That could all change in 2024, as she gears up for a really big year. She's headed out on a major North American tour in support of her song "Hey Jack," and fans are definitely going to fall in love with her hard-partying live show. 

You may also like: 20 movie remakes that are better than the original

Wyatt Flores

Born in Oklahoma and heavily influenced by the state's distinct musical identity, Wyatt Flores brings a raw authenticity to his songs. In 2023 he released his debut album "Life Lessons," as strong a debut as we've seen from anyone in the genre in recent years. 

Follow us on MSN to see more of our exclusive entertainment content.

Tanner Adell

Fusing country and hip-hop influence with a lot of rhinestones, Tanner Adell's own lyrics sum up her vibe pretty succinctly: she's "like Beyonce with a lasso." Her song "Buckle Bunny" went viral on TikTok in 2023, and she's quickly proven that she can turn out a catchy tune that anyone who loves to switch the playlist between country and rap will love. 

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Austin Snell

A Georgia native who's a relative newcomer to Nashville, Austin Snell is already catching the eyes of pop-country fans. If you're into artists like Sam Hunt, and like a little rock guitar with your country, stream Snell's 2023 single "Pray All The Way Home." 

Charles Wesley Godwin

Born in West Virginia and raised on artists like John Prine and Willie Nelson, Charles Wesley Godwin brings strong songwriting chops and a big dash of Appalachian authenticity to the country music scene. He's toured with Zach Bryan and opened for Jason Isbell, and released his third full-length album, "Family Ties," in 2023. 

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Though many artists go to Nashville in search of country stardom, Gabe Lee was actually raised there. The self-described "Hometown Kid" quickly became one of the city's most promising artists thanks to his introspective songwriting and compelling live performances. Songs like "Even Jesus Got the Blues" and "Eveline" fit in nicely on any playlist alongside Jason Isbell and Zach Bryan. 

Dylan Gossett

Raw vocals and earnest lyrics are largely why Texan Dylan Gossett has earned a massive following in just a few short years. Listen to his breakout song "Coal," which has already been streamed more than 84 million times on Spotify alone, for proof. 

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Emily Ann Roberts

Shepherded by Blake Shelton on "The Voice," Emily Ann Roberts doubles down on country twang in an era when pop reigns supreme. She released her first full-length album, "Can't Hide Country" in 2023, which featured a collaboration with icons Vince Gill and Ricky Skaggs. 

Chayce Beckham

The winner of the nineteenth season of "American Idol," Chayce Beckham has already scored a Platinum hit with 2021's "23," but he's not stopping there. In 2023, Beckham returned with a great new single, "Til The Day I Die," and he's headed out on tour with Luke Bryan in 2024. 

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The War and Treaty

Husband-and-wife duo The War and Treaty bring soaring harmonies to the country music scene, and everyone's taking notice. The duo's "Hey Driver," which appears on Zach Bryan's smash-hit 2023 album, was a massive success. The duo is also up for Best New Artist at the 66th annual Grammy Awards. 

The Red Clay Strays

The name Red Clay Strays takes inspiration from the red dirt in the band's hometown of Mobile, Alabama. The twangy five-piece infuses a whole lot of soul into decidedly country tunes like "Wondering Why" and "Good Godly Woman," in keeping with the state's legendary musical history. 

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Luke Grimes

Luke Grimes is no stranger to stardom thanks to his role as Kayce Dutton on the wildly popular show "Yellowstone," but 2024 is also going to be a huge year for him musically. On March 8, Grimes will release his self-titled debut album, led by the single "God and a Girl." 

The Castellows

Sibling trio The Castellows hails from Georgia, where they perfected their angelic harmonies. They've only been in Nashville a very short time, but thanks to their popularity on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, have already earned a fan base. In 2024, they were named to CMT's newest Next Women of Country class. 

You may also like: The essential '80s country playlist

Dylan Marlowe

Fans of Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs will find a lot to like in Dylan Marlowe, a Georgia native who got his start posting videos of cover songs to social media. He's got new music on the way in 2024, including his latest single "You Did It Too." 

Karley Scott Collins

After trying her hand at acting, Karley Scott Collins moved to Nashville in 2019 after she scored a publishing deal. In the years following, she's been writing and honing her sound, and the results are impressive. Listen to "Marlboro Reds" or "Heavy Metal" for an idea of her rock-inflected vibe. 

You may also like: King of Country: The essential George Strait playlist

Peytan Porter

A Nashville newcomer who's earned wide popularity online, Peytan Porter is headed for big things in 2024. Her sound is in the vein of artists like Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde, and Lainey Wilson. Her latest single "Lemonade" came out in early 2024, and she's got more new music on the way this year. 

Texas-born, New York-based artist Denitia is, on some level, redefining what the term "country" even means. Her songs blend R&B, soul, folk, and roots into an eminently listenable package, earning her a nod as one of CMT's new Next Women of Country. 

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Bryce Leatherwood

You might recognize Bryce Leatherwood from his time on "The Voice" as a member of Team Blake, but now he's out on his own and pursuing a country career in his own right. But fans of Blake Shelton should still take notice — his new song "Neon Does" has a total '90s country vibe. 

Ashley Anne

At just 19 years old, singer-songwriter Ashley Anne writes heartfelt, emotion-drenched lyrics that are wise beyond her years. Just listen to "Dear Dolly," a tune addressed to the legend Dolly Parton herself, as proof. 

You may also like: Beloved movies from the 1970s that still hold up today

Ella Langley

Born in Alabama and now based in Nashville, Ella Langley has already earned the attention of artists like Cody Johnson and Jon Pardi, both of whom she's toured with. Though she hasn't announced details just yet, Langley has plans to release her debut full-length album in 2024, and it's definitely one you should look out for. 

Did you enjoy this slideshow? Follow us on MSN to see more of our exclusive entertainment content.

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• Strait, George
• July 29, 2023 Setlist

George Strait Setlist at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN, USA

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• Stars on the Water ( Rodney Crowell  cover) Play Video
• I Got a Car Play Video
• The Fireman Play Video
• How 'Bout Them Cowgirls Play Video
• Run Play Video
• I Can Still Make Cheyenne Play Video
• Check Yes or No Play Video
• Waymore's Blues ( Waylon Jennings  cover) Play Video
• The Weight of the Badge Play Video
• Ocean Front Property Play Video
• She'll Leave You With a Smile Play Video
• Pancho & Lefty ( Townes van Zandt  cover) (with Chris Stapleton ) Play Video
• You Don’t Know What You’re Missing (with Chris Stapleton ) Play Video
• Amarillo by Morning ( Terry Stafford  cover) Play Video

Note: Show was cut short due to an intense thunderstorm.

Edits and Comments

8 activities (last edit by event_monkey , 22 Mar 2024, 01:43 Etc/UTC )

Songs on Albums

• Amarillo by Morning by Terry Stafford
• Pancho & Lefty by Townes van Zandt
• Stars on the Water by Rodney Crowell
• Waymore's Blues by Waylon Jennings
• I Got a Car
• You Don’t Know What You’re Missing
• She'll Leave You With a Smile
• I Can Still Make Cheyenne
• The Fireman
• The Weight of the Badge
• How 'Bout Them Cowgirls
• Ocean Front Property
• Check Yes or No

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George Strait

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Nissan Stadium

• Little Big Town Start time: 6:15 PM 6:15 PM
• Chris Stapleton Start time: 7:15 PM 7:15 PM
• George Strait This Setlist Start time: 8:55 PM 8:55 PM

George Strait Gig Timeline

• Jun 24 2023 Empower Field at Mile High Denver, CO, USA Add time Add time
• Jul 28 2023 Nissan Stadium Nashville, TN, USA Start time: 9:15 PM 9:15 PM
• Jul 29 2023 Nissan Stadium This Setlist Nashville, TN, USA Start time: 8:55 PM 8:55 PM
• Aug 02 2023 Hard Rock Live Hollywood, FL, USA Add time Add time
• Aug 05 2023 Raymond James Stadium Tampa, FL, USA Add time Add time

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George Strait, Chris Stapleton in concert at EverBank Stadium. Here's what you should know

The echoes from two Luke Combs concerts will barely have time to fade before another big country crowd heads to Jacksonville's EverBank Stadium, this time for a triple bill of George Strait , Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town on Saturday, May 11.

Strait is about as big a star as you'll find anywhere in country music, and Stapleton isn't far behind. In fact, all three acts have headlined shows at venues in the Jacksonville area.

Strait is a "neotraditional" country star, sort of a throwback to the days when country music leaned heavily on pedal-steel guitars and fiddles. He's sold something like 120 million albums and has a record-setting 60 number-one hits. He's in the Country Music Hall of Fame, was named Artist of the Decade by the Academy of Country Music and has won more Country Music Association awards than anyone. Only Elvis Presley and the Beatles have released more gold or platinum albums.

Here's what you need to know about the show.

Where is George Strait playing in Jacksonville?

The concert is at EverBank Stadium , home of the Jacksonville Jaguars .

Who is opening for George Strait in Jacksonville?

First up is Little Big Town, a quartet that's toured with Strait in the past and has been named Vocal Group of the Year several times each by the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Awards. The band has played Jacksonville shows at Freebird Live , Metropolitan Park, the arena, the St. Augustine Amphitheatre and Daily's Place, plus they did a 2012 show at Mayport Naval Station before a Georgetown-Florida basketball game aboard an aircraft carrier and played at Florida Country Superfest in the stadium in 2013.

Chris Stapleton is a Kentucky native who wrote hit songs for Strait, Kenny Chesney and Luke Bryan before busting out on his own with his quadruple-platinum debut album, "Traveler." He's won ten Grammy Awards and is the reigning Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year and Country Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year. Four of his five studio albums have gone platinum or better and all five topped the country charts. He's played at least three times at Jacksonville's arena and once at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre.

Fitting in: What to look for (and how to fit in) at a country music concert

How much are George Strait tickets in Jacksonville? 

Tickets are available through the stadium's website, everbankstadium.com , ranging from $125-$650.

Has George Strait ever played a concert in Jacksonville? 

Strait has been coming to Jacksonville since at least 1988. He played at the old Jacksonville Coliseum in '88, '94 and '95, headlined a huge country show at what was then called Alltel Stadium in 2000 and played the arena in '11 . He was scheduled to play at the arena in 2008 but came down with the flu backstage and had to reschedule for the following year; Little Big Town was the opening act for that show and played anyway.

Didn't George Strait retire from touring years ago?

Strait made quite a big deal about retiring from the road, even going on a Cowboy Rides Away Tour in 2014 and releasing a live album from the final show. He was back on the road a few years later, sort of, playing almost exclusively at the arena in Las Vegas from 2016-21. He now plays "limited engagements" that are a week or two apart.

More big concerts in 2024: 24 big shows coming to Jacksonville in 2024: Strait, Willie, McGraw, NKOTB

What other stadiums is George Strait playing on this tour? 

The tour includes stops at the home stadiums of the Indianapolis Colts, Iowa State Cyclones, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants/Jets, Utah Utes, Texas A&M Aggies, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears and Las Vegas Raiders.  

Where can I park for the George Strait concerts? 

Parking options range from $49-$107.50. There are thousands of spots in lots and garages in the nearby downtown area.

Getting there: How to get to events at EverBank Stadium

 What time do parking lots open for the George Strait concert? 

How many people will be at the george strait concert .

Officials are expecting around 40,000-45,000 fans. 

What time does the stadium open for the George Strait concert? 

Gates open at 4:30 p.m.

Can I jump into the EverBank Stadium swimming pools if I get overheated during the George Strait concert? 

No, the “spas” on the north end of the stadium will not be open during the concerts. The entire north end of the stadium, which is behind the stage, will be closed to the public. The seats in Daily’s Place, the amphitheater attached to the southern end of the stadium, will be used as a cooling-off area for fans.

Desperately seeking shade: Where fans can find the coolest spots at TIAA Bank Field

Can I leave the stadium and come back in? 

No. There is no re-entry allowed. 

What time does the first act come on stage? 

Little Big Town is scheduled to take the stage at 5:45 p.m., Chris Stapleton is scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m. Strait starts his show at 9:15 p.m.

Will the George Strait concert be rescheduled if it rains? 

Acts may be postponed due to lightning, but the shows are rain or shine. The stage will be covered, but the fans won’t be. 

What can I bring with me to the George Strait concert? 

Policies will be mostly the same as at a Jaguars game. You can bring in one factory-sealed water bottle that is 16.9 ounces or less. All bags brought into the stadium must be clear and no larger than 12-by-6-by-12 inches. Backpacks of any kind (even clear) are prohibited, and no outside food or beverages are permitted. 

Can I bring a camera to the George Strait concert? 

Not if it has a detachable lens, but you can shoot all the photos you want with your smartphone. Go-Pros, HD video cameras and drones are also prohibited. 

Can I hold up my phone and record the whole George Strait concert? 

There’s no rule against that, but the people sitting behind you will hate you for it.  

• Entertainment

Cody Johnson thrills Tacoma Dome crowd

Concert review.

Rising country star Cody Johnson blew away a packed house at the Tacoma Dome Saturday night with nearly two hours of soulful hits that provided a tonic for any who feared country music has become nothing more than arena rock with a cowboy hat.

After openers Justin Moore and Drake Milligan, Johnson kicked off the show with a singalong breakup song, “Me and My Kind,” which brought the crowd to its feet — where they would stay for the rest of the night. They showed appreciation for the traditional country stylings of “Dance Her Home” before erupting again for another singalong on “With You I Am.”

It wasn’t all old hits. Johnson is touring in support of 2023’s critically acclaimed album “Leather” and proved he’s only getting better with the album’s eponymous single. The song celebrates cowboys and uses imagery that in many country songs seems to be fading away in favor of beer and trucks. It was gratifying to hear Johnson sing “His mama says he’s just flesh and bone/the girls says he’s a rolling stone/but shake his hand and then you’ll know/a cowboy’s made of leather.”

The 36-year-old Texan has been on a steady ascent since his first album “Black and White Label” dropped in 2006, with his major-label debut coming with 2019’s “Ain’t Nothin’ to It” for Warner Music Nashville. Johnson told a funny but also personally frustrating story about how no major label wanted to sign him due to his refusal to stop wearing a cowboy hat on stage, and listening to him sing it’s truly shocking that was a deal-breaker for so many of them.

He can do tender, sexy love songs like “Nothin’ On You” and then switch gears to a southern rocker like “People In The Back” without skipping a beat. Sure, even Johnson has a drinking song (“Double Down”) but he was at his best on tunes like his first truly successful single, the heartfelt “On My Way To You,” off “Ain’t Nothin’ to It.”

One of the unexpected joys of the evening was just how good the sound was. Everything was perfectly dialed in and most important, Johnson’s powerful voice was front and center.

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Many artists are happy to show up, sing their songs and keep the banter to a minimum. When Tim McGraw came through Climate Pledge Arena a few weeks ago, he said very little to the crowd and it didn’t affect the show negatively at all. Johnson is not cut from that cloth.

It was clear when Johnson spoke that he is a man of true conviction and he took a good amount of time to speak about his faith, his support of American troops and law enforcement officers, and his belief that we are all worth accepting, which led into his song “Human.” Later, he took the potentially dangerous leap and spoke on the upcoming election, asking that we all remain civil and that we go back to a time where folks didn’t openly share who they voted for.

Johnson said he didn’t mean to sermonize but it’s clear he’s the kind of artist who sees the stage as a pulpit and the arena as a church. Before playing a beautiful rendition of “God Bless America,” he asked the audience to listen to one final message.

“Our differences are what this country was founded on,” he said to loud cheers. “When you disagree with someone in this country, love them anyway.”

He then laid out his values with a new song, “Dirt Cheap,” in which the protagonist reflects on all the reasons he can’t sell his land to a corporation. Another new song, “The Painter,” managed to toe the line between traditional country sounds and pop accessibility and showed why Johnson is the new face of the neo-traditional wing of country.

Johnson closed the show out the only way that was appropriate, with his first No. 1 single “’Til You Can’t” off his 2021 album “Human.” Many in the audience started to retreat at that point but Johnson wasn’t done and came out for an encore that included “Travelin’ Soldier” and “Diamond in My Pocket.”

Country music purists who prefer the more traditional sound of George Strait to bro-country party boys like Florida Georgia Line can rest easy. The future of country music is in good hands with Cody Johnson.

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The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times.

From Carrie Coon to Rocio Guerrero: Women Based in NY and Beyond Who Made a Big Impact on the Entertainment Industry the Past Year

The past year has been a challenging one for many in the entertainment biz, and the women on this year’s New York Women’s Impact Report were not immune to disruptions caused by labor strife and consolidation. But they also shone brightly, delivering standout performances, productions and deals, be they for the stage, screen or in the C-suite. We at Variety salute their achievement and grit. 

Edited by Diane Garrett

Danielle Aguirre 

Exec VP & general counsel , National Music Publishers’ Assn.  

Aguirre has been a lead on many negotiations on behalf of songwriters and publishers, including TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) in the past year. During her 13 years with NMPA, she has played legal Whack-a-Mole with many companies and emerging technologies, serving as a key player in the negotiation, drafting and passage of the Music Modernization Act to address licensing for streaming services, and paved the way for more than $2 billion in royalties being paid out since 2021. 

AI’s existential threat: “I think it’s OK to press pause and say, ‘Are we doing this in a way that’s ethical, that doesn’t hurt humans, including human creators?’ ” she says.

Raney Aronson-Rath 

Editor-in-chief & EP, “Frontline”;  producer, “20 Days in Mariupol”

The editor-in-chief and exec producer of “Frontline” teamed up with Associated Press journalist-filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov on “20 Days in Mariupol,” a first-hand look at the atrocities in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, securing a modest Oscar campaign budget after the film made the doc shortlist. Her efforts paid off in March when the film won the trophy. “I was so pleased that cinematic journalism was recognized by the Academy,” Aronson-Rath says. “It was one of the most gratifying moments of my career.”

So much more to tackle: “We have crises happening all across the world and the geopolitical situation is shifting and changing — that’s something that we really want to capture in our upcoming documentaries.”

Sara Bernstein 

President, Imagine Documentaries  

Sole head of Imagine’s doc division since early 2023, Bernstein has this past year shepherded a slew of documentaries including “Stormy” and “Frida,” with Ron Howard’s doc “Jim Henson Idea Man” to debut May 31 on Disney+. “I’m most proud of the breadth, scope and range of the projects that we have been able to produce over the last 12 months,” she says. “The question in my mind is always, ‘How can we continue to push the form?’”

Credit where it’s due: Bernstein salutes colleagues Kelsey Field, Meredith Kaulfers and Erica Fink, saying, “I couldn’t do this job without them, and we wouldn’t be Imagine Documentaries without them. They inspire me every day.”

Frances Berwick 

Chairman, NBCUniversal Entertainment  

Berwick got an even wider remit last July when she was elevated to NBCU Entertainment chair, now leading original content and acquisitions for Peacock as well as as overseeing original content, program strategy, marketing, communications and scheduling across the entertainment networks. NBC again led all networks in total viewers last year, with “The Voice” and “Saturday Night Live” among standout shows. At the strikes-delayed Emmy ceremony in January, Peacock took home a casting trophy for unscripted hit “The Traitors.” 

Creative outlook: “There’s certainly a reset happening post-COVID, strikes and the streaming explosion,” Berwick says, predicting “a surge in fresh, original ideas after some overreliance on the familiar of known IP, franchises and reboots.” 

Emily Blunt 

Actor, “Oppenheimer,” “The Fall Guy”

As a co-star of Christopher Nolan’s $970 million-grossing “Oppenheimer,” Blunt surfed a tidal wave of success in 2023 — even before her performance netted one of the film’s 13 Oscar nominations. She’ll follow that critical and commercial success with David Leitch’s action rom-com “The Fall Guy” and Benny Safdie’s mixed martial arts drama “The Smashing Machine.” “Schizophrenic flip-flopping between tones and genres” feeds Blunt’s creativity, even if it seems discordant career-wise. “I want to feel excited, and a shred of terror in me as well,” she says. “If you’ve got butterflies in your stomach, you’ve got to let them flutter forever, because they will see you through.”

Debora Cahn 

Showrunner, “The Diplomat”

Having previously worked on successful shows including “The West Wing” and “Homeland,” Cahn was convinced she would be able to avoid making mistakes as a first-time showrunner for Netflix’s “The Diplomat.” Not so. “Of course, I still made every mistake, but at least I knew that I was making it,” Cahn says. Her goal: to tackle international diplomacy much like “West Wing” feasted on domestic governance, with plenty of U.K. location porn and a spiky dynamic between Keri Russell’s ambassador and Rufus Sewell as her fellow diplomat husband to add frisson. 

Unsung heroes: “It’s been really fun to introduce an audience to some characters we don’t usually see,” says Cahn, who recently finished filming Season 2 after a long break during the SAG-AFTRA strike. “But they are, in fact, the frontlines of democracy.”

Global fashion partnerships, Meta  

During her eight years at Meta, Chen has seen Instagram evolve from a square-image format into a multi-cam media experience, with the launch of Instagram Stories, Reels and more. She has also strategized with representatives across the fashion industry on how to use Threads in an effective manner. Chen has also authored nine children’s books to date, including the New York Times bestseller “Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes.”  

Lesson learned: “The biggest mistake that I’ve made in the past — and also others probably make — is measuring success by tasks done. The most important things to invest in are actually the intangible, such as relationships,” she says.

The Women of CNN: Amy Entelis and Alex MacCallum

Entelis: Exec VP, talent, CNN originals & creative development 

MacCallum : Exec VP, digital products & services, CNN Worldwide

Entelis helped CNN win its first Oscar for the documentary “Navalny,” “a once-in-a-career experience,” last year; she also developed and launched “The Whole Story With Anderson Cooper” and built CNN Studios as part of the company’s reinvestment in originals. “We are exploring some new formats, expanding the boundaries of what CNN can do in the news-adjacent space,” she says. MacCallum moved into her new role in January, overseeing digital products and developing a multimedia strategy to use data science including machine learning and AI. 

Unified front: MacCallum is helping CNN tackle the future by removing silos. “Previously, we had different divisions operating almost entirely independently,” she says. “We’re creating one CNN.”

Nicole Compas 

Partner, Ramo Law

Compas joined Ramo Law nearly five years ago to open its New York office and quickly established it as a go-to for scripted and unscripted television, film and new-media productions, working with companies such as Push It Prods. (“The Upshaws”), Imagine Documentaries (“Lucy and Desi,” “Frida”) and the Jim Henson Co. She served as production counsel on five 2023 Emmy nominees (including “Bono & the Edge: A Sort of Homecoming,” “Judy Blume Forever” and “Wanda Sykes: I’m an Entertainer”) and several films that debuted at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, including Concordia’s “Girl State.”

Balancing act: “I think brands want to defer to the filmmakers because they want [the documentary] to be accepted as something that’s not just a long-form commercial,” she says.

Carrie Coon 

Actor, “The Gilded Age,” “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire”

Coon starred in Season 2 of HBO’s “Gilded Age,” the latest “Ghostbusters” movie and two indies in addition to booking a role in Season 3 of “The White Lotus,” now filming in Thailand, while her actor-playwright husband, Tracy Letts, has tended to their two young children back home. For Coon, the appeal of her striving Bertha on “The Gilded Age” is clear: “She’s the bad guy, essentially,” the actor says. “Because of that she’s driving the action.” Fans of the show also enjoy Bertha’s strong marriage with Morgan Spector’s equally ambitious George. “They are on parallel tracks,” Coon says approvingly.

Abundance of riches: The actor revels in the diverse roles she has been able to play alongside women of her own age recently. “I didn’t even know if that was possible,” she says. “That’s the dream.” 

Samantha Cox 

VP, creative, New York, BMI  

At BMI, Cox has worked to further the careers of artists ranging from Lady Gaga (whom she knew in her pre-persona days as Stefani Germanotta) and Bebe Rexha to rising country/hip-hop star Tanner Adell, who sings on Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” album. She effectively serves as an A&R rep for the venerable performance rights organization, scouting and signing talent and publishers, plus staging showcases, seminars such as “Speed Dating for Songwriters” and the annual BMI Brunch at SXSW.

Having their backs: “Everyone thinks this stuff happens overnight, and it doesn’t,” says Cox, who started at BMI as an intern. “When these writers and artists know that you don’t give up when a lot of people do, they’re extremely grateful.”

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen 

President, WGA East

Takeuchi Cullen led the WGA East during the guild’s 148-day strike last year, an experience she calls harrowing, but believes the months of negotiations resulted in safety and security for writers: significant gains include fairer compensation and protections against AI. “All of us in leadership felt the weight of responsibility resting on us — not just for our 12,500 members in streaming and television writing in both the guilds East and West — but also for the rest of the industry.” 

Outlook ahead?: “Slow and murky,” but she maintains legacy studios “need our content and at some point, they’re going to have to pull the trigger and get us back to work.”

Monica Herrera Damashek 

Head of label partnerships for North America, Spotify

When Damashek was elevated to her current post in September, it was a full-circle moment: She was previously head of U.S. Latin artist and label partnerships in 2022, where she shepherded Bad Bunny and Rosalia’s rise through the streamer’s machinery. Now, she’s looking to guide more up-and-comers like Tyla and veterans like Billie Eilish through the process. 

The importance of staying nimble:  “Coming back to this role, and reckoning with where things are, post-pandemic, has been challenging in the best way,” she says. “It’s important to take smarter risks, and not let my mistakes lead to decision paralysis.”

Jane Dystel

President, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret

The agent for bestselling novelist Colleen Hoover left Georgetown Law in 1986 for a job at Bantam Books, the mass-market publisher her father once ran, and hasn’t left the lit world since. In 1994, she established her own firm, now called Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. “It was partially my love of reading,” says Dystel of why she went into publishing. “And it was being in a world of ideas and the possibilities of what could happen with ideas.” 

Determined to win: A competitive figure skater in her teens, she believes her drive helps make her a great agent.

America Ferrera 

Actor, “Barbie,” “Dumb Money”

Ferrera has long been connected to pivotal female roles, from her breakout as Ana Garcia in “Real Women Have Curves” and Betty Suarez on “Ugly Betty,” to her Oscar-nominated turn in Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie.” She’s gratified that “Barbie” had a cultural impact on a global level, and for the response to her character ’s monologue about the conflicting expectations women navigate every day. “I was so moved to see the reactions of people who really resonated with the monologue, and I was also glad to see the dialogue it created,” she tells Variety . “Ideally, the stories we tell are compelling us to see ourselves and each other in more complex ways.”

Rita Ferro 

President, global advertising, the Walt Disney Co.  

One year after Disney+ with ads debuted, more than half the streamer’s subscribers choose that option. But the streamer isn’t doing what broadcast used to, Ferro says, pointing to recent advancements like the TV ad experience Gateway Shop, and Disney’s Magic Words, which ties mood to a brand’s messaging with contextual advertising. “We’ve brought to market future-forward advertising innovation through our immersive platforms and experiences,” says the exec, who gained global oversight of the studio’s ad business last October. “We are seeing increasing interest from clients to tap into tools that provide simplicity, and seamless access to the most premium inventory.”

The N.Y. Women of “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans”: Naomi Watts, Chloë Sevigny and Molly Ringwald

Watts: Actor and exec producer 

Sevigny and Ringwald: Actors 

Just as Truman Capote had his coterie of elegant Gotham society ladies, “Feud” creator Ryan Murphy leaned on his stable of accomplished female actors to portray them in Season 2 of the FX anthology series: “The Watcher” alum Watts plays Babe Paley, wife of longtime CBS president Bill, while Sevigny, previously a star in “American Horror Story,” is C.Z. Guest and Ringwald, recently in “Dahmer,” a relative outlier as Johnny Carson’s ex, Joanne. For Sevigny, a longtime New Yorker who pored over images of Capote and his so-called swans growing up in Darien, Conn., it was a thrill to be filming at grand locations around Manhattan. “We wanted to celebrate old New York and a bit of that charm and glamour,” she says. “It was fun to be there doing it.” Ringwald was also aware of Capote, having performed in an adaptation of one of his novels when she was very young, and believes that, with Carson’s character, Murphy “really wanted somebody who was going to offer a contrast to all of those hangry women.” For all the veneer of perfection, “underneath there are major cracks and so many of them were in loveless marriages,” says Watts, who grew up outside the U.S. and wasn’t as familiar with moneyed 1970s society milieu as some of her castmates. “It’s sad, but it was a different era than it is now.” Adding to the melancholy: Treat Williams, who portrays Babe’s husband, unexpectedly died shortly after the production wrapped.  

Lessons in adulting: Ringwald credits late production designer and producer Polly Platt with boosting her spirit when she was trying to move on from teen roles in films such as “Pretty in Pink.” “She was like, ‘You’re going to have a really long career. And the only way that you are not is if you decide that you don’t want to. It’s really up to you. You just have to keep doing what you’re doing and stick with it.’” 

Maureen Ford 

President, national & festival sales, media & sponsorship, Live Nation

In 2023, Ford oversaw the biggest year in live music’s history as innumerable artists hit stages across the country and more fans attended concerts and festivals than ever before. With 30 years in the business, Ford is encouraging her team to be increasingly creative in crafting once-in-a-lifetime experiences for fans, brands like Citi and Hilton, and each other. “I’m fiercely committed to championing women,” she says. “I reflect on the time it took me to find equilibrium in my career and life, and I want others to foster their confidence sooner.”

The Women of Frankfurt Kurnit: Marcie Cleary and Lisa E. Davis  

Cleary and Davis work alongside each other in Frankfurt Kurnit’ s entertainment group, while maintaining their own areas of focus. Davis reps clients from the worlds of film, television, publishing, music and theater, including National Black Theatre’s Tony-nominated production of “Fat Ham” and writer Obehi Janice and her play “Nova,” which was staged at the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Many of the playwrights on her roster also work in TV and film. “In theater, you control your copyright, and you own your work,” says Davis, “but unless you have a hit on the order of ‘Hamilton,’ the money is not nearly as lucrative as being a creator on a series.” In recent months, Cleary has negotiated deals for Marcel Spears to re-join the cast of CBS’ “The Neighborhood,” Rae Wynn-Grant to co-host the revival of NBC’s “The Wild Kingdom” and Kelley Carter’s expanded entertainment reporting deal at ABC as well as a numerous podcast pacts.

Why all those podcasts?: “The film and television industry has contracted, so you see more creators do go into podcasts as a new way to sell content,” says Cleary.

Shani Fuller-Tillman 

VP, marketing, RCA Records  

Fuller-Tillman played an instrumental role in promoting Bryson Tiller’s self-titled album and Davido’s Grammy-nominated album “Timeless,” and previously worked on Steve Lacy’s “Bad Habit” and Grammy-winning “Gemini Rights.” Her top ingredients for a successful marketing campaign: “Incredible music, sticky lyrics, cross-collaborative efforts across all mediums, an engaged artist, committed management team and a relentless fanbase.” The exec also played a role in the resurgence of Miguel’s “Sure Thing” last year. 

Promo goals: “I am looking forward to incorporating moments during campaigns that set my roster of artists apart from others as well as educate those who are interested in pushing the boundaries.”

Libby Geist 

President, Words + Pictures; exec producer, “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story”

Geist’s banner funded and produced the Sundance hit “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story,” which sold to Warner Bros. Discovery for $15 million after a bidding war, the largest doc sale out of the fest, proving that there is still a market, though small, for independently made nonfiction features. “The minute we heard about this project we knew it was special. We looked at some of the archival [footage], and saw how real and raw that footage was and were immediately drawn to it,” says Geist, who joined the banner in 2022 after a stint at ESPN. 

No guts, no glory: “Building a successful production company in this volatile market has not been easy,” she says. “It’s been challenging, but also really fun.”

Greta Gerwig 

Writer-director, “Barbie”

Gerwig’s “Barbie” conquered the worldwide box office last year, ending up No. 1, and earned eight Oscar nominations as well, achieving enough in 2023 to fill the eponymous fashion doll’s most expansive dream house. Even so, Gerwig has much on her plate, starting with a high-profile role as jury president at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival to be followed by writing and directing duties on two Netflix adaptations of books from C.S. Lewis’ “The Chronicles of Narnia” series. “I feel like with each movie, I’m still learning. I’m figuring out how to do things differently than I’ve done before,” she recently told Variety . 

Rachel Ghiazza 

Chief content officer, Audible

Upped to her new role last year, Ghiazza has helped shape the company’s global expansion everywhere from Germany to Brazil. “Leaping boundaries is exciting,” she says. “I am super passionate about growth in Latin America.” Ghiazza also finalized major deals with Higher Ground and Plan B and launched Dolby Atmos on Audible. Under the Dolby integration, subscribers “can sit together and listen with this crazy amazing sound. I like the idea of people listening communally.”

Mentor boost: “Thao Hoang at Viacom helped me find the confidence that I had the tools I needed and could trust my gut,” she says. “Working for her had a profound impact.” 

Rocío Guerrero 

Head of music for Latin-Iberia, Amazon Music

A conservatory-trained violinist from an extended family of musicians in Spain, Guerrero began her professional career as journalist working as a news editor in Madrid. Eventually, she made her way back to the family business, albeit as a non-performer, joining Spotify as a sales planner in 2011 and rising up the ranks to head of global music cultures, shows and editorial. For the past four years, she’s led Amazon Music’s Latin music efforts, which encompass a wide variety of media (playlists, podcasts, concert livestreams, music videos, the “Hip-Hop X Siempre” doc, etc.) and genres from reggaeton to regional Mexican music, as well artists’ merch.

Culinary comparison: “Latin music is like international food,” she says. “It’s embedded now in the culture, right in the mainstream.”

Erin Junkin 

Partner & co-head, scripted television, WME

A groundbreaker who became the only female department head of television at any of the major talent agencies when she was elevated, the longtime WME vet has represented a wide swath of the television and streaming spectrum, from Soo Hugh (“Pachinko”) to Quinn Shepherd (“Under the Bridge”) to Brie Larson and Rachel Weisz. Last year, she and her team had to navigate disruptive labor strife. “I’m really proud of our TV department,” she says, pointing out that despite the strikes, “we had one of our best awards seasons ever, and that was really a collective accomplishment as every single agent in our department touched some aspect of a nominated or winning series.”

Cynthia Katz 

Partner, Fox Rothschild

Katz has been a busy dealmaker to the tune of “about a billion dollars’ worth of acquisition deals,” including buying and selling music rights, assets and companies. She has represented HarbourView Equity Partners in about 50 music catalog acquisitions, including Wiz Khalifa and Christine McVie; represented Primary Wave Publishing in acquiring the Sarah McLaughlan and Eddie Rabbit catalogs; and negotiated a deal for producer Denzel “Conductor” Williams to craft Drake’s “8AM in Charlotte.” 

Money maker: “Investment in music has been growing,” she says. “In the next five years, it’s going to grow even more with increased interest and capital, which is really good for talent and the whole industry.”

The Women of Killer Films: Pamela Koffler and Christine Vachon

Producers, “Past Lives,” “May December”

The indie stalwarts are no strangers to the awards circuit, but this year had two major contenders in Celine Song’s “Past Lives” and Todd Haynes’ “May December.” They were also individual nominees for the first time, thanks to the best pic nomination for “Past Lives.” “It was intense,” Vachon says of their time on the awards circuit, while Koffler called the personal recognition “a very lovely, gratifying experience after doing it for so long.” Yet for a wide swath of the year, Vachon and Koffler also had to contend with dual labor strikes that threatened their company’s livelihood and the industry itself. “Killer worked very, very hard to keep our employees on payroll,” says Vachon, calling it “a really dark time.” For Koffler, there was a strange duality of being “so busy and absorbed in the promoting and the ushering out of the movies, and yet so worried about, how are we ever going to really make them again?”

Indie prognosis: Both are sanguine about the latest pronouncements about the supposed death of indie film. “It’s really hard right now,” Koffler concedes. “But when has it not been?”

Erica Lancaster 

The Houston native parlayed her youthful obsession with “Saturday Night Live” into a career. After graduating from U. of Virginia, Lancaster moved to New York in 2007, when she went from a page post at “The Late Show With David Letterman” to a receptionist at “SNL” to associate producer on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and, finally, development exec at Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video. In 2017, she became a TV agent at CAA, where today her clients include “SNL” head writer Colin Jost and cast members Marcello Hernandez and Ego Nwodim, along with Ayo Edebiri (Emmy-winner for “The Bear”) and Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Oscar-winner for “The Holdovers”).

Enduring ties: “I met Colin [Jost] on my first day of work at ‘SNL,’” she says. “I think he offered me frozen grapes.”

Christine Lepera 

Partner, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp  

Lepera has been a major force in the music world, protecting artists from accusations of plagiarism. In recent months, the veteran attorney won copyright infringement cases for Dua Lipa and Warner Music Group for the song “Levitating,” and Timbaland and other defendants for the songs “Paper Chase” and “Toe2Toe” She also successfully resolved producer Dr. Luke’s nine-year legal battle with singer Kesha and won a preliminary injunction for Daryl Hall, preventing his longtime musical partner John Oates from selling his half of their jointly held assets without Hall’s consent.

You can’t copyright AI art … or can you?: “The wrinkle is going to be whether a person or some persons are involved in it, adding creative input such that their creative expression is part of what the content is,” she says.

Wendy Lidell 

Senior VP theatrical, distribution and acquisitions, Kino Lorber  

Lidell knew she wanted distribution rights for Kaouther Ben Hania’s hybrid documentary “Four Daughters” from the moment she saw it at Cannes last year. The film about a Tunisian mother whose two elder daughters joined ISIS won that festival’s documentary award and would go on to earn an Oscar nom, but “I was not thinking about an Academy Award nomination — I was thinking theatrical success and a film that I was passionate about and needed a wider audience,” says Lidell. She has since snagged North American distribution rights  to Agnieszka Holland’s “Green Border” and Bruno Dumont’s “The Empire,” as is committed “expanding the boundaries of what cinema can be.” 

The Women of Lifetime: Elaine Frontain Bryant and Brie Miranda Bryant 

Elaine Frontain Bryant: Exec VP & head of programming A&E, Lifetime & LMN, A+E Networks 

Brie Miranda Bryant: Senior VP, original programming, Lifetime, A+E Networks

These two Bryants might not be related, but they form a formidable team. Last year, Frontain Bryant gained programming oversight of Lifetime, a female-centric destination for nonfiction and true-crime programming that had a hit with the explosive “The Prison Confession of Gypsy Rose Blanchard” series when it launched in January. Both women served as exec producers on the three-night series, which drew nearly 10 million viewers in its first month; the network, now celebrating its 40th anniversary, is working on a follow-up focusing on Blanchard’s release from prison. Bryant spearheaded Lifetime’s “Where Is Wendy Williams?,” which dominated social media when it premiered. Coming soon: The pair are expanding the Biography brand with five new docs tracking the careers of some of hard rock’s biggest stars and unveiling a second season of Lifetime’s 2022 “Janet Jackson” miniseries.

Mentors always matter: “I still look to my longtime mentor Fred Berner,” Frontain Bryant says. “He developed the film ‘Maestro’ for many years and seeing him attend the Oscars was inspiring.” 

Cindy Mabe 

CEO & chair, Universal Music Group Nashville

The first woman to run a major country music label, Mabe oversees an ambitious slate of projects that includes new and upcoming releases from veteran hitmakers (Keith Urban, Reba McEntire, George Strait) and exciting newcomers (22-year-old Christian music singer Anne Wilson), as well as a growing film and TV division, Sing Me Back Home Prods., which recently released the documentary “Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive,” and is developing a reality series about Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, the husband-and-wife music duo known as the War and Treaty.

Fond intern memory: “They were paying me in free CDs, and I thought, ‘This is the most incredible thing of all time,’” recalls the North Carolina native, who assumed her current post in April 2023. “I never had dreams of running a label.”

Natalie Madaj 

Exec VP, global digital, Warner Music Group/Warner Chappell Music

Madaj recently negotiated deals with Canva and TikTok while working to expand existing partnerships with companies like YouTube, and stresses the need to understand cultural differences around the world. “We want to make sure that we’re taking advantage of regional expertise that acknowledges the nuances in what music consumers in those different regions look like,” she says, calling herself “cautiously optimistic” about AI collaborations. 

Exec mindset: “One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received was to treat your career almost like a company with a board of advisors who all bring different experiences, and it’s something I’ve taken to heart,” she says. 

Lauren Marcello 

Senior VP, late night current programs, CBS  

Between the pandemic and last year’s labor strife, it’s been a challenging four years for late-night programs for reasons well beyond the control of executives overseeing them: the network’s marquee late-night program, “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” was dark from May to October due to the writers strike. For all that, and amid all the changes wrought by streaming, Marcello remains bullish on traditional TV. “I think that late night, like sports, is a format that’s still very much thriving on broadcast,” says Marcello. “There’s not a streaming-only version of late night that has proved to be a substitution for broadcast.”

Audra McDonald 

Actor, “The Gilded Age,” “Rustin,” “Origin” 

The acclaimed actor effortlessly swapped periods in a trifecta of indelible performances the past year. In Netflix’s “Rustin,” she portrayed civil-rights activist Ella Baker, while she embodied a more contemporary character in “Origin,” Ava DuVernay’s adaptation of Isabel Wilkerson’s “Caste,” delivering a powerful performance opposite Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor. For HBO’s turn-of-the-last-century drama “The Gilded Age,” McDonald’s Dorothy Scott resides in a middle-class Black community, often neglected in other period projects depicting this era. Next up for the Broadway aficionado, who recently performed in “Ohio State Murders”: an Australian concert tour that launches May 4.

Monica McNutt 

NBA, WNBA and college basketball analyst, ESPN  

Former Georgetown basketball player McNutt caught the journalism bug as an undergrad, working her way up to a post at sports broadcasting giant ESPN in 2019. As a basketball analyst for the New York Knicks, as well as the WNBA and women’s college basketball, which are both surging in popularity, she’s one of the few women — and women of color — to work on such a big platform. McNutt, who also contributes to “SportsCenter,” “Around the Horn,” “First Take” and “NBA Today,” is thankful for the “sisterhood” of her TV colleagues although there’s more work to be done for parity. She also works with the nonprofit Grow Our Game, a free program for girls ages 4-12 that teaches basketball and personal empowerment through sports.

The Women of MOME: Pat Swinney Kaufman and Shira Gans 

Kaufman: Commissioner 

Gans: Senior executive director, policy + programs

When Kaufman joined the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment in June 2023, she came with nearly 20 years of experience as the state film commissioner, shepherding its rich incentive program, which had transformed the local film and TV production landscape. She joined Gans, who’s been with the office since 2016, serving as the driving force behind partnerships and programs supporting the music industry, such as New York Music Month, Sound Thinking NYC and the Office of Nightlife, while leading its film and TV sustainability initiatives. “Having been in the public sector for a really long time, I understand the city government and how you can make things that seem like they’re not possible, possible,” says Gans. For her part, Kaufman is determined to show producers that the Big Apple is “the city of ‘yes,’” eager and able to host their shoots.

You can make it there: “New York City is where dreams really do come true,” says Kaufman. “People see it on movie screens and TV and everything else, and then they want to be here and taste and live the magic.”

Courteney Monroe 

President, National Geographic  

Monroe was behind this year’s Oscar-nominated “Bobi Wine: The People’s President,” which scored the IDA award for best doc. It was Nat Geo’s fourth Oscar nomination in six years. “Even though we didn’t take home the Oscar, I still feel like we won with this film,” Monroe says, noting that Wine’s fight for democracy in Uganda has “inspired audiences all across the globe.” “Queens,” a series about matriarchies in the animal kingdom, was narrated and exec produced by Angela Bassett, part of an all-female production team. In the works: “Tucci — The Heart of Italy,” which aims to pick up where his CNN cooking show left off. 

The Allies (Women) of “The Notebook”: Maryann Plunkett, Joy Woods and Jordan Tyson 

 Actors

The new Broadway adaptation of “The Notebook” reimagines the lead role of Allie, originally portrayed by Rachel McAdams in the film, across three life stages: Tyson embodies the young, naive Allie, swept up in a summer romance. Woods portrays a middle-aged Allie, still quietly longing for her past love a decade later. Plunkett, nominated for a Tony Award, completes the trio as an older Allie, grappling with Alzheimer’s and the erosion of her memories. Together, they share ownership of the character, fostering collaboration and moving audiences to tears with Ingrid Michaelson’s score each night. “It was actually a relief to share the role,” Tyson notes. “Not everything falls on one person’s shoulders; we get to coordinate but also bring our unique [takes] to these parts of her life.” Both Tyson and Woods credit theater veteran Plunkett for guiding the development of Allie. “Each night, we take from each other, we give to each other,” Woods says. “We learn new things about Allie from each other. It’s been this constant shifting and growing.”

Tyson’s biggest challenge?: “Reclaiming my energy and putting boundaries up. It’s not the work itself but maintaining my own wellness to be able to show up for the work,” she says. 

Debra OConnell 

President, news group & networks, Disney Entertainment  

In February, OConnell gained oversight of ABC News, aligning the news division with the station group, as well as responsibilities across the company’s multiplatform linear enter2tainment networks. The expanded duties for the 27-year veteran of Disney are meant to facilitate collaboration, and OConnell intends to do that while reacting to the rapidly changing entertainment landscape. “We will continue experimenting with windowing and scheduling,” she says, pointing out that the conglom aired Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building” on ABC, “which is an excellent example of windowing a streaming phenom to linear and watching it continue to find new audiences as it travels through the ecosystem.” 

Kelli O’Hara 

Actor, “Days of Wine and Roses,” “The Gilded Age”

The eight-time Tony nominee returned to Broadway this season to star as a mother grappling with alcoholism in “Days of Wine and Roses.” “I’m sort of an artist that goes towards the pain and towards human condition and learning. This is a team that really wants to dig into things and make art out of confusion, which, I think, is the purpose of art in the first place.” Additionally, O’Hara stars as Aurora Fane in “The Gilded Age,” renewed for Season 3.

O’Hara’s biggest challenge?: “I think it happens more for women but balancing the children and my career. There are sacrifices on both ends, you can’t deny it.” 

Sasha Passero 

VP, talent agent, IAG  

Passero signed Lily Gladstone after seeing her in “Certain Women” at its Sundance debut eight years ago and has lobbied for her ever since — persistence that paid off with Gladstone’s Academy Award-nominated and SAG Award-winning performance in “Killers of the Flower Moon,” the first for a Native American woman. Passero comes from a show business family — her parents began as actors and then went into casting, her grandmother was a singer and her sister is an actor as well. 

Born for it: “I think that my respect and empathy for what actors do and being able to put myself on their side of things has really been my secret weapon.” 

Rita Marie Pelosi 

Senior VP and senior relationship manager, entertainment banking, City National Bank  

Pelosi fell in love with the theater as a kid going to Broadway shows with her opera singer aunt, but realized early on that performing was not her forte. Instead, she found her way into showbiz via banking, focusing on music and film production, before segueing to the legit stage. During the pandemic, she facilitated more than $13 million in PPP loans for theater clients, and today her team provides banking services for 90% of the shows on the Great White Way.

Advice for someone working on their first big show: “There’s going to be a lot of people saying a lot of things,” she says. “If it’s a success, don’t let it go to your head. If it’s a failure, start over again.”

Krista Phillips 

Exec VP, head of consumer credit cards and consumer lending marketing, Wells Fargo  

Phillips spearheaded a loyalty program called Autograph Card Exclusives that allows credit card holders to connect with popular musicians, including at live concerts featuring Mumford and Sons in Los Angeles and Imagine Dragons in Dallas. “We wanted to deliver a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our customers where they can experience their favorite artists in smaller venues, so that they can feel like they’re having an intimate experience,” the Wells Fargo exec says. “And they’re almost there with their friends and family.” 

Mission critical: “We do a lot of research and we’re constantly listening to our customers,” Phillips says. 

Carrie Preston 

Actor, “Elsbeth,” “The Holdovers” 

Preston turned Elsbeth Tascioni — a character she played just 19 times over 14 years on “The Good Wife” and “The Good Fight” combined — into her first lead role on a series; the CBS spinoff series from Robert and Michelle King was just picked up for a second season. Preston, who won an Emmy for performing the role in 2013, also drew praise for her turn in Oscar-nominated “The Holdovers.” 

Beyond ingenues: “There’s a hunger from audiences to see mature women represented on screen in a way that highlights their intellect, their compassion, their strength, their humanity and their uniqueness rather than their sexuality or their relationship to men,” Preston notes.  

Danielle Price Sanders 

Exec VP, Republic Records 

Price Sanders spearheaded Republic’s deal with 4Fargo, who had a viral hit with “She’ll Be OK,” and executive produced the 2023 YouTube K-pop competition series “A2K” for the label’s Federal Films division, working alongside Monte Lipman and J.Y. Park. VCHA, the winners of that competition, have released a couple of singles and booked a slot at Lollapalooza. “We were able to successfully implement the K-pop model in the USA for the first time, and it was incredible to be on the ground floor of that,” she says. “I’m excited to be a part of their launch and impending domination.” 

Coming up: The debut album from Grammy Award-winning producer ATL Jacob.

Pilar Queen 

Publishing agent, UTA

Queen thinks two years ahead to help luminaries from entertainment, journalism, tech and other professions — such as ABC News’ Deborah Roberts and actor Elliot Page — get their stories out. She worked on Kara Swisher’s latest release, “Burn Book: A Tech Love Story,” sold Brooke Shields’ highly anticipated nonfiction book to Flatiron Books and handled book deals for Mary Trump and Brian Tyler Cohen.

In-house mentor: The agent found her first mentor in UTA partner and board member Blair Kohan at age 40. “I didn’t even know I needed a mentor until I found one,” she says, praising Kohan’s “confidence, kindness and ability to cut through the BS — and do it in a way that doesn’t hurt people’s feelings.”

The Women of “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV”: Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz 

Robertson: Exec producer-director and founder of Maxine Prods. 

Schwartz: Co-executive producer and director

Robertson and Schwartz’s explosive ID docuseries “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” uncovered disturbing allegations of inappropriate behavior on various Dan Schneider-produced Nickelodeon series in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Drake Bell, one of the stars of “Drake & Josh,” comes forward in the series for the first time as the child star sexually assaulted by dialogue coach Brian Peck. When the pair, who previously collaborated on “The New York Times Presents” FX docuseries, saw online clips of Schneider’s series that appeared to sexualize young child stars like Ariana Grande, they decided the subject matter was worthy of a docuseries. “We thought it was of real value to dig in because it concerns working environments for children and because the content that was created on these sets was then distributed to children around the world,” Robertson says. While others have tried to tell this story, Schwartz explains that “we had an environment, the space and the support where we could take the time to build relationships with subjects and they could trust us to tell their stories.” As showrunner on “The New York Times Presents,” Robertson oversaw its similarly explosive installment, “Framing Britney Spears,” and has since launched her Maxine Prods. banner, part of Sony Pictures Television. 

Inspirational women: “I started my career working at Maysles Films, which was run by some incredible women, including Susan Froemke and Deborah Dickson, who remain idols of mine,” Robertson says.

Actor, “True Detective: Night Country”

Reis knocked the socks off HBO audiences tuning into “True Detective: Night Country,” more than holding her own opposite co-star Jodie Foster with only two prior screen credits under her belt. “I was excited and terrified simultaneously,” says Reis, who portrays Evangeline Navarro, a state trooper of Indigenous descent in a remote Alaska town. A boxer until 2017, the Rhode Island native who now lives in South Philly with her manager husband is a big believer in preparation; Indigenous on her mother’s side, she took great care in learning about the native community in Alaska before undertaking the role.

Biggest surprise? “How much fun we had doing intense dark stories, no pun intended,” says Reis, who just began production on “Mercy,” co-starring Chris Pratt.

Meredith Scardino 

Showrunner, “Girls5eva”

Season 3 of Scardino’s “Girls5eva” moved to Netflix in March, giving new life to the Peacock series about a female band that reunites in middle age. Scardino, who was nominated for a writing Emmy the show’s first season, previously won four Emmys for her work on “The Colbert Report,” and collaborates with fellow executive producers from “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” including Tina Fey and Robert Carlock. Scardino considers herself very fortunate to write for all three. “So much of it is being able to be around them and try to absorb the runoff and learn how to do it yourself.”

Sarah Sherman 

Performer, “Saturday Night Live”

Promoted in 2023 to repertory player, Sherman’s rise from sketch breakout to “SNL” mainstay has in many ways mirrored her adaptation to the show’s famously punishing schedule. “Every week is just throwing a bunch of shit at the wall and sometimes you don’t find out until 4 o’clock in the morning whether or not an idea is good,” she says. But with recent turns in Adam Sandler’s “You Are So Not Invited to My Bar Mitzvah” and animated “Nimona” under her belt, Sherman has realized that it’s not the bells and whistles of her oddball comedy bits that have made her an in-demand talent, but what’s underneath. “As a performer, you do have to remember to be yourself — you’re good.”

Celine Song 

Writer-director, “Past Lives”  

Song’s “Past Lives,” her theatrical debut, earned an Oscar best pic nom and another nomination for her elegiac screenplay, along with trophies from the DGA, Gothams and Indie Spirits. The multihyphenate, who worked in theater before directing her first film, drew upon her own experiences as a Korean immigrant while writing the story about the price of female ambition, and leaned heavily on veterans including producers Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler, while making it. “It’s just always so hard to walk into something without the experience of having done it before,” says Song, now prepping “Materialists.” “They’ve made so many films before that you’re able to borrow their experience.”   

Anjali Sud 

Since joining Tubi from Vimeo in August 2023, Sud has given the Fox-owned ad-supported streamer a major makeover. The most obvious change is cosmetic (redesigned logo and user interface), but the bigger transformation is the adoption of a guiding philosophy Sud describes as “free entertainment for the cordless generation,” reflected in new youth-oriented original series such as “Boarders,” “Dead Hot” and “Big Mood.” So far, it appears to be working. 

Proper C-suite ’tude: “It’s so important to question, learn and understand versus act, initially, but you also need to have a mission and conviction and be a little fearless and willing to take risks and not give up,” she says.

Jessica Tarlov 

Co-host , “The Five,” Fox News  

The lone liberal on Fox News’ live panel show, “The Five,” Tarlov isn’t shy about voicing a dissenting opinion. Arguably the reason “The Five” has such a politically diverse audience, Tarlov hopes she might influence some viewers about the day’s news, how they consume information and maybe even how they view politics — especially since she’s involved in Fox News’ 2024 election coverage.

Lessons from a reformed people pleaser: “You really don’t want to ruffle feathers and always want to be on everyone’s good side,” she says. “But then you end up de-prioritizing things you actually need for yourself to stay healthy.” 

Danya Taymor 

Director, “The Outsiders”

Taymor, a woman leading a musical centered on boyhood, returns to Broadway with “The Outsiders” after an acclaimed run in San Diego. She’s reimagined the novel and the 1983 film for the stage, and it received 12 Tony nominations, including one for her direction. “The thing that struck me the most about the story was the rawness and the realness of the book. … It was important to keep it feeling really authentic and not put a varnish on the experience of these young people’s lives.” 

Rallying the troupers:  “The biggest challenge but also the most wonderful part is harnessing the hundreds of people who are working on this so they feel like it’s their baby, too. … Everybody has skin in the game.”

Melissa Thomas 

Exec VP, international marketing, U.S. repertoire, Sony Music Entertainment  

In the past year, Thomas has contributed to the global success of Grammy-winning hits including Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” and Tyla’s “Water.” “It behooves us to really listen to the fans and pay attention to the conversation around the world,” Thomas says. “Really being open and reactive and moving in real time as we see these connections and stories building around the globe.” 

Mom knows best: “She was always someone in my life that came from humble means and told me that there wasn’t anything I couldn’t achieve. And it’s a philosophy that I’ve maintained and held on to,” Thomas says. 

Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi 

Producer, director and co-founder, Little Monster Films  

Oscar-winner Vasarhelyi made the leap to narrative filmmaking with “Nyad,” which she co-directed with her husband, Jimmy Chin. The film about Diana Nyad’s multiple attempts and eventual successful swim from Cuba to Florida earned Oscar nominations for the film’s stars Annette Bening and Jodie Foster. The filmmaking pair followed that up with the Nat Geo docuseries “Photographer.” “I look at fiction and nonfiction films as quite similar in terms of craft, and in terms of it all being about a good story,” Vasarhelyi says. “The idea that we were able to bring Diana Nyad and Bonnie Stoll’s stories to life and be recognized for it felt really, really good.”

Tough outlook: “We are experiencing a pretty serious contraction in the nonfiction market,” she says. “I don’t know if ‘Cutie and the Boxer’ could be made today and that is one of my favorite films.” 

Alex Wagner 

Host, “Alex Wagner Tonight”  

The host of MSNBC’s “Alex Wagner Tonight” approaches every story with intellectual curiosity and rigor. “Our job as journalists is to drink from the fire hose and enjoy it,” Wagner says of the unrelenting news cycle. Surveying Donald Trump’s criminal trials and an impending election she characterizes as “one of the most consequential moments in American political history,” Wagner emphasizes the importance of transparency with viewers about the facts of every story — especially if they aren’t correct. “The only way you’re going to get people to trust you is first by showing that you’re not infallible — and when you are wrong, you acknowledge it.”

Up Next: Avantika 

Actor, “Mean Girls” 

Avantika, an Indian actor that goes by her first name, booked roles in “Diary of a Future President” and “Sex Lives of College Girls” before landing the role of Karen in Paramount’s remake of “Mean Girls.” She learned that she would play her favorite character from the original film in an email after one audition. Avantika wants to explore more genres that women of color aren’t represented in and is interested in “paving the way so that more women of color can take up those opportunities.” Next up: the horror film “Tarot,” which will be released May 3.  

Up Next: Nabiyah Be 

Musician, Actor, “Daisy Jones & the Six”

The Brazilian-born daughter of reggae star Jimmy Cliff sang backup for him as a child and performed in the original Off Broadway production of “Hadestown” before tackling the role of disco queen Simone Jackson in Hulu’s “Daisy Jones & the Six.” Be isn’t too far off from her musically inclined counterpart: She has two singles coming out this May and album set for second quarter of the year, which she describes as pop and Brazilian with “some other flavors.” Of the show, she says: “I learned so much about the women that pioneered disco music,” she says. “And maybe one day I’ll get to really give them the shout out I want to.”

Up Next: Nichelle Lewis 

Actor, “The Wiz”

Lewis was singing on TikTok when she caught the attention of the creative team for the Broadway-bound revival of “The Wiz.” Her rendition of “Home,” the show’s pivotal 11 o’clock number, landed her an audition, and ultimately, the role of Dorothy. After a six-month national tour, the Virginia native and the cast landed in New York last month, where she now leads the ensemble in her Broadway debut.

Up Next: Francesca Scorsese 

Actor, director, awards season chronicler  

An emerging actor and director in her own right, Scorsese provided a series of disarming behind-the-scenes glimpses of the awards campaign trail, accompanying her filmmaker father to the Cannes premiere of “Killers of the Flower Moon” through the Oscars, posting video of the renowned director enjoying Ryan Gosling’s elaborate rendition of “I’m Just Ken” on social media. Her short, “Fish Out of Water,” dedicated to her ailing mom, screened at Cannes last year and in competition at Tribeca, and she has a role in Cannes-bound “Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point,” alongside Michael Cera. Which creative endeavor does she prefer? “That’s kind of the dilemma of my life right now,” says Scorsese, an NYU grad who grew up thinking she was just going to direct but finds herself drawn to acting as well. As for fatherly advice: “He’s really nosy, but not in a bad way,” she says. “He’s always bugging me about what my next thing is.”

Up Next: Demi Singleton 

Actor, “Lawmen: Bass Reeves”

After playing young Serena Williams in “King Richard,” Singleton joined the Western series “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” as Sally, the daughter of David Oyelowo’s title character, the first Black U.S. deputy marshal to serve west of the Mississippi. “She’s a writer, and I feel like her poetry is a way for her to escape her reality,” says Singleton, who is glad to share Bass Reeves’ story with the world: “He and his family are finally getting the credit that they deserve for what they did for their people, for other people, for everyone during their time.” 

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