If you were missing a little country girl power from your radio and from the slew of superstar package tours trawling the country this summer, then you’re in luck. Jana Kramer and Kelsea Ballerini have both been tapped to headline the CMT Next Women of Country tour, which launches April 30 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and takes in ten stops to come to a close in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on May 28. Tickets go on sale on April 10 at the various venues slated for the tour.
With both women currently spinning on country radio, it’s the perfect time to get their music out to the masses. Jana is promoting ‘I Got The Boy’, the lead single from her upcoming sophomore album, while Kelsea recently hit the top 20 with ‘Love Me Like You Mean It’, her debut single and the lead from her self-titled EP. The EP, released last November, finally made its debut on the album charts a few weeks ago after Taylor Swift tweeted that she was listening to it.
This tour is an extension of the Next Women of Country campaign that CMT launched in 2013, in an attempt to provide promising female artists with support and a platform for promotion, at a time when the radio is almost exclusively dominated by male acts and male-focused bands. “I’m a big advocate for us girls sticking together and encouraging each other,” Jana said. “I can’t wait to see everyone on the road!”
Kelsea echoed her sentiments. “For me to be part of the CMT Next Women of Country tour is a huge honor,” she said, while Leslie Fram, the CMT Senior Vice President of Music Strategy, also weighed in. “The Next Women of Country campagin seamlessly connects music fans with the rising generation of female country artists. With the tour, we’re now able to create zero-distancing between fan and artist and deliver an amazing night of discovery.”
You can check out the tour dates for this women-only tour below. Sounds like it’s going to be a blast!
April 30: Grand Rapids, Michigan (The Intersection)
May 1: Cincinnati (Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill)
May 7: Cleveland (House of Blues)
May 8: Chicago (Joe’s Bar)
May 10: St. Louis (The Pageant)
May 12: Nashville (3rd and Lindsley) *
May 14: Orlando, Florida (Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill)
May 15: Fort Walton Beach, Florida (The Swamp)
May 17: Charlotte, North Carolina (The Fillmore Charlotte)
May 28: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (House of Blues)
* Kelsea Ballerini only, featuring special guests from Next Women of Country.
