The Highwomen
Brandi Carlile
Natalie Hemby
Maren Morris
Amanda Shires
Background information
OriginNashville, Tennessee, United States
Genres
Years active2019 (2019)–present
LabelsElektra
Members
Websitethehighwomen.com

The Highwomen is an American country music supergroup[1][2] composed of Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, Maren Morris, and Amanda Shires.[3] Formed in 2019,[4] the group's self-titled debut album was released on September 6 of the same year by Elektra Records and was produced by Dave Cobb.[1][5]

History

In 2016, when Shires was finishing her record My Piece of Land in music producer Dave Cobb's studio, Shires had an idea to create a female country supergroup in homage to the legendary Highwaymen country supergroup (consisting of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson). At the same time, the lack of representation of women artists on country music radio and at country music festivals had been publicly discussed by many, influenced by the Me Too movement and journalists like Marissa Moss. While on tour in her van, listening to country radio, Shires kept a running list of artists and noticed that there were few women. When she called to request they play more women artists, she was directed to a Facebook page lottery system. Cobb recommended Shires call Carlile, whom she didn't know. Carlile thought it would be fun, and would be an interesting creative project.[4]

The Highwomen project was widely hinted at by Carlile, Morris and Shires before it was officially announced on April 6, 2019. With the name paying homage to The Highwaymen, the Highwomen were originally intended to leave the fourth spot in their line-up vacant to allow other female collaborators to join them, with Chely Wright, Courtney Marie Andrews, Margo Price, Janelle Monae and Sheryl Crow mentioned as potential guests.[6] The band, who jokingly refer to the collaboration as a pirate ship experience, said that they see the project as an incubator project that highlights mentorship and support of fellow women artists.[4]

Morris hadn't worked with Cobb before, and remarked on how much she liked tracking live. The band recorded live vocals, live band, harmonies in unison, where the musicians were recording together live in an organic environment at historic RCA Studio A, which Cobb now owns.[4] As part of the experience, some of the members got matching Highwomen tattoos.[7]

The group made their live debut on April 1, 2019 at Loretta Lynn's 87th birthday concert held at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. There, Natalie Hemby was officially revealed as the final member and the quartet performed "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels".[8] Their debut single, "Redesigning Women", and its associated music video featuring female artists including Tanya Tucker, Cam, Lauren Alaina, Cassadee Pope and Wynonna Judd was released on 19 July 2019, with their self-titled debut album (set for release on September 6) becoming available for pre-order on the same day.[9] The song was promoted by country singer Dierks Bentley who released a comedic reading of the lyrics to his YouTube Channel which received praise from Carlile and Morris.[10] Their second single, "Crowded Table", written by band member Hemby and Lori McKenna, was released on July 26, 2019.[11]

In July 2019, the Highwomen performed their first ever full live set at the 60th annual Newport Folk Festival, previewing songs from their upcoming album including "If She Ever Leaves Me", written by Shires, her husband Jason Isbell and Chris Thompkins.[12] With Carlile on lead vocals, Isbell described it as "the first gay country song" which elicited applause from the audience. Other songs performed included "My Only Child", an ode to "suburban moms" performed by Hemby who wrote the track with Shires and Miranda Lambert, "Loose Change", a nod to 70s country written by Morris, Daniel Layus of Augustana, and Maggie Chapman, featuring Morris on lead vocals and "Cocktail and a Song" which was written solely by Shires in honor of her father. Carlile later invited the rest of the Highwomen to join her during her headlining set where, as they originally intended, the group performed alongside other female artists including Amy Ray, Courtney Marie Andrews, Dolly Parton, Jade Bird, Judy Collins, Linda Perry, Lucy Dacus, Our Native Daughters, Sheryl Crow, The First Ladies of Bluegrass, and Yola Carter.[7][13][14] Shires said the plan was always to debut their music at Newport with Dolly Parton. The band wore custom suits by Manuel.[7]

Their cover of "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac from the soundtrack of the movie The Kitchen debuted during the film's first trailer and was officially released on August 2, 2019.[15] The title track of their self-titled debut album was released on August 13, 2019. Written by Carlile and Shires with Jimmy Webb, the original writer of "Highwayman", the track that originally inspired the Highwomen's formation, it tells the story of various women throughout history and features guest vocals from British country soul singer Yola Carter and backing vocals from Sheryl Crow.[16] The song is a classic answer song.[4]

The band recorded 15 songs, but only 12 tracks made it on the album.[4] Songwriters included the aforementioned Jimmy Webb, Rodney Clawson, Maggie Chapman, Lori McKenna, Jason Isbell, Peter Levin, Miranda Lambert, Ray LaMontagne, among many others.[17] Many of the songs flip gender roles, with additions of characters like refugee, preacher, Freedom Rider, and a healer, compared to the characters drawn by the Highwaymen songs.[18]

Following the release of their album, the band have infrequently performed together. In 2022, they performed "Somewhere Down The Road" at the Kennedy Center Honors in tribute to Amy Grant, who was one of the honorees. They also performed "Coal Miner's Daughter" during a tribute show on CMT following the death of Loretta Lynn, with Brittney Spencer standing in for Morris.[19][20]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions Sales
US
[21]		 US
Cou.
[22]		 US
Folk
[23]		 AUS
Dig.
[24]		 CAN
[25]		 UK
[26]		 UK
Country
[27]
The Highwomen 10111231922

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Dig.
[29]		 US
Cou.
[22]		 US
AAA
[30]
"Redesigning Women" 2019 — 50 — The Highwomen
"Crowded Table" — — 31
"Highwomen" — — —
"The Chain"
(from The Kitchen)		 46 —[upper-alpha 1] 28 Non-album single
"Hold On"
(with Yola featuring Sheryl Crow)		 2020 — — —

Guest appearances

Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Highway Unicorn" 2021 Brittney Spencer and Madeline Edwards Born This Way The Tenth Anniversary

Music videos

Title Year
"Redesigning Women" 2019
"Crowded Table"

Members

The Highwomen

Honorary Highwomen

Band

  • Dave Cobb - production, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
  • Phil Hanseroth - backing vocals, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, percussion
  • Tim Hanseroth - backing vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
  • Jason Isbell - acoustic guitar, electric guitar
  • Peter Levin - keyboards, piano, mellotron, strings, wurlitzer
  • Chris Powell - drums, percussion

Notes

  1. ↑ "The Chain" did not enter the US Hot Country Songs chart but peaked at number nine on the Country Digital Song Sales chart.[31]

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryNominated WorkResult
2020Academy of Country Music AwardsGroup of the YearThe HighwomenNominated
Americana Music Honors & AwardsDuo/Group of the YearWon
Album of the YearThe HighwomenWon
Song of the Year"Crowded Table"Won
CMT AwardsGroup Video of the YearWon
2021Grammy AwardsBest Country SongWon
Academy of Country Music AwardsGroup of the YearThe HighwomenNominated

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Moss, Marissa R. (19 July 2019). "The Highwomen: In the Studio With Country's Ballsiest New Group". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 20 August 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  2. ↑ Weiner, Natalie (3 September 2019). "Country Music Is a Man's World. The Highwomen Want to Change That". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  3. ↑ Hughes, Hilary (23 August 2019). "Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, Amanda Shires & Natalie Hemby Unpack The Highwomen's Impact". Billboard. Archived from the original on 7 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hudak, Joseph (11 June 2019). "Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris Talk Highwomen Project" (Includes two-part audio interview on SiriusXM's channel The Highway with Storme Warren). Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 7 September 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  5. ↑ Thompson, Stephen (19 July 2019). "Listen: Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, Amanda Shires, Natalie Hemby Are The Highwomen". NPR. Archived from the original on 7 September 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  6. ↑ Willman, Chris (6 March 2019). "Brandi Carlile, Amanda Shires Add Maren Morris to 'Highwomen' Supergroup". Variety. Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 McCartney, Kelly (9 September 2019). "Inside the Making and the Movement of The Highwomen". No Depression. Archived from the original on 9 September 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  8. ↑ Moss, Marissa R. (2 April 2019). "See the Highwomen's Live Debut at Loretta Lynn Birthday Show". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  9. ↑ Houghton, Cillea (19 July 2019). "The Highwomen Light the Ultimate Bonfire in 'Redesigning Women' Video [Watch]". Taste of Country. Archived from the original on 7 September 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  10. ↑ Thompson, Gayle (24 July 2019). "Dierks Bentley Does Comedic Reading of The Highwomen's 'Redesigning Women'". PopCulture.com. Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  11. ↑ Newcomb, Ming Lee (26 July 2019). "Country supergroup The Highwomen share second single "Crowded Table": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  12. ↑ Willman, Chris (27 July 2019). "Country Supergroup the Highwomen Has a High Time in Newport Folk Festival Debut". Variety. Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  13. ↑ Bernstein, Jonathan; Exposito, Suzy (29 July 2019). "Newport Folk Festival 2019: 10 Best Things We Saw". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 29 July 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  14. ↑ Hughes, Hilary (29 July 2019). "The 10 Best Moments From the Surprise-Packed 2019 Newport Folk Festival". Billboard. Archived from the original on 29 July 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  15. ↑ Arcand, Rob (2 August 2019). "New Music: The Highwomen Cover Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain": Listen". SPIN. Archived from the original on 9 August 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  16. ↑ Hudak, Joseph (13 August 2019). "Hear the Highwomen's Gender-Swapping Remake of the Highwaymen's Theme Song". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 13 August 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  17. ↑ Moss, Marissa R. (4 September 2019). "The Highwomen's Debut Album: Track-by-Track Guide". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 6 September 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  18. ↑ Domenghini, Annalise (6 September 2019). "The Highwomen On Feminism, Success, And Dolly Parton". NYLON. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  19. ↑ "WATCH: The Highwomen Tribute Amy Grant at Kennedy Center Honors". 29 December 2022.
  20. ↑ "Jack White, the Highwomen Pay Tribute to Loretta Lynn at the Grand Ole Opry". 31 October 2022.
  21. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (September 15, 2019). "Post Malone Scores Second No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 With 'Hollywood's Bleeding'". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
  22. 1 2 "Billboard Country Update" (PDF). Billboard. September 16, 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  23. ↑ "The Highwomen Chart History - Americana/Folk Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 8, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  24. ↑ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Digital Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. September 16, 2019. Archived from the original on September 16, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  25. ↑ "Billboard Canadian Albums: September 21, 2019". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  26. ↑ "Highwomen | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  27. ↑ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20 | Official Charts Company". The Official UK Charts Company. Archived from the original on 2021-01-28. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  28. ↑ Bjorke, Matt (March 10, 2020). "Top 10 Country Albums Pure Sales Chart: March 9, 2020". RoughStock. Archived from the original on March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  29. ↑ "The Highwomen Chart History - Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 8, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  30. ↑ "Adult Alternative Songs - February 1, 2020". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2020-01-28. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  31. ↑ "The Highwomen: Country Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 8, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
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