• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2025 ABC News
  • Culture

Kacey Musgraves and Kelsea Ballerini call out sexism in country radio

4:51
Women take center stage at the CMA Awards
WireImage/Getty Images, FILE
ByMegan Stone and Hayley FitzPatrick
January 17, 2020, 5:49 PM

One radio station's reply to a confused listener drew the frustration of Kacey Musgraves and Kelsea Ballerini on Thursday.

When a country fan asked 98 KCQ in Saginaw, Michigan, if stations could get fined for playing two female artists back to back, the station responded in a since-deleted tweet, "We cannot play two females back to back. Not even Lady Antebellum or Little Big Town against another female. I applaud their courage."

That simple response triggered a powerful response from two of country's most popular female singers.

Musgraves, 31, took to Twitter and responded, "Smells like white male bulls--- and why LONG ago I decided they cannot stop me."

Related Articles

MORE: Biggest female artists in country music open 2019 CMA Awards with powerful performance

The "Space Cowboy" singer continued, "And yet, they can play 18 dudes who sound exactly the same back to back. Makes total sense."

As for Ballerini, 26, the singer took a more diplomatic tone to vent her frustration on Thursday.

She wrote, "To all the ladies that bust their a---- to have half the opportunities that men do, I'm really sorry that in 2020, after YEARS of conversation of equal play, there are still some companies that make their stations play by these rules."

Editor’s Picks

Country singer Martina McBride calls out Spotify

  • Sep 12, 2019

Country's female stars band together for equal representation, industry changes

  • Jul 09, 2019

Biggest female country artists open 2019 CMA Awards with powerful performance

  • Nov 14, 2019

Added the "Miss Me More" singer, "It's unfair and it's incredibly disappointing."

Related Articles

MORE: Country's biggest female stars band together for equal representation, industry changes

A Twitter user also questioned, "Just out of curiosity: are you saying that the management wouldn't let you play women back-to-back as some sort of corporate policy or are you saying that you don't play women back-to-back because of potential backlash from listeners?"

The station clarified, "There is no potential backlash. Or a corporate rule. The music is pre-scheduled and that is how it is scheduled. The music is also tested. With real live listeners. And EVERYONE has the opportunity to take the music test online."

Kacey Musgraves, attends an event on Dec. 10, 2019, in New York City.
WireImage/Getty Images, FILE

Country singer Martina McBride also criticized the lack of female representation in country music after using the streaming music service Spotify in 2019.

The "Concrete Angel" singer posted on her Instagram story that she was listening to a song by fellow country artist Sara Evans when she decided to create a "Country Music" playlist on the platform.

The recommendations Spotify suggested she add to the playlist were all by male artists in the genre.

"I just have no words. My heart is pounding. I can't remember when I've been this mad," she posted on her story about the lack of female artists recommended.

Related Articles

MORE: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/martina-mcbride-calls-spotify-women-country-music-appearing-65564339

"Is it lazy? Is it discriminatory? Is it tone deaf? Is it out of touch? @spotify what.is.it??? Please help me understand," she wrote.

She went on to explain why she was posting about the issue.

"I'm frustrated for my sisters," she wrote in her Instagram story. "For all the great female artists who are making fabulous music. For all the female writers. And MOST OF ALL for every little girl out there who doesn't hear this music And doesn't know that SHE CAN GROW UP AND DO IT!!!"

Related Topics

  • Country Music

Editor’s Picks

Country singer Martina McBride calls out Spotify

  • Sep 12, 2019

Country's female stars band together for equal representation, industry changes

  • Jul 09, 2019

Biggest female country artists open 2019 CMA Awards with powerful performance

  • Nov 14, 2019

Up Next in Culture—

Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock reunite on 'Practical Magic 2' set: 'The witches are back'

July 18, 2025

Tech company Astronomer launches investigation into 'kiss cam' moment at Coldplay concert

July 18, 2025

Late-night TV hosts react to ‘Late Show’ cancellation

July 18, 2025

Caitlin Clark will be 'active on the sidelines' during WNBA All-Star Game despite injury

July 18, 2025

Shop GMA Favorites

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2025 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2025 ABC News