If you walked into a Nashville honky-tonk five years ago, you knew exactly what you were getting. But man, things have changed. Honestly, the list of top female country music singers isn't just a list of names anymore; it’s a full-blown movement that’s kicking down doors most people thought were bolted shut.
We aren't just talking about Carrie and Miranda anymore. Though, let’s be real, they’re still the queens.
The Lainey Wilson Era is Just Getting Started
You can't have a conversation about country music right now without starting with Lainey Wilson. She basically took the "Bell Bottom Country" thing and turned it into a global brand. After cleaning up at the 2024 ACMs—where she snagged Entertainer of the Year and Female Artist of the Year—she didn't just sit back.
Lainey’s 2026 is looking massive. She’s already locked in to headline the Concert for Legends in Canton this August. Plus, she just dropped a deluxe version of Whirlwind with five new tracks like "Somewhere Over Laredo." It’s that mix of Louisianan grit and actual, honest-to-god songwriting that makes her feel like the "it" girl who actually earned it.
She's the first solo woman to hit the ACM Triple Crown in a three-year span since the Chicks back in the late 90s. That’s not just a stat; it’s a shift in the tectonic plates of Nashville.
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Megan Moroney and the "Cloud 9" Takeover
Then there’s Megan Moroney. Kinda crazy how fast she went from "Tennessee Orange" going viral to announcing a 43-date global arena tour. Her new album On Cloud 9, dropping February 20, 2026, is the one everyone is whispering about in the industry.
Why?
Because she’s doing collaborations that make total sense but still feel like a flex. She’s got a track with Ed Sheeran called "I Only Miss You" and another with Kacey Musgraves titled "Bells & Whistles." Megan has this way of being "sassy" (her words, not mine) while keeping it relatable. It's that "emo cowgirl" vibe that hits right where the younger fans live.
The Veterans Aren't Going Anywhere
Don't think for a second the legends are slowing down. Dolly Parton—the literal north star for every woman in this genre—is touring her Threads: My Songs in Symphony experience throughout 2026. She’s hitting Denver, Phoenix, and Nashville with a full orchestra.
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And then you have Carrie Underwood.
She just wrapped up her REFLECTION residency in Vegas—which, by the way, was the longest-running residency for a solo female country artist ever—and now she’s hitting the festival circuit. She’s making her debut at Tanglewood this August. Carrie is still the highest RIAA-certified female country artist of all time, and watching her transition from the Vegas glitz back to raw outdoor stages is something fans are clearly hungry for.
New Blood: The 2026 Class to Watch
If you want to know who’s going to be the next top female country music singers by this time next year, keep these names on your radar:
- Elizabeth Nichols: The 22-year-old who went from TikTok to a No. 1 iTunes Country chart spot with "I Got a New One." She’s making her UK debut at C2C this year.
- Ella Langley: Already an ACM winner (New Female Artist of the Year), her voice is pure smoke and whiskey.
- Faith Hopkins: Bringing a bit of California ease to the Nashville sound. Her EP Love and Insanity is genuinely clever.
- Dasha: You’ve probably heard "Austin," but she’s proving she’s not a one-hit wonder as she tours with Thomas Rhett and Kane Brown this year.
Why the "Country Purist" Argument is Dying
We have to talk about the elephant in the room: Beyoncé. Cowboy Carter did something weird to country music. It made people angry, sure, but it also made a lot of people listen who never would’ve touched a banjo before.
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While some traditionalists are still grumbling, the reality is that the 2025/2026 charts show a more inclusive landscape. Beyoncé winning a country Grammy—the first Black woman to do it since the Pointer Sisters in '75—was a massive cultural flag-plant. It’s paved the way for artists like Kat Luna and MŌRIAH to bring different cultural textures into the genre without feeling like they have to "act" a certain way to fit in.
Is This the Best Time for Women in Country?
Honestly? Maybe.
For a long time, there was this "tomato theory" in country radio—the idea that women were the garnish, not the salad. But look at the 2026 tour schedules. You’ve got Carly Pearce playing major dates across the UK, Kacey Musgraves selling out arenas on her Deeper Well tour, and newcomers like Alexandra Kay pulling 8.5 million followers just by being authentic.
The "top" isn't a single spot anymore. It’s a huge, messy, beautiful ecosystem of different sounds.
What to do next if you're a fan:
- Check the 2026 Tour Schedules: Megan Moroney and Lainey Wilson tickets are moving fast. If you’re in the Northeast, the Carrie Underwood Tanglewood show is a rare "bucket list" event.
- Stream the "Next Women of Country" Class: CMT’s 2025/2026 picks (like Kaitlin Butts and Lanie Gardner) are usually the best indicator of who will be winning Grammys in two years.
- Listen to the Lyrics: The trend right now is "vulnerability over production." The polished, over-produced pop-country is fading out; raw, diary-style songwriting is what’s winning.
The 2026 landscape is less about being a "star" and more about being a storyteller. Whether it's Kacey Musgraves making an arena feel like a living room or Elizabeth Nichols writing about her ex in a way that goes viral in three hours, the connection is what matters.
Keep an eye on the February release of On Cloud 9—it’s likely to be the benchmark for the rest of the year.