We're back with the high women.
First of all, congratulations.
This is the number one album right now.
That is amazing.
[APPLAUSE]
You just decide to put together a little group.
Whose idea was this?
It was Amanda's.
Amanda Shires.
Yeah.
All right.
Yeah, I am--
I was inspired by my daughter I think
because she was starting to show signs of wanting to play music
maybe when she grows up.
And so I thought the worst thing that could happen
would be that she would go for country because they're only
currently two women's voices that you can actually
hear on the radio.
Brandi take it from me now.
[LAUGHTER]
I'm not much on talking.
Amanda gave me a call.
And we started putting together this group of women
that we love to try and represent more women and girls
voices in country music.
On country music, yeah, on spaces because what
I don't understand-- so on country music stations,
like you are one of the highest selling artists, right, Maren?
You're doing very, very well.
And yet, they don't play you on the radio.
Is that correct?
They play me.
But when you compare it to some of my male peers,
it's pretty staggering still.
Yeah.
And I'm one of the few lucky girls
that gets played on country radio.
We're just trying to change that.
Yeah.
She's still helping us.
Yeah, well, we should change that.
That's amazing.
I mean, there are amazing singers out there.
So, OK-- so it was your idea to do it.
You called-- was it Brandi first?
I called our producer, Dave Cobb.
And I told him the idea and the intention behind it.
And he said the person you should
work with is Brandi Carlile.
And I said great.
And he gave me your number.
And I'm a huge Brandi Carlile fan.
Me, too.
And like the idea of calling somebody without knowing
them is not me.
And so six months later, he was like what's
going on with The Highwomen.
Did you talk to Brandi?
I was like, I feel like one day we'll meet.
And he said, I have this event at the basement
east in Nashville.
And she's going to be there.
I'm going to go, and you're going to come with me.
And then you're going to meet her.
And I said I'll go.
And we'll see what happens after that.
And the minute that I saw her, I just went up to her.
I just-- I don't know something, not inner peace, but just OK,
here it goes came over me.
And it was probably not the best timing
because she was about to go on stage.
And I just blurted out all up in her face,
I said, hi, I'm Amanda Shires.
I want to start a band called The Highwomen with you.
And take it from there, Brandi.
I said, yes.
And here we are.
So, Maren, who would you--
I know that you wanted-- and they
had to beg you, Natalie, I understand.
Why did they beg you?
Well, you know what, I've been writing
songs for a long time in Nashville for like 20 years.
And I'm not stupid.
I'm like what kind of red tape does this mean?
I was like I don't even have a manager or anything.
And they're like, well, that's OK.
We have managers.
And so then Brandi was like, well, here's--
I'll let you in on a little secret.
It looks like we might be getting
to play with Dolly at Newport.
And I was like, oh, well, I'm in.
So Dolly Parton, that is.
Even though Dolly Parton was not in.
That was just a lure.
[LAUGHTER]
So but that's what you would like, right?
Maren, you'd like to see Dolly Parton join this?
Oh my god, I mean, just performing with her
a few weeks ago with these girls,
we all kind of felt like, well, we just sang with Dolly Parton
and should we Thelma and Louise it and just all
jump off a cliff?
[LAUGHTER]
I'd also like to see Ellen joins this band.
[APPLAUSE]
Yeah.
That's right.
I want to thank The Highwomen.
I'm one of them.
I'd like to thank all of us.
Cardi B, Chance the Rapper, T.I., and Nacho Figueras.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Be kind to one another.
Bye bye.