Maren Morris to Receive Billboard 2016 Women in Music Breakthrough Artist Award
Billboard magazine will honor Maren Morris with its 2016 Women in Music Breakthrough Artist award.
The 26-year-old singer has already had a banner freshman year in country music, scoring a hit straight out of the box with her debut single, "My Church," and album, Hero, which made her the most-nominated artist at the 2016 CMA Awards.
She ended up taking home New Artist of the Year, which she accepted in a tearful speech by saying, “This is so crazy. So, last year I sat across the street at a bar and watched this show. I never thought as a songwriter I’d be standing here today. Thank you so much for voting for me.”
Billboard reports that the Breakthrough Artist award goes to an artist who has released "career-defining" music and become a "leading voice" in the genre over the last 12 months, citing the success of Hero, which became the first debut by a female country artist to reach No. 1 in almost two years. "My Church" also topped Billboard's Digital Sales chart in country music.
"Maren Morris has dominated this year, easily becoming one of the most talked-about women in country music today,” says Janice Min, president and chief creative officer of the Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group. “With a breakthrough nothing short of incredible, Maren has a stellar career ahead of her that will be marked by enormous commercial and critical success."
Morris is currently promoting her second single, "80s Mercedes," and while she's on the road right now with Keith Urban for his Ripcord Tour, she recently announced her first headlining tour, which kicks off Feb. 3, 2017 in Boston.
The 11th annual Billboard Women in Music event takes place Dec. 9 in New York City, and airs on Lifetime on Dec. 12.
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