She Believed She Could Honors the Past and Tees Up the Future of Female Country Artists

The past and future of female country artists will meet in a new live show, She Believed She Could. The new Woolworth Theatre show comes from the makers of Song Suffragettes

In this residency show set to kick off November 3 at Woolworth Theatre, each of six artists will play one of her own original songs, along with a cover of one of country music’s greatest female icons.

It’s the brainchild of Todd Cassidy, who wanted to find a way to do his Song Suffragettes writer’s rounds on a larger scale. Local audiences may recognize Regan Stewart, Belles, Maddie Walker, LAYNA, Kaylin Roberson or Jillian Dawn from these rounds or even as supporting acts on country tours and American Idol.

Show creators are mum about exactly which legendary artist will be featured, though they’re true to the ethos of country music — telling a story. Each icon song is accompanied by a video package detailing the story behind it, and the young performers will each get a chance to take the mic and tell their own stories.

“I would hope that this would drastically grow the careers of these girls, and they would get incredible opportunities that would spring out of this,” said Kate Malone, music director for the show. “That's kind of the point is to give them a platform and say 'This girl's awesome. Look at her. She's an amazing writer, amazing singer and she's gonna be the next big thing.'”

The show is a rare family-friendly opportunity for Downtown Nashville. As a fourth-generation female musician, Belles considers her family business to be singing and songwriting. Belles will showcase her original song, “All Hat No Cowboy,” a clapback at men who wear cowboy gear but don’t necessarily have cowboy skills.

For Belles, who was most recently touring with Jojo Siwa, this months-long residency is also a chance to stay put and focus on honing her songwriting.

“I feel like that's really what the show is about, is telling the story of all of us who are on the stage following our dreams, and the women of the past that have already made it and how they accomplished their dreams,” Belles says.

Malone, part of a mostly female behind-the-scenes team, says she hopes it makes audiences question why label rosters and publishers are less than 50-50 female artists to male artists, and remind people how many commercially successful and well-loved female country artists there are.

“I think it is speaking to the music industry, and it's also speaking to the fans, because clearly the fans want this,” Malone says. “That's what's crazy is there's a disconnect between what the business thinks the fans want and what the fans want. If female country music singers were something that people didn't like, then why does every bar in Nashville have a Dolly Parton mural?”

She Believed She could is set to run Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 6 p.m.