On Monday, Nashville’s all-female, singer-songwriter collective, Song Suffragettes, celebrated their milestone sixth anniversary with two rounds featuring 9 women singer-songwriters and a special presentation to respected hit songwriter Laura Veltz who has penned 6 #1 hits in recent years including Maren Morris’ “The Bones” and Dan + Shay’s “Speechless.” Veltz accepted the “Yellow Rose of Inspiration Award” for her contributions to the songwriting community including writing many of the songs that have inspired the over 250 women who have performed on the Song Suffragettes stage through the years. Veltz is only the second woman to receive that honor after esteemed songwriter and publisher Liz Rose who received it last year. Beverly Keel, Dean of Middle Tennessee State University’s College of Media and Entertainment, moderated a Q and A with Veltz, diving into her career and her songwriting methods. Veltz also surprised the sold-out Listening Room Café audience with an acoustic performance of Maren Morris’ next single “To Hell And Back,” which she co-penned alongside Morris and Jessie Jo Dillon.

Photo Credit: Jordan Merrigan. From L-R: Mia Morris, Erin Grand, Song Suffragettes’ Helena Capps, Chloe Gilligan, Jenna LaMaster, Jeannie Seely, Laura Veltz, MTSU’s Dean Beverly Keel, Sarabeth Taite, Candi Carpenter, Kalie Shorr, Vic Allen, Bellah Mae and Song Suffragettes’ Todd Cassetty.

The night kicked-off with a multi-generational performance featuring Grand Ole Opry star Jeannie Seely in a songwriter round with Song Suffragette denizens Chloe Gilligan, Erin Grand, Jenna LaMaster,  Sarabeth Taite and fifteen-year-old, multi-instrumentalist Mia Morris on cajon. Later in the evening, a second round showcased the singer-songwriters who will be featured on the Song Suffragettes first-ever Tour in the United Kingdom scheduled to launch on April 26th in Glasgow, Scotland. Helmed by critically-acclaimed U.S. performers Kalie Shorr and Candi Carpenter, the round also featured U.K. newcomers Vic Allen and Bellah Mae, again with Mia Morris on cajon.

The evening capped off another big year for the much heralded female collective. Ongoing media coverage of Song Suffragettes has included high-profile pieces on PBS NewsHour, National Public Radio, ELLE Magazine and more. In December, they produced and released a cover song and video of Taylor Swift’s “The Man” which features 17 performers in a video that Taste of Country called “humorous” and “empowering”.

Song Suffragettes remains at the forefront of the disparity and discrimination debate surrounding females in the country music genre and is working on multiple plans to help celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution’s 19th Amendment later this year.

Song Suffragettes U.K. Tour Dates:
April 26 – Glasgow, Scotland – Òran Mór
April 27 – Nottingham, England – Glee Club
April 28 – Birmingham, England – Glee Club
April 29 – Manchester, England – Band On The Wall
April 30 – London, England – Bush Hall