As part of CMT’s new digital series Next Women of Country LIVE, 20 female artists recorded live performances from CMT’s Nashville studio, including newcomer Courtney Cole.
The latest video to be released has Courtney belting out her song “Fall Like Rain,” proving the Louisiana native has the pipes to keep her in the forefront of country’s next crop of women.
“I grew up listening to a bunch of different things but I would have to say I love strong women—Shania Twain’s in that, Deana Carter, Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, Faith Hill, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey,” Courtney says in the video. “The Dixie Chicks were also in there as well, and I remember listening to them as a little girl, singing in my karaoke machine and being so enthralled by the emotion in their song ‘You Were Mine.’ I remember crying and I didn’t even really know what the story was about, but it touched me so deeply and I felt the emotion. I just wanted to make sure that that came through in my music as I got older. Hopefully it has.”
Released each week, the performances help raise the profile of female artists. Past performers include Kelsea Ballerini, Cassadee Pope, Maren Morris, Cam, Jana Kramer, Lauren Alaina, Brooke Eden, Brandy Clark, Maggie Rose, Mickey Guyton and more.
Last fall, Courtney hit the road with Miranda Lambert as part of her Roadside Bars & Pink Guitars Tour, released her three-track self-titled EP in Sept. 2015 and has currently released a new single, “Free 99,” which is available now.
Check out Courtney’s emotional version of “Fall Like Rain.”
