Megan Moroney is your Billboard Women in Music Rule Breaker of the Year.
Over the weekend, women across many genres gathered in Los Angeles for the Billboard Women in Music Awards. Hosted by Laverne Cox, the awards show highlights the work of women who are pioneers in their respective genres. Similar to how other awards shows have the coveted Entertainer of the Year award, the Billboard Women in Music Awards has the Woman of the Year award.
However, throughout the evening, many other honors were presented to the women in attendance, including the Triple Threat Award, the Rulebreaker Award, the Trail Blazer Award, Group of the Year, and more.
This year, country music was represented at the awards ceremony, and Megan Moroney received the Rulebreaker Award. This award is given to artists each year who defy industry traditions and use their music to create a platform that streamlines a powerful message. These artists are influential, and their songs significantly impact listeners.
When Moroney walked up to the stage to accept her award, she made the audience giggle, noting that while she’s honored to receive this award, she’s an “avid rule follower.”
“Thank you, Billboard, for this. This is so cool. And I’m just really grateful to be here. When I found out I was getting the Rulebreaker Award, I thought it was kind of funny, because if you know me in real life, I’m like an avid rule follower.
I stole a piece of gum when I was ten from a ballpark, and I still think about it sometimes. So it’s just ironic that I get the Rulebreaker Award, but I’m just so grateful for it.”
Hearing Moroney say this in her speech made me laugh out loud because what are the odds she’s being awarded something so different from her personality?
However, I’d have to agree that Moroney is a perfect example of a “rulebreaker” when it comes to music, creating a sound that is authentically her, following themes with each of her albums, and never apologizing for her raw lyrics. On top of that, fostering a loyal and loving fan base is no easy feat and something many artists neglect.
“And I’m grateful to be here in a room with such talented, confident, amazing women in music. And I wouldn’t be up here if it wasn’t for my team. Thank you to my managers, Juli Griffith, Hayley Corbett, my agent Elisa Vazzana, and UTA, Stephanie Self. I’ve just got like so many bad b*tches on my team. I could go on and on. But my record label, Columbia Records and Sony Nashville, I’m just really grateful to be here, and it’s awesome to see so many amazing women all in the same room tonight.
So cheers. Let’s have margaritas. Thank you. Thanks, Billboard.”
I hope that many margaritas were had. Moroney is becoming a powerhouse among female country artists, and I am sure she will continue to break down barriers and follow her own set of rules as her career continues to grow.
Regardless of being a rule follower or a rulebreaker, Moroney deserves all the recognition for her music.
