At its core, country’s male domination of summer festivals and tours is a byproduct of the lack of airplay for women on country radio. If female artists aren’t charting hits (or charting at all), they don’t have the familiarity that makes them favorable for booking. But it’s a chicken-and-the-egg scenario, too. If women aren’t on those stages, they have trouble building the fan base and name recognition needed to motivate programmers to play their music.

A tender ballad he'll be performing during the awards telecast, "Female" is dedicated not just to the women in Urban's life but also to the power they inherently hold yet are so often denied – and the hardships they encounter just by virtue of their gender.