LOS ANGELES — Country singer Reyna Roberts performed in a black dress and bedazzled boots, currently showcased at the Grammy Museum.
“Speechless—that’s why I’m so nervous right now! I feel like it's kind of surreal,” Roberts said. “You know, you work hard for things and you pray for things for years and years and then when those moments happen, you're kind of stunned by them.”
One of the earliest handwritten drafts of her song “Raised Right” is also featured as part of the new exhibit titled “The Power of Women in Country Music.”
Roberts is one of the young artists featured, but of course, women who came before her, such as Dolly Parton and LeAnn Rimes, have their place too.
“I don’t want to say it’s been easy, but it’s been…the road has already been paved, so it’s been easier for me to walk down it,” Roberts said.
Associate curator Kelsey Goelz helped assemble the display.
“Country radio doesn’t play women as much as men. That’s one of the reasons why we wanted to do this exhibit,” Goelz said.
Through the process, Goelz found within herself a deeper appreciation of the art and the artists.
“They’re writing about motherhood and activism and LGBTQ rights and I think sometimes the country genre can shy away from those kind of powerful messages, but these women are not afraid to make those claims,” Goelz said.
Struggles to make ends meet growing up never jeopardized Roberts’ creative pursuits and so, as much as making it into the exhibit is a personal achievement, it’s also a testament to her family.
“My mom, her and my father, they dyed my hair. I know right?! So when you see the Reyna red hair color that’s my parents, so literally everywhere I go, everything I do, it’s togetherness,” Roberts said.
The exhibit, which runs through Oct. 2, contains items from nearly 70 women.