Lindsay Ell, Kelleigh Bannen and Kalie Shorr Remix Taylor Swift's 'Look What You Made Me Do'

Kelleigh Bannen, Lindsay Ell and Kalie Shorr kicked off CMT's 5th annual Next Women of Country with a cover of Taylor Swift's "Look What You Made Me Do"

Published on December 19, 2017 11:15 AM

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Taylor Swift‘s “Look What You Made Me Do” just got a country remix!

Kelleigh Bannen, Lindsay Ell and Kalie Shorr kicked off CMT’s fifth annual Next Women of Country celebration in November with a surprise cover of Swift’s Reputation track in front of country up-and-comers including Lauren Alaina, Danielle Bradbery and Carly Pearce.

To convey a statement about girl power, the three women chose to cover “Look What You Made Me Do” to literally and metaphorically demonstrate that they are no longer afraid to be silent. Hundreds of female artists, songwriters, politicians and industry execs gathered at the event to support each other and empower women.

Additionally, the end of the video includes a number to 1-800-656-HOPE, which is a national sexual assault hotline organized by nonprofit RAINN.

“I did a solo cover and video of the song when it first came out and was later asked to perform it at CMT’s Next Women of Country event,” Shorr, 23, said of their song choice. “The Next Women franchise is all about creating an environment in Nashville where women support each other, so I called up two of my favorite artists and we figured out this stellar arrangement.”

“We realized after performing it in Kelleigh’s kitchen that the song took on a whole new meaning,” she continued. “It became part empowerment anthem and part protest song directed at anyone who has ever discounted, disrespected or harassed a woman.” Shorr said. “We stood united on that stage with three incredibly different sounds, coming together to make a statement at a time when women’s rights are at the forefront of the national conversation. I’ve never seen women support each other as much as they are at this point in history. I guess you could say that’s what the world made us do.”

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And Bannen couldn’t agree more.

“This was such a fun moment. The three of us are in slightly different places in our careers, but we have so much common ground as far as the struggle to get our voices really heard as women, as well as our passion to advocate for our peers,” she said.

“There couldn’t have been a more perfect setting to get to perform the song — the CMT’s Next Women of Country event has meant so much to me, and has been such an encouragement to me over the last few years. It was an honor to share the stage with these two women, and I love the message of the song in this context — one of persevering in the face of challenges,” Banned added.

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CMT launched its Next Women campaign in 2013 as a way to give more attention and airplay to emerging female country artists across all screens.

The 2018 Next Women class featured Alaina, Bradbery and Pearce as well as Abby Anderson, Ashley McBryde, Bailey Bryan, Hannah Ellis, Jillian Jacqueline, Kassi Ashton, Natalie Stovall, Post Monroe and Runaway June.

Kelsea Ballerini was named this year’s recipient of the Impact Award.