Kaitlin Butts Gives Landmark Speech After 2024 Ameripolitan Award Win
The 2024 Ameripolitan Awards transpired in Austin Sunday evening (2-18), and it included a host of moments that feel like they will live in the memory and history of not just the event, but the annals of country and roots music lore for a long time.
There was Augie Myers and Flaco Jimenez taking the stage to reprise the songs of the legendary Texas Tornados. There was Monte Warden recalling the time Charlie Robison saved his drowning son from a pool during a tribute to Robison. There was Billy Don Burns winning for Best Outlaw Male award, and Tammi Savoy turning in a performance that shook the rafters of Austin’s Moody Theater.
To see a full report and photos from the event, CLICK HERE.
But the moment perhaps most people were talking about when they were filing out of the venue, hanging out at an afterparty, or waking up the next morning, is the speech that Kaitlin Butts gave after winning the 2024 Ameripolitan Award for Best Honky Tonk Female. She thanked all of the people behind her career, as well as her family and fans. But it was really the message to the other women of country music that deserves to be highlighted.
Kaitlin Butts was first nominated for an Ameripolitan award and performed at the event in 2023. As Saving Country Music observed at the time,
“Kaitlin Butts put on a performance that is only fair to characterize as a ‘career moment.’ Without her band, and in front of a crowd that’s not exactly the Texas/Red Dirt scene that she’s familiar with, Kaitlin came out with just an acoustic guitar, and stunned. It’s in these kinds of naked moments where an artist either rises, or is exposed. Off the strength of her songs, her voice, and her guitar playing, Kaitlin Butts proved she’s ready for any stage, crowd, or moment.”
Perhaps it was through that 2023 Ameripolitan performance, and many more from Kaitlin over the last year that she earned the 2024 Honky Tonk Female trophy.
For posterity and those that may not be plugged into the right channels to see or here it, below you can find a transcription of Kaitlin Butts’ 2024 Ameripolitan acceptance speech, and video from the moment at the bottom.
For more coverage of the 2024 Ameripolitan Awards, check out, Saving Country Music on Instagram. Another article about the greater impact of Ameripolitan 2024 is also forthcoming.
Well, this is really awesome. I’ve never won an award before. I told myself, ‘Maybe I should keep it quick.’ But that’s not really my style. So I’m going to talk for a minute (laughing).
I want to thank my manager Mark Noel at Triple 8, William Morris, Soundly, my mom, my husband Cleto who helped me find my own path. Shit, it’s all really happening.
– – – – –
I want to dedicate this award to the women I see there running down the road alongside me, girls like Emily [Nenni], Hannah [Juanita], Summer [Dean], Kat [Hasty], Brennen [Leigh], Kelsey [Waldon], Taylor [Hunnicutt], and all the other women nominated tonight that I haven’t gotten a chance to meet yet.
I just want to say, I see you. I see you, and I see the extra struggles that we get to face. But you keep f–king going, and you don’t let it keep you from doing this. I’m sorry I have a foul mouth. You don’t let the comments like ‘I don’t normally like girl singers but I like you,’ you don’t let that stop you.
You don’t let the lowball offer at the noon o’clock first set of the festival stop you, or the unconscious or conscious bias in this industry stop you, or the car breakdowns or mental breakdowns stop you either. You get in the dress in the back of that stinky ass van in the parking lot of the venue hoping no one will walk up to your untinted windows and see that you’re wearing your ugly bras to the show tonight.
You put on your lipstick in that rearview mirror, and you get on stage like it’s nothing. But I know it’s not nothing and I see each and every one of you honky tonk women, and I admire and look up to you more than words can express.
I’m not done (through applause).
To all the folks that have children here in the audience tonight, please go buy a ticket and see these women after this weekend. When I was a girl, my first concert was The Wreckers at Cain’s Ballroom. I saw those women on stage playing their own instruments, and singing their own songs about life as they saw it. As soon as I saw them, I knew that was what I wanted to be. And most importantly, I knew that it was possible because I saw it with my own eyes. And I believe that if you can see it you can be it.
And I am a product of the women in this room tonight and the women who have come before me and shown me the way. The women in this room are balls of fire, and we need them to inspire future generations, but we can’t do that without the support. Please buy a ticket to see them live. They may curse and use a few swear words. When you’re in a van with six dudes for six weeks, you start to talk like one. But your kids will live.
Thank you to the Ameripolitan Awards, and everyone who voted for me. You put fuel in my tank.
February 19, 2024 @ 12:12 pm
She’s the real deal – saw her open for Morgan Wade a couple years ago – just her and her fiddle player, Lane Hawkins. I’d already had her entire LP memorized. Her message on winning this awards is excellent to the next generations…
February 19, 2024 @ 12:20 pm
Kaitlin is the best. Saw her perform in a restaurant a few months ago with about 30 people in the audience and she absolutely blew us all away. Incredible talent, incredible songwriter, incredible voice. She’s a force, and I’m so happy to see her have success.
February 19, 2024 @ 1:43 pm
Hell yeah.
February 19, 2024 @ 2:29 pm
I think I agree with everything she said, but let’s recap to confirm: 1) celebrate the successes of your peers, they are not your competition; 2) girls are tough; 3) there’s no shortcuts, you gotta put in the work; 4) men are pigs; 5) be a model for the next generation; 6) support live music and especially female artists. Yes, Kaitlyn nailed it perfectly. Well deserved honor and very happy for her. Sending this article to my daughter now because I think her words transcend the music business.
February 19, 2024 @ 8:38 pm
While it’s now kind of standard fare to say “men are pigs,” that nonetheless jumped out at me from your comment, and it led me to backtrack over the article. I did not see Kaitlyn Butts saying anything like men are swine, though she did allude to some archtype male making a condescending remark to her that might have been a tad piggish. But she also thanked her manager and her husband, both of whom appear to be men, for aiding in her success.. lol.
February 20, 2024 @ 6:25 am
Was thinking more about having to travel around in a van with 6 dudes really. That really does have to be awful for any woman.
February 19, 2024 @ 6:57 pm
Incredibly happy for her. She comes across as so genuine and really love her catalog.
February 19, 2024 @ 7:07 pm
Not many people outside the bubble of Ameripolitan know (or care) about the awards.
At least it’s not the dumb ass Josie awards that some aspiring Nashville musicians fall for.
February 19, 2024 @ 7:36 pm
I would say that’s generally correct. But that’s also correct for just about any event or festival, so I don’t know the ultimate point you’re trying to make. Having attended the Ameripolitan Awards all seven years, I can tell you that what happened this year was a dramatic, dramatic step up that will grow that Americana “bubble” significantly.
That said, the whole reason I wanted to publish the Kaitlin Butts speech is BECAUSE of the bubble and to get it out to more people outside of the Ameripolitan experience.
February 19, 2024 @ 8:55 pm
No other genre is better to it’s female performers than Country music. I’m just tired of the whole victim-girl power whining. I get that it’s going to keep happening but like she said it’s with the support of 6 men in a stinky van. I wish everyone success. I just have a hard time listening to someone complain about why they feel entitled to it.
February 19, 2024 @ 11:15 pm
Strait,
You feel like a negative comment looking for a subject, and there’s too much of that in these comments sections.
I didn’t hear anything in Kaitlin’s speech about feeling entitled. On the contrary, it was about how so many of the women are working their ass off in this industry, and specifically the ones that were at Ameripolitan. Having watched Kaitlin’s career over the last few years, I can say she’s speaking from experience. This isn’t the CMAs, or even the Grammys. You’re not going to get a nomination from Ameripolitan sitting at home hoping a career materializes for you. All the men and women involved in this thing earned it.
February 20, 2024 @ 4:12 am
Perhaps but I’m not persuaded by her purposeful swearing when she knew full well there were children there.
February 20, 2024 @ 10:41 am
There is not one ounce of man-hating in Kaitlin Butt’s body and not one ounce of it in her speech. The dirty men/pigs thing was purely a metaphor for being on the road where we men have notoriously lower standards of hygiene and language (if you must use that puritanical bullshit argument…oooh save the children….give me a break).
Facts are facts. Its harder for women in this business for many reasons….and in nearly every other walk of life. I was oblivious if not outright blind to it. Have a couple of daughters and your eyesight becomes crystal clear on that subject and in 2024 its heartbreaking for a Dad to answer “why?” and the coach them to overcome it anyway. I for one am totally inspired by Kaitlin Butts sucking it up and succeeding anyway for all the young girls and women out there. She’s a goddam hero,
February 20, 2024 @ 5:12 pm
Country music has always been synonmous with being mostly ‘family and radio friendly’ and lacking the blatant vulgarity of rock music. Her choosing to openly drop F-bombs in front of children directly contradicts the mainstream sucess that she feels entitled to.
February 20, 2024 @ 5:20 pm
I didn’t see any children at the Ameripolitan Awards. And again, I’m not sure where you’re getting this “entitlement” idea from.
You’re all over the place trying to find a vector of attack on this. Move on.
February 20, 2024 @ 5:18 pm
I don’t understand what exactly you are having to explain the “why” for. Not everyone can be a succesful proffessional musician. Talent aside, it’s simply supply and demand. I said earlier that I wish everyone success, but reality dictates that not everyone who wants to be a proffesional musician can achieve that level of success or maintain it. It’s life. It’s not me wishing meanness. I have friends who only worked service jobs on the side so they can still play an instrument or sing in Nashville and sadly most will never keep playing full time thru retirement. There is nothing shameful in realizing you have to hang up some dreams so you can build a life in the normal way. It’s not the patriarchy wanting only male artists on it’s playlist.
February 20, 2024 @ 9:23 pm
There is nothing “landmark” about the speech. That’s my point. I know you’re going to throw a fit that I’m disagreeing with you, again, but I quite enjoy it.
February 19, 2024 @ 7:19 pm
Great acceptance speech.
But, wow, does realizing that it’s plausible that an artist’s formative childhood concert was The Wreckers make me feel old.
February 20, 2024 @ 6:02 am
Yeah, I did not see that one coming. It seems anachronistic. But the young ones coming up are younger than ever. But there is so much talent out there competing for the same finite market for airtime and ticket and music sales.
February 20, 2024 @ 1:49 am
…a speech like a good country song. truly inspiring… – and entertaining. bravo! the wreckers’ “leave the pieces” is one of my favorite country songs of all time. very special in so many departments, a wild piece of art. ms. butts must have felt a similiar vibe there and then.
February 20, 2024 @ 4:44 am
greta artist, great speech, no whining. Brava!!
February 20, 2024 @ 6:03 am
Yeah, I did not see that one coming. It seems anachronistic. But the young ones coming up are younger than ever. But there is so much talent out there competing for the same finite market for airtime and ticket and music sales.
February 20, 2024 @ 6:31 am
“But your kids will live.” Awesome speech. These artists stay under the radar sometimes for entire careers. It’s crazy that Regular Dog isn’t played around the clock on country radio.
Thanks for the heads up, Trigger!
February 20, 2024 @ 9:46 am
So, so proud of Kaitlin. She has worked so hard for every inch of the progress she has made, has honed her craft and keeps on working at it. From my beginning with her, performing at the Oklahoma Opry in OKC, she was a young woman with a vision, focused on and working toward that goal. And now that vision, of telling her story and making her living as a musician, is reality. So glad that more and more people are learning how special she is. And she’s just getting started.
February 20, 2024 @ 11:59 am
A thoughtful, nicely expressed speech which makes me want to hear this artist, heretofore unknown to me. If she is as good a country singer as she seems to be a human being, she deserves all the best.
February 20, 2024 @ 1:40 pm
Love it, man. I hung around after a Turnpike show at the Ryman where she was the opener, and she was still at the merch booth selling her ass off and talking to everyone who came by, long after the crowd had come and gone. And that was after getting a standing O on stage.
Hard to imagine anyone else working harder. Glad to see it paying dividends.
February 20, 2024 @ 4:49 pm
She’s genuine and she’s just great.
February 20, 2024 @ 4:52 pm
No ifs or butts about it (sorry, I tried but couldn’t resist).