Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey and More Honored at Billboard's 2024 Country Power Players Event

Billboard honored the country music industry's most impactful and influential artists and executives during the 2024 Billboard Country Power Players Awards, held at Gilley's in Dallas, Texas, on Tuesday (May 14), just before the scheduled ACM Awards for May 16.

Lainey Wilson, the cover star of Billboard'The Country Power Players edition received the Record Breaker award. Nate Smith, known for hits like “Wildfire,” was celebrated as Rookie of the Year, while duo The War and Treaty were honored with the Groundbreaker award. Linda Martell, who recorded three singles in Billboardon the Hot Country charts and was the first black artist to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in 1969, she was honored with the Legend Award.

Billboard, West Coast and Nashville Executive Editor Melinda Newman presented Big Loud Partner and CEO Seth England with the Executive of the Year award. Other honorees during the night included Shaboozey, who received a plaque for reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart with “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” and WME’s Jay Williams, winner of the Billboard Country Power Players Choice Award. which was voted on by Billboard Pro members.

Presenters during the evening included Kelsea Ballerini and Lone River Beverage Company founder Katie Beal Brown (both in honor of Wilson), Breland (in honor of The War and the Treaty), and songwriter Ashley Gorley (in honor of Smith ).

Wilson closed the event with a powerful performance of her songs “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” and “Country's Cool Again.” Sponsors for the evening included Lone River Beverage Company, BMG and Big Loud.

Here, we've gathered photos from the 2024 Billboard Country Power Players Awards.