Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton wrote an essay in Billboard's Women in Music issue, where she gave credits to some of this year's honorees, like singer-songwriter Lady Gaga and country legend Loretta Lynn.
She started off with a quote from Lynn that defined the music business, writing, "You either have to be first, best or different." She then followed by noting the women who made their 'firsts' in the industry, like Lady Gaga earning the credit for being the 'first' person to get more than one billion views in YouTube, and Lynn who was the 'first' woman to have charted more than 50 songs on the top 10 hits. She noted that these women had to work hard for the success that they have received and that nothing was handed to them.
She wrote, "Wonderfully, many of these women are channeling their success in thoughtful and generous ways. They're starting foundations, mentoring girls and enthusiastically advocating for causes close to their hearts -- everything from improving mental health care to registering people to vote. They know how lucky they are to be doing what they love, and they're making it count in the best of ways. To me, that's worth honoring just as much as their music."
Clinton ended her message on a positive note. She encouraged that girls and women should learn from the songs of the honorees and be inspired to follow their footsteps and to follow their own dreams. "And if none of that happens, who knows -- maybe they'll just dance." She also honored other female artists like Tori Kelly, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Missy Elliot, Lana del Rey, and others who are leading and transforming the music industry.
The essay is featured on Billboard's Women in Music, Dec. 12 issue, in which Lady Gaga appears as the cover girl. Other artists that were previously featured in the cover of the magazine includes Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Beyonce, Ciara, Reba McEntire, Fergie, and Pink.
