Three chords and a story...

Why women are taking country music by storm

- BY SUE LEE

HARLEY MOON KEMP ALANA SPRINGSTEEN DOLLY PARTON LAINEY WILSON CARLY PEARCE

COUNTRY music is surging in popularity across the UK, filling arenas and climbing up streaming charts.

But while its roots may be traditional, its future is firmly female, with artists like Taylor Swift and Beyonce leading the charge and steering the music from minority to mainstream.

The singer-songwriters, themselves women, are ideally placed to open up about the most vulnerable times in their lives, helping them land hits and win big reactions from fans.

Bronwen Lewis, 32, a BBC radio presenter who appeared on ITV talent show The Voice in 2013 and has toured with Welsh entertainer Max Boyce, creates Welsh language covers of popular country songs like Country Road.

She said: "The most important aspect of country music is storytelling. Simply put, it's three chords and the truth.

"And women are especially brilliant at using this formula to create gold."

Emotion is a driving force of country music and women have long been some of its bravest storytellers.

Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline and Tammy Wynette paved the way decades ago, with honest songs about heartbreak, poverty and divorce.

Now a new generation of female stars are carrying that torch on both sides of the Atlantic, exploring the highs and lows of life through their music.