Three talented female country artists earned spots on Forbes' highly-anticipated "30 Under 30" list for 2017.
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The annual roster includes 600 names of what they call "game changers" in art and style, games, marketing and advertising, sports, music and more. Kelsea Ballerini and Maddie and Tae both made their way on the music portion that covers all genres and includes music business executives.
Ballerini's impressive early career helped her secure her spot on the Forbes list. She made history last year by having her first three singles climb to No. 1 on the country charts. She also earned a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, alongside fellow breakthrough country artist Maren Morris. Maddie and Tae nabbed their spot as a duo thanks to "Girl in a Country Song," which pokes fun at gender stereotypes and became a No. 1 single.
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It's not easy to make the "30 Under 30" list, so having two country artists is especially impressive! According to the publication, you have a higher chance of getting into Harvard or Stanford than making the cut. They accept less than 4% of the possible candidates! Once they've decided on their short list, a team of reporters dig up dirt on each one to determine if they're worthy of making the final cut. Specially selected music judges also give their input on which 30 individuals should be selected. This year's music judges were Jason Derulo, Halsey and Anthony Saleh.
Ballerini and Maddie and Tae are on the 2017 list with musicians Alessia Cara, Daya, Desiigner, G-Eazy, Charlie Puth, Troye Sivan and The Chainsmokers' Drew Taggart. Directors, managers and others involved with music also earned their positions this year. You can view the full list here.
