Female artists may often be overlooked on country radio, but the one place where they feel the love is at the Grammy Awards. This year, two newcomers, Kelsea Ballerini and Maren Morris, are leading a wave of country women dominating the Grammys.

Morris and Ballerini share nods in the all-genre new artist category, the first time in Grammy history that two country women have been honored in that category.

“I think it's a huge step forward for people taking women into consideration because you have to have another perspective on the radio,” said Morris, a 26-year-old singer-songwriter from Texas who is up for four Grammy Awards, including best country album, best country solo performance and best country song for “My Church.”

Women outnumber the male nominees in the best country album and best country solo performance categories. In addition to Morris and Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Brandy Clark, Carrie Underwood, Lori McKenna, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and Cassadee Pope are up for awards at the Feb. 12 show, airing live on CBS from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Morris and Ballerini, a 23-year-old from East Tennessee, broke out just as the bro-country wave hit a critical mass and critics and fans alike were clamoring for songs with a message and artists with a more diverse sound.

Ballerini's 2015 debut album, “The First Time,” spawned a remarkable three consecutive No. 1 singles on Billboard's country airplay chart.

— Associated Press