Hannah Karp presents Tina Knowles with Mother of the Year at Billboard Women In Music 2025.
Good evening. So, I know I was just introduced as the Editor-in-Chief of Billboard, but there’s another title that I’m even more proud to hold: I’m Odessa and Gloria’s mom. But even when you have perfect children like I do, being a mom in the music business can be extremely challenging—whether you’re an artist, a manager, or an executive. With all the late nights, constant travel, and the growing pressure to look glamorous (like you all do tonight, but at all times), the challenges can add up. If you’re a mom raising a musician, that presents its own unique set of challenges. You have to balance the often conflicting goals of nurturing your child’s dreams, teaching them how to make good art and business decisions, and protecting them from an industry and a public that is not always very kind. So, this year, we’re introducing a new award to celebrate the power of motherhood in music. Give it up for motherhood and the moms who’ve been instrumental in bringing today’s top hits, biggest tours, and most influential artists to life—in some cases, literally. We need to honor these intrepid women, talk more about the struggles they face, and make the industry into a more supportive place that allows moms to thrive as leaders without sacrificing their dedication to parenthood. I am thrilled to present our inaugural Mother of the Year Award to one of the most powerful moms in music, who is starting this crucial conversation in a big way as she tells her own inspiring story in a book coming out next week.
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