Lainey Wilson and Rachael Blackmore Make Headlines in Country Music and Horse Racing

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Lainey Wilson, the Grammy award-winning country music trailblazer, is currently on a world tour promoting her latest album, “Whirlwind,” which has earned her a Grammy nomination. Wilson, who has made a remarkable journey from a Hannah Montana impersonator to a celebrated artist at the Grand Ole Opry, will headline the Country to Country Festival at the O2 in London this weekend.

Wilson’s accolades include seven Country Music Association Awards, highlighted by her being named Entertainer of the Year in 2023, as well as six Academy of Country Music Awards. The prolific songwriter has solidified her presence in the country music scene with seven No. 1 hits, including popular tracks like “Watermelon Moonshine” and “Heart Like A Truck.” In an interview with Nuala McGovern, Wilson shared insights on her career and discussed the resurgence of interest in country music.

Meanwhile, at the Cheltenham Festival in England, Rachael Blackmore, a pioneering jockey, has made headlines once again. After becoming the first female jockey to win the Grand National in 2021, Blackmore has continued to shatter records in the male-dominated sport. She made history by being the leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival with six victories, including her win in the Champion Hurdle.

On Thursday, Blackmore added another achievement to her remarkable career by winning the Stayers’ Hurdle aboard the horse Bob Olinger, completing a Cheltenham Festival double. This victory is particularly noteworthy as she returned from a three-month hiatus due to a neck injury sustained in a fall. In anticipation of her performance in Friday afternoon’s Gold Cup race, sports journalist Fern Buckley provided insights into Blackmore’s achievements and her impact on horse racing.

In other news, protests erupted in Bangladesh following the tragic death of an eight-year-old girl who succumbed to injuries sustained from a rape incident last week. Demonstrators are demanding urgent governmental action to ensure justice for rape victims and need for reforms in laws protecting women and children. Samira Hussain, the BBC’s South Asia Correspondent, reported from Delhi, India, highlighting the national outcry over this heartbreaking incident.

Additionally, in our ongoing discussions regarding the Women’s Prize for Fiction, we hear from authors Clare Mulley and VV Ganeshananthan, who are exploring the experiences of women during times of conflict through their respective works. Mulley’s book chronicles the life of Agent Zo, a courageous Polish female resistance fighter during World War II, while Ganeshananthan’s novel, “Brotherless Night,” set against the backdrop of the Sri Lankan Civil War, won last year’s Women’s Prize for Fiction.

On the health frontier, Catherine Cox from Nottingham has been an advocate for compensation concerning the epilepsy drug sodium valproate, which is now strongly advised against during pregnancy. After taking the drug, her son Matthew, now 23, was born with various conditions, including autism and ADHD. Cox has campaigned for over two decades for justice and joined Nuala McGovern along with Dr. Henrietta Hughes, Patient Safety Commissioner, to discuss the need for compensation for those affected by the drug, following a report that emphasizes this necessity.

These stories reflect a diverse range of issues, from gender barriers being broken in entertainment and sports to ongoing societal Concerns regarding safety and health for women and children.