Reigning Academy of Country Music Female Vocalist of the Year Miranda Lambert recently used a tour warm-up show to make a major difference in the life of an aspiring female songwriter. Thanks to a sold-out club show in Chicago, Lambert will for the second year fund the Miranda Lambert Women Creators Scholarship at Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business. The purpose of the fund is to provide a scholarship to an outstanding female student who is majoring in music business, songwriting or entertainment industry studies.

“I am so happy to continue supporting this scholarship fund for Women Creators at Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business,” said Lambert. “To be able to assist women in a meaningful way means the world to me.”

Lambert raised the funds to continue the scholarship for a second year with her Jan. 24 club show at Joe’s Bar in Chicago, a rehearsal for her current Highway Vagabond Tour, which supports her 2016 album, The Weight of These Wings. Songwriter Natalie Hemby, a Belmont graduate, joined her for the concert.

Doug Howard, dean of the Curb College, said, "We are grateful and humbled by the continued generous support given by Miranda Lambert to the women songwriters and artists at the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business. The level of participation and excitement displayed by our students in connection with this scholarship has been overwhelming, and this year's gift is once again evidence of Miranda's firm commitment to inspire and empower the next generation of female creators and entertainment industry leaders."

Applications are now open for the 2017-18 scholarship. Candidates must complete an online application and submit an original song. A Curb College selection committee will review the applications, and a group of finalists will be sent to Lambert review. Award notification is anticipated to occur in late spring.

The inaugural scholarship for the 2016-17 academic year went to junior songwriting major Anna Vaus.