Billboard Names Most Powerful In Music

Woman Of The Year Reba McEntire Tops Billboard's Celebrity List

(CBS)  Billboard, a popular weekly music magazine, is making sure that no hardworking or musically gifted woman in the music industry is left unnoticed.

Country singer-actress Reba McEntire was presented the first ever Billboard Woman of the Year Award at a breakfast held in New York, which also honored the second annual Women in Music.

The spunky 52-year-old singer-actress beat out several very well-rounded and talented celebrities, who join her on the list, such as Jennifer Lopez, Celine Dion, Madonna and Mariah Carey.

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Photos: Country Stars Put On A Show

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"She's had a fantastic career; she's continued to inspire new generations and continued to make records," Billboard Group editorial director Tamara Conniff told TheShowBuzz.com. "She has excelled in the music field and in other areas. She's a real renaissance woman."

McEntire's 31st album, "Reba Duets," has debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's 200 Top Albums.

"It shows her ongoing influence," Conniff explained.

The Sept. 22 issue announced Reba as Billboard's first ever Woman of the Year and the current issue, Billboard's second Women in Music issue (issue date: Oct. 13), includes the list of female executive and celebrities being honored.

Billboard also announced today that Judy McGrath, Chairman/CEO of MTV Networks tops the Women in Music list, which honors prominent female music industry executives.

"Judy McGrath is a real powerhouse," Conniff said. "She continues to reinvent the branch. She's always looking into the future."

McEntire was the host of the 42nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards in May in Las Vegas. The show aired live on CBS.

So far, McEntire has achieved 33 No. 1 hits, won 15 American Music Awards, 12 Academy of Country Music Awards, seven Country Music Association Awards and two Grammys.

For six seasons, she also has starred on television in the WB/CW sitcom "Reba." The popular sitcom has earned her a Golden Globe nomination and a People's Choice Award.