Doechii Named Billboard Woman of the Year 2025: A Game-Changing Icon
Rising from underground sensation to industry powerhouse, Doechii has been named Billboard’s Woman of the Year for 2025—an honor that cements her status as a trailblazer in the music industry. The award will be presented at the annual Billboard Women in Music event on Saturday, March 29, at YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California. This prestigious title adds to an already record-breaking year for Doechii, who recently won both a Grammy and an NAACP Image Award for her groundbreaking work in rap and hip-hop.
Doechii’s recognition at Billboard Women in Music is a testament to her meteoric rise. She previously won the Rising Star Award in 2023, joining an elite list of artists, including Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, who have progressed from Rising Star to Woman of the Year.
“After receiving the Billboard Women in Music Rising Star Award in 2023, Doechii has quickly gained recognition for her bold creativity and impressive talent,” said Hannah Karp, Billboard’s editorial director. “With her genre-blending sound, Doechii is redefining what it means to be a trailblazer in the music industry. We are honored to celebrate Doechii and cheer on her continued success!”
A Historic Year for Doechii
On February 2, Doechii made history at the Grammy Awards, becoming only the second solo woman to win Best Rap Album—a milestone previously achieved by Cardi B. Her acclaimed mixtape, Alligator Bites Never Heal, dominated the charts, climbing to No. 14 on the Billboard 200 and solidifying her place among rap’s elite.
Her Grammy performance of “Denial Is a River” and “Catfish” was hailed as the night’s best by Billboard’s Jason Lipshutz, further proving her star power. Less than three weeks later, she earned the Outstanding New Artist award at the 2025 NAACP Image Awards, an accolade that solidified her influence across multiple genres.
Celebrating Women in Music
Billboard’s Woman of the Year award is among the most prestigious honors in the industry. Past recipients include Karol G, SZA, Olivia Rodrigo, Cardi B, Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift. Doechii is only the second rap artist to receive the honor, following Cardi B’s win in 2020.
The 2025 Billboard Women in Music event will also celebrate other influential artists, including:
- aespa (Group of the Year)
- Ángela Aguilar (Breakthrough Award)
- Erykah Badu (Icon Award)
- GloRilla (Powerhouse Award)
- Gracie Abrams (Songwriter of the Year)
- JENNIE (Global Force Award)
- Megan Moroney (Rulebreaker Award)
- Meghan Trainor (Hitmaker Award)
- Muni Long (Rising Star Award)
- Tyla (Impact Award)
Several honorees, including aespa, Aguilar, GloRilla, Abrams, Moroney, Long, and Tyla, will take the stage for exclusive live performances. The event will be hosted by Emmy-nominated actress Laverne Cox and broadcast live on VIZIO WatchFree+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
How to Watch and Attend
Fans can catch all the action live for free on VIZIO WatchFree+, available on VIZIO TVs and the VIZIO mobile app. For those who want to experience the magic in person, tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster, starting at $89.
A Global Celebration of Women in Music
Billboard has expanded its Women in Music initiative worldwide. ANNA (Billboard Italy) and Charlotte Cardin (Billboard Canada) will be honored as Global Women of the Year, highlighting the international impact of female artists.
The Billboard Women in Music 2025 channel will be available on VIZIO WatchFree+ from March 17 through April 5, featuring exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and performances.
As Doechii continues to break boundaries and push creative limits, her Billboard Woman of the Year 2025 honor is just another milestone in what promises to be an unstoppable career.