Sadly, country music is often rightly associated with exclusivity, racism, and homophobia. However, a new generation of artists is determined to make country music a safe space for everyone, regardless of their background.

Kelsea Ballerini made this clear last weekend at the Country Music Television Awards (CMTs) when she performed her wonderful song "If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too)" with the drag queens of RuPaul's Drag Race the song.

In traditional country style, Ballerini's hits tell the story of a murderous housewife (see: Carrie Underwood's "Two Black Cadillacs," The Chicks' "Goodbye Earl," and Taylor Swift and Haim's "no (see also: "body, no crime" by Taylor Swift and Haim).

In the music video, the singer and her girlfriend dress up as 60s housewives like in "Don't Worry Darling" and plot a murder, essentially promising to go to jail together if caught.

On CMTs, Ballerini recreated the spirit of the video with drag queens Kennedy Davenport, Manila Luzon, Jan Sport, and Olivia Lux.

The performance also came at a particularly poignant moment: although the CMTs were held in Austin, Texas, Ballerini's home state of Tennessee (which is also the historic home of country music), just days before the awards show, a drag performance had temporarily blocked a ban on drag performances. Texas is also trying to regulate drag shows.

Asked about the significance of performing with drag queens, Ballerini told "Entertainment Tonight".

The magazine also interviewed the queens themselves, who had many great messages they wanted to share with the audience. Like all great country music artists, we drag queens are artists. And we deserve a place to be ourselves, to express ourselves, and to create something great for everyone to enjoy."

Asked how it felt to be asked to perform at CMT, Sport said, "It means a lot. So it's about us having a message to bless others. It's not a bad thing. It's all good. It's all love. That's what art is all about."

Lux added, "As a drag queen of color, it really meant a lot to get this call. I feel like the world and the industry can be against me. Kelsey would tell me in the rehearsal room or right before the stage, 'Take that spot. This is your time, too, and amplify the fact that you are here.' I really appreciate that."

This makes me happy in so many ways.