Doechii, the genre-defying rapper and rising star, has been named Billboard’s 2025 Woman of the Year, capping off an extraordinary year of accolades and groundbreaking achievements.
According to billboard.com, the announcement comes just weeks after she took home both a Grammy and an NAACP Image Award, solidifying her place as one of the most dynamic forces in music today.
The award will be presented at the annual Billboard Women in Music event on March 29 at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California. Hosted by Emmy-nominated actress Laverne Cox, the star-studded ceremony will air live on VIZIO WatchFree+ and honour a lineup of powerhouse women shaping the music industry.
Doechii’s ascent to Woman of the Year is nothing short of remarkable. Just two years ago, she was celebrated as the Rising Star at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music event. Now, she joins an elite group of artists, including Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, who have graduated from Rising Star to Woman of the Year.
“Doechii has quickly gained recognition in the music industry for her bold creativity and impressive talent,” said Hannah Karp, Billboard’s editorial director. “With her genre-blending sound, she is redefining what it means to be a trailblazer. We are honored to celebrate her and cheer on her continued success.”
The Tampa-born artiste has been on a winning streak. On February 2, she became only the second solo woman to win the Grammy for Best Rap Album, following in the footsteps of Cardi B, for her critically acclaimed mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal. Her electrifying performance of “Denial Is a River” and “Catfish” at the Grammy telecast was hailed as one of the night’s standout moments.
Less than three weeks later, Doechii added another trophy to her collection, winning Outstanding New Artist at the 2025 NAACP Image Awards. Her mixtape has climbed to No. 14 on the Billboard 200, while her singles “What It Is (Block Boy)” and “Denial Is a River” have both cracked the top 30 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Doechii’s Woman of the Year honour places her in the company of music icons like Taylor Swift, Madonna and Cardi B, who was the first rap artist to win the award in 2020. She is also the second artist from Florida to receive the distinction, after Ariana Grande, who hails from Boca Raton.
The 2025 Billboard Women in Music event will also celebrate other trailblazers, including aespa (Group of the Year), Erykah Badu (Icon Award), and JENNIE of BLACKPINK (Global Force Award). Performances by aespa, Ángela Aguilar, GloRilla, and more promise to make the night unforgettable.
As Doechii prepares to take the stage and accept her award, fans and industry insiders alike are eager to see what’s next for the rapper who continues to break barriers and redefine the sound of modern music.
Tickets for the event are available now via Ticketmaster, starting at $89. For those unable to attend, the ceremony will be available to stream live on VIZIO WatchFree+ and the VIZIO mobile app.
Doechii’s journey from Rising Star to Woman of the Year is a testament to her talent, resilience, and unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries. As she steps into the spotlight on March 29, one thing is clear: Doechii is just getting started.
