Country sensation Miranda Lambert has launched an exciting scholarship program for women pursuing careers in the entertainment industry. 

The 'Mama's Broken Heart' beauty wants more women to enjoy the kind of success she has experienced and so has founded a new scholarship at Belmont University. The program will award an impressive $40,000 to a female student in the university's Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business.

Lambert, who announced her divorce from Blake Shelton last week, explained that she was inspired to launch this initiative because she wants to "encourage and empower women to achieve their goals."

Back in March, the blonde beauty told Elle magazine that she was encouraged to change her image when she launched her career and was strong-minded enough to say no: "When I first started out I was 17. I was 17 to 20 when I was writing my first record. When I got a record deal I said, 'I'm only wearing jeans. I'm not wearing frilly dresses.' Dancing around in sequins is just not who I am. I want to be heard, not seen."

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Watch footage of Lambert's first public performance since her divorce went public below: