Carly Pearce Shows Some ‘Sass’ with ‘Next Girl’ Performance on ‘CMA Summer Jam’

Carly Pearce showcased her feisty side during Thursday night’s star-studded CMA Summer Jam. The songstress took the Ascend Amphitheater stage…

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

September 2, 2021

7:25 pm

Carly Pearce; Photo Courtesy CMA

Carly Pearce showcased her feisty side during Thursday night’s star-studded CMA Summer Jam.

The songstress took the Ascend Amphitheater stage for a performance of “Next Girl” while sporting a black and white western-style dress and white cowboy boots.

“[It’s] been such a fun song for me to have out during quarantine and just a fun tribute,” Pearce shared ahead of the show. “I really wanted to write something the way that I feel like Patty Loveless always had those anthems in the 90’s like “Blame It On Your Heart” and I finally wrote myself one, so it’s very fun to perform.”

She later added, “I think fans can expect some sass on my performance from CMA Summer Jam and just a really, really happy girl that’s really happy to be back.”

Oh hey newest member of the Grand Ole @Opry, @CarlyPearce! 😍👋 #CMASummerJam pic.twitter.com/BpzWIEXrsK

— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) September 3, 2021

Pearce, the newest Grand Ole Opry member, will soon expand on her critically acclimated EP, 29, with the addition of eight new songs on 29: WRITTEN IN STONE. The project drops on September 17.

CMA Summer Jam also featured performances from Jimmie Allen, Gabby Barrett, Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Eric Church, Darius Rucker, Florida Georgia Line, Mickey Guyton, Miranda Lambert, Carly Pearce, Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, Cole Swindell, Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood, and Lainey Wilson.

Additionally, the three-hour show included star-studded collaborations by Bentley with HARDY & BRELAND, Underwood and Dwight Yoakam, Lambert with Brothers Osborne, Florida Georgia Line feat. Rhett, newlyweds Shelton and Stefani, as well as Swindell & Bryan.

CMA Summer Jam aired on Thursday, September 2 (live 8:00-11:00 PM ET) on ABC.

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.