Carrie Underwood Commands The Stage With ‘Hate My Heart’ Performance at 2022 CMA Awards

Carrie Underwood brought the house down with her performance of “Hate My Heart” at the 56th Annual CMA Awards. Donning…

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

November 9, 2022

10:29 pm

Carrie Underwood; Photo by CMA 1 11

Carrie Underwood brought the house down with her performance of “Hate My Heart” at the 56th Annual CMA Awards.

Donning a black and gold fringe ensemble with her athletic legs on full display, Underwood commanded the stage with a colorful geometric heart behind her as pyrotechnics lit up the stage.

“Hate My Heart” is the second single off Underwood’s latest album, Denim & Rhinestones, and follows the project’s lead single, “Ghost Story.”

The song is a boot-stomping breakup anthem that begs for radio airplay. Throughout the lyrics, which Underwood crafted alongside Hillary Lindsey, David Garcia, and HARDY, Underwood shares her frustration over trying to move past a breakup as her heart won’t seem to allow her to.

“I hate my heart right now/ Underneath the covers in the dark right now/ Wishin’ I was sitting in a bar right now/ Two drinks in/ Makin’ me a last call friend/ I want my feel good back/ Instead of feeling bad that I can’t get past/ The fact that I can’t love nobody else/ I would if I could, but I don’t know how/ I hate my heart right now,” she sings on the chorus.

“‘Hate My Heart’ was definitely part of my desire to have fun on this album. I wanted songs that would be exciting to perform live and would fill up an arena, and that’s exactly what we’re about to do with The Denim & Rhinestones Tour,” she shared in a statement. “This one is definitely going to get everyone up on their feet and having a good time. It was great writing ‘Hate My Heart’ with Hillary Lindsey and David Garcia, who I love collaborating with, and also getting to work with Hardy, who brought a cool vibe and an energy to the track.”

Denim & Rhinestones arrived on June 10 and features her current single “Hate My Heart” as well as “Ghost Story” and fan-favorite tracks like “Pink Champagne,” “Crazy Angels,” and “Velvet Heartbreak.”

“We cover a lot of ground on this album,” Underwood previously shared in a press release. ”We have a lot of songs that have a bit of a ‘throwback’ feel, but they sound super fresh. I grew up listening to so many different kinds of music and that is extremely evident in this body of work.”

“These are musical influences that are all in me and work their way out, and I just decided this time not to get in their way,” the hitmaker added. “I think this whole album ended up being a big reflection of me as a person and as an artist.”

CARRIE UNDERWOOD, MIKE FISHER; Photo by ABC

Underwood is currently in the midst of her massive headlining Denim & Rhinestones tour, which kicked off on Saturday, October 15 in Greenville, South Carolina.

Heading into the 56th Annual CMA Awards, Underwood was nominated for three trophies, including the night’s top honor – Entertainer of the Year.

The 56th Annual CMA Awards featured performances from Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Cole Swindell, Cody Johnson, and Carly Pearce.

Carrie Underwood, Reba, Miranda Lambert; Photo Courtesy CMA

The show opened with an all-star tribute to the late Loretta Lynn from Underwood, Reba McEntire and Lambert.

Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Jon Pardi, and Lainey Wilson joined together to honor the 2022 CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Alan Jackson.

Additionally, the show included star-studded collaborations from Kelsea Ballerini, Kelly Clarkson and Carly Pearce, HARDY and Lainey Wilson, Elle King with The Black Keys, Brothers featuring The War and Treaty, Thomas Rhett and Katy Perry, Chris Stapleton with Patty Loveless, Zac Brown Band, Jimmie Allen and Marcus King as well as Ashley McBryde with Pillbox Patti, Brandy Clark, Caylee Hammack and John Osborne.

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Mookie Betts, BRELAND, Jessica Chastain, Jordan Davis, Sarah Drew, Cole Hauser, Tyler Hubbard, Wynonna Judd, Lady A, Rex Linn, Little Big Town, Parker McCollum, Reba McEntire, Ben and Erin Napier, Jeannie Seely, Michael Shannon, and Lainey Wilson were on hand to present during the ceremony.

Co-hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, the 2022 CMA Awards broadcasted live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and aired on ABC (8:00-11:00 PM/ET).

Luke Bryan, Peyton Manning; Photo Courtesy CMA

The CMA Awards will also be available for viewing on Hulu beginning Thursday, Nov. 10.

The 56th Annual CMA Awards was a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton served as the Executive Producer, Alan Carter as the Director, and Jon Macks as the Head Writer.

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.