Carrie Underwood Excluded From CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year Category After 15 Consecutive Years

When the nominees for the 55th Annual CMA Awards were revealed fans were shocked to see one name seemingly missing…

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Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

November 10, 2021

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Carrie Underwood; Photo by Jamie Schramm/CMA

When the nominees for the 55th Annual CMA Awards were revealed fans were shocked to see one name seemingly missing from the Female Vocalist of the Year category: Carrie Underwood

For the first time since 2006, Underwood is not included in the CMA Awards’ Female Vocalist of the Year category. She did, however, receive a nomination for the night’s top honor, Entertainer of the Year, but the fact that she is not nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year came as quite the surprise for many. 

This year’s nominees include Gabby Barrett, Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde, Maren Morris and Carly Pearce

Underwood, a longtime co-host of the CMA Awards, has been nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year for 15 consecutive years. In those years, she’s won the trophy for the Female Vocalist of the Year category five times. 

Carrie Underwood; Photo Courtesy CMA
Carrie Underwood; Photo Courtesy CMA

While she’s been somewhat quiet on country radio the past year, Underwood did however, release a massive, chart-topping Christmas album, My Gift, and a gospel album, My Savior. Underwood celebrated both releases with several high-profile media appearances and performances. 

Fans took to social media to react to the snub following the CMA Awards nominee announcement. 

“Might I say CMA Awards make themselves look the fool when not nominating Carrie Underwood as female vocalist of the year,” wrote one fan. 

Another shared, “Ridiculous. These people just flat out refuse to live in reality and don’t even acknowledge @carrieunderwood‘s record-breaking accomplishments. You should be ashamed of yourselves.”

“Totally insane! How’s she up for entertainer of the year an not female vocalists as well is crazy,” reasoned one Underwood fan. “In my opinion being up for entertainer of the year should be an automatic nomination for female vocalist of the year as well! Doesn’t make sense.” 

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Although some fans were upset by Underwood’s exclusion from the category, others were celebrating her Entertainer of the Year nomination.

“Congrats @carrieunderwood on your EOTY nom, you should have received more, but no one is more deserving of this award than you,” shared a Twitter user. 

This marks Underwood’s fourth nomination in the Entertainer of the Year category. While she has been crowned ACM Entertainer of the Year, Underwood has yet to take home the trophy for CMA Entertainer of the Year. 

YouTube video

Underwood is set to perform “If I Didn’t Love You,” her duet with Jason Aldean, during “Country Music’s Biggest Night.” 

Fans can tune in to the 2021 CMA Awards, hosted by Luke Bryan, on Wednesday evening at 8/7c on ABC. 

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Lauren Jo Black

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.