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.
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.
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.
