The Academy of Country Music is showing no love for Carrie Underwood this year. Not only did the country star get passed over for Female Artist of the Year, but she was shut out of all the primary categories of ACM awards.
In fact, Underwood’s only nomination was in the Video of the Year category, for “Hallelujah,” according to a full list posted by Billboard.
Underwood’s Fans Are Ticked
Underwood’s fans are not happy with this development. While some acknowledged that Underwood didn’t release a major country record in the past year, others took to social media to vent their anger.
Taste of Country journalist Billy Dukes pointed out that the Academy has favored Underwood with a record number of Female Artist nominations.
“Some consolation for @carrieunderwood fans,” Dukes tweeted Friday. “Her 15 consecutive Female noms was an #ACMawards record in any category. ‘Was’ because Miranda Lambert just tied her but still…”
That did not assuage some Underwood fans, who suggested that the 15-year streak was still insufficient recognition.
“It’s still disrespectful towards Carrie and her fans,” one Twitter user insisted.
“Carrie really doesn’t get the recognition she deserves!!!!” another chimed in.
Carrie Underwood Won Entertainer of the Year Last Year
In 2020, Underwood tied Thomas Rhett for ACM’s Entertainer of the Year award. She became the first woman in history to win the award twice.
“I am more than happy to share this with Thomas Rhett,” Underwood said in her acceptance speech, per Variety. And Rhett returned the compliment, saying he’d been an Underwood fan since he was a teenager.
Underwood also paid tribute to some of the women who had come before her in country music.
“I mean, you can’t have too much of a good thing, so I would always love to see more women represented and given opportunities,” Underwood said after winning. “But we’ve been taking steps in the right direction for a while now, which is good to see. But also me getting to honor some of the women that we’re all standing on their shoulders, as I said… I think it was a really great night for females in country music.”
There was a significant backlash when Garth Brooks beat out Underwood for Entertainer of the Year at the 2019 CMA Awards. As a result, Brooks removed himself from consideration for the award in the future, saying that after seven wins, it was time for him to step aside.
But that turn of events validated a feeling among Underwood’s fans that she is undervalued as a performer. And this year’s ACM nominations will likely fuel that belief among them going forward.
