On Carrie Underwood No Longer Hosting the CMA Awards
Well, how is everyone’s Holiday season going? Enjoying your time with family? In-laws left yet? Did Santa Claus bring you everything you wanted? Did you put on a few extra pounds from all that Pecan pie? Ha, you know I did. Looking forward to New Years? Isn’t that Ryan Seacrest dreamy?
Anyways, sorry to barge in on all your Holiday revelry, but the news just came down that Carrie Underwood won’t be returning to host the CMA Awards in 2020, which she’s done for the last dozen years. And yeah, it kind of feels like a thing that’s worth remarking on. In a Monday social media missive, the country pop star said her time as the MC of the CMAs was coming to an end, at least for now. And no matter how you feel about Carrie Underwood or her music, it’s hard to not assess how this development leaves a gaping hole in the CMA production, and marks the end of an era, and an end to one of the few reasons to tune into the CMA’s annual presentation.
For the 11 years previous to the 2019 show, Carrie Underwood hosted with Brad Paisley, and the duo was commonly one of the few highlights in the otherwise paltry and disappointing production. Brad and Carrie had “it”—that indefinable chemistry that goes off well just like a great country music duet. Of course most of the bits were corny, but you had to laugh, and they knew how to work the crowd, and how to be just edgy enough but still acceptable for primetime. They knew how to work in innuendo and walk right up to the edge. It added some spice to the otherwise sad sack presentation.
When the CMAs decided to shelve Brad Paisley for 2019 to put more emphasis on women, you knew then they were running the risk of messing with a good thing. Sure, they could always bring Brad back next year, but now if they do, Carrie Underwood won’t be there. That means there’s little reason to bring Brad back, so now you’re out both hosts and left searching for the best alternatives, which as we’ve seen with the ACMs over the last few years who’ve tried trotting out folks like Dierks Bentley and Luke Bryan with little to no success, it can be bad.
And the hosting of the CMAs in 2019 was pretty bad. Even the bellyachers over the removal of Brad Paisley as co-host were still happy initially to see that Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire would get more face time. And who better to pair up with Carrie Underwood than these two veterans of the stage who know how to speak into a mic and deliver a joke? But it seemed like all three lost their way during the 2019 CMAs. The jokes were flat. The timing was off. There was no chemistry, like the chemistry Brad and Carrie have. There were too many fast ball pitchers, and no foil.
We have no idea if this decision was instigated by the CMAs, the Carrie Underwood team, or if it was a mutual thing. And we probably never will. These things tend to stay closely guarded. But who would blame Carrie Underwood for not wanting to come back to an organization that she’s done nothing but give and give to, only to get continuously snubbed by?
Nobody wanted the 2019 Entertainer of the Year trophy more than Carrie Underwood, and it would have been the perfect storybook ending to the show with its emphasis on women—way more than removing Brad Paisley from hosting duties. Yet who walks away with Entertainer of the Year? Garth Brooks, again—a guy who retired from country music 20 years ago. In fairness, Carrie Underwood does have nine CMA trophies, but over the years with her 35 nominations, it’s felt like she’s been snubbed more than received her due—something even Carrie Underwood detractors will shrug and confirm.
Look, the world won’t end over this. It’s a tempest in a teapot. But make no mistake about it, the reason this announcement was made on the Monday between Christmas and New Years is because it’s bad news, and this is the perfect time to bury it. Are people really concerned who’s going to host the CMA Awards right now? No, they’re following the NFL head coaching carousel, and stocking up on firecrackers. By the time the 2020 CMA Awards roll around 10 1/2 months from now, the hope is folks won’t be thinking about what a downer it is that Brad and Carrie won’t be hosting again.
But it does feel significant, if only symbolically. It feels like the end of an era, and it’s most certainly the end of one of the most tolerable things about an otherwise intolerable presentation in the CMAs.
So long Carrie. Get out while you can, I guess. Don’t be surprised if she’s not even in the building next year. Why return to the scene of the crime? Meanwhile, we can’t wait to see what Kelsea Ballerini, Mitchell “Bitches” Tenpenny, or whomever they roll out next year have in their bag.
December 30, 2019 @ 7:48 pm
Any early guesses on who might take it over? Thomas Rhett and Kelsey Ballerini? Dierks Bentley solo? Dan and Shay?
December 30, 2019 @ 8:31 pm
Oh God. I already have to take out a hazardous work environment insurance policy from being obligated to watch every year. If they make Dan + Shay host, I may croak.
December 31, 2019 @ 4:26 am
Either those 2 or Bobby Bones would be my guess.
December 31, 2019 @ 11:05 am
Oh God Bones is such a terrible choice that it’s probably who they’ll go with. I could see him and Kelly Clarkson being paired up. She’s got that daytime talk show and has been trying to go country for a decade.
December 31, 2019 @ 1:28 pm
I’d guess they try hard to get Blake Shelton. Kelsey Ballerini seems likely.
December 30, 2019 @ 8:02 pm
I’m genuinely bummed about this. I’ve been as critical as anyone about Carrie’s musical choices, especially over the past few years, but she was one of the best things about the CMA Awards this decade. I adored the quirky humor with Brad, and her gospel renditions during the in memoriam is Carrie at her absolute best. Her performance of “Softly and Tenderly” at the 2017 CMA’s was the highlight of the night, by a long shot. Of course, the CMA decided the next year to not do anything of the sort, a bizarre decision but consistent with the incompetence of the CMA. Aside from the seemingly miraculous 2015 break-out of Stapleton, the CMA Awards can look back on this decade with far more shame than pride.
December 30, 2019 @ 10:24 pm
Well I can tell you this … this house want be tuning in again after the way they done Carrie an I prAy it come it shows in there ratings nexts couple years
December 31, 2019 @ 12:24 am
I suggest Darius Rucker with Lady Antebellum as cohosts.
Or maybe Vince Gill with Maren Morris
Or Vince Gill with Chris Young…
Brad Paisley had all the charm and humor that a good co-host needs. From the current crop of artists, I can really only think of Blake Shelton and Dierks Bentley that have that kind of humor…
December 31, 2019 @ 12:47 am
Poor Carrie. Garth has won EOTY enough and will always be known as a legend. Time to hand it over. Even Taylor Swift got the award during her swiftly visit in the country music community. I don’t blame Carrie for leaving. It’s like a bad, one sided relationship. From the highlights i saw this year, it looked like a train wreck. Do they honestly even need hosts anymore? Just give someone 5 minutes to present the award and let the winner speak, a few iconic performances and that’s it.
December 31, 2019 @ 2:35 am
Perhaps the best choice is not to replace Brad / Carrie, but simply design a CMA show that does not feature a host, at all.
The 2019 Oscar and Emmy telecasts both opted to go without talent in the “host” spot and neither seemed to suffer, rather bother were better broadcasts, because the audience did not have to endure yet another round of bad jokes and embarrassing banter, from talent only there to either gain publicity or a paycheck.
Since the show runs three hours, why not divide each hour into segments, featuring performers from the past, present & future. Begin the show with performances from talent like Reba and George Straight, the middle might feature acts currently charting in the top forty – then conclude with performances by the newer acts, those who reached prominence in the past year? The actual awards presentations have become secondary, anyway and could all be presented by the same performer, all through the event, such as an icon like Dolly Parton?
Sometimes, keep it simple, stupid – is good advice, especially since coverage of the upcoming Presidential election (and it’s aftermath) is going to overwhelm nearly every-single-other-event in 2020, anyway – much to my deeply felt dread.
December 31, 2019 @ 3:26 am
I disagree with your thoughts on this years CMA’s. The Dolly/Reba/Carrie trio I thought worked pretty well and I would have liked to have seen all three return next year. It’s very interesting for Reba though, she was a host for both ACM and CMA this year, will she do the same this next year?
December 31, 2019 @ 9:47 am
Reba was great hosting the ACMs after the debacles over the last few years. I wouldn’t protest her hosting both, and by herself. But that would be kind of weird. I think the ACM gig is hers to lose. The CMAs are the ones that now have to form a search committee.
There was a lot wrong with the 2019 CMAs. Part of it might have not been the hosts. The teleprompters were running late all night, and multiple speakers remarked on it. Jokes are all about timing.
December 31, 2019 @ 7:59 am
I found out yesterday evening and it is sad news. One of the reasons to watch the CMA awards (especially the last few years) was the opening Brad and Carrie monologue. They had amazing chemistry. Chemistry cannot be manufactured. You either have it or you don’t. I was 50/50 if either would be back in 2020 when the news broke that Brad was not hosting this year. Perhaps this was the long play all along…who knows…. Brad has mentioned it is getting harder and harder to make jokes/skits due to how divisive society has become. I believe after the 2018 CMA awards Brad and Carrie caught some flack for leaving politics out of the show. Most people were happy, but the loud, angry minority couldn’t handle it.
They saw it is best to leave the people wanting more, which Brad and Carrie are doing. It was a great run, and thankfully we have YouTube to watch the highlights.
December 31, 2019 @ 8:55 am
Twelve years is a long time. Plus the ratings and public interest in these awards shows is dwindling at a rapid rate so maybe she just decided to move on.
December 31, 2019 @ 9:07 am
That sucks,but I wonder who’ll replace Carrie ? Perhaps John Pardi ????
December 31, 2019 @ 10:33 am
I’m the official Jon Pardi Stan of this website….and as much as I’d love to see Pardi cohost… It should never happen. Jon has a very difficult time pronouncing words and he acts a bit too goofy on live tv. He cohosted the ACM Honors (not televised) in 2018 with Lauren Alaina, and he missed his cues.
December 31, 2019 @ 9:14 am
Never happen…but a guy named Vince Gill used to REALLY good at hosting an award show
December 31, 2019 @ 10:35 am
Vince Gill with Darius Rucker or Chris Young would be a phenomenal pairing
December 31, 2019 @ 10:14 am
As good as Carrie is, twelve years is long enough and a change is warranted. Just please stay within the country realm and don’t have some actor or Jimmy Kimmel host. I wouldn’t mind giving Vince Gill another shot. Dolly is always welcome. Kelsea Ballerini, Kellie Pickler and Kelly Clarkson all have hosting experience. Chris Young, Martina McBride and Dierks Bentley would be fine as well. Or keep Reba with the CMAs and shift new hosts to the ACMs.
I know this is an out-there suggestion. But she’s back with a terrific country covers album, she’s a great entertainer and has tons of TV and comedy experience…Louise Mandrell. Her recent appearance on Huckabee was fantastic. Pair her with a younger cohost (Young or Bentley), and it could work.
December 31, 2019 @ 11:02 am
Oh diddums! This news will put a dampener on my Hogmany party here in Scotland. At least for the first bottle of Scotch anyhow. Let’s get a country artist to do it. It’s not really about television ratings anyhow, at least it shouldn’t be. It’s about country music and the show should be presented by country artists. Marty Stuart and Vince Gill would be a great partnership.
December 31, 2019 @ 11:08 am
Brooks, Dunn and Reba might be a good hosting choice.
December 31, 2019 @ 11:39 am
If they have to have a host, my vote is for Dolly or Kellie Pickler.
December 31, 2019 @ 11:57 am
I say Baby Yoda and the Yodeling Kid (Mason Ramsey) , cohosts 2020.. Let’s do it!!!
January 1, 2020 @ 9:42 am
Oh you jest….but season 2 of The Mandalorian will begin shortly after the CMAs. You can bet money Disney and ABC will slip a Baby Yoda reference into the show. It wouldn’t surprise me if he shows up onstage with Mando.
January 1, 2020 @ 1:46 pm
Yodeling Baby Yoda promos? Lol
December 31, 2019 @ 3:42 pm
They need to get better writers. David Wilde is corny and unfunny.
I wish Carrie well. I hope she told them to kiss her ass on the way out.
December 31, 2019 @ 6:36 pm
Kellie Pickler. Nothing more need be said. JMO.
December 31, 2019 @ 7:19 pm
Perhaps the CMA should get Kid Rock and Oprah to be the new hosts
December 31, 2019 @ 8:37 pm
It’s like a good jockey riding a horse with a broken leg. It simply doesn’t matter. The horse is broken.
December 31, 2019 @ 9:06 pm
I guess I’m a Carrie “stan”, but she and the SCM live blog have been the only things to hold my interest at CMA time. I kinda hope she stiffed them as they’ve done so many times to her over the years.
In my humble opinion, I’ve always thought Lady Antebellum might be worth a shot as hosts of an award show. Or Charley Pride! He’s still so fun and entertaining. Dream on
December 31, 2019 @ 9:39 pm
Lady A and Darius Rucker as cohosts. They tour together often and have great chemistry
December 31, 2019 @ 9:47 pm
Please, No Reba, Kelly or Blake Shelton. Kelly and Blake are where they best fit,Hollywood. Reba is already much on the ACM’s….After a couple trips out on the stage is enough Reba for me. After 12years its time Carrie and Brad move on. They weren’t funny. It was mostly Carrie changing dresses. No telling who they will get. No one can beat Vince Gill….. Seems the CMA’s keeps going down. Does the CMA Board even want it to be about Country Music anymore. I wouldn’t shed tears if they stopped it altogether
December 31, 2019 @ 9:55 pm
Vince is probably going to be busy with The Eagles …
December 31, 2019 @ 11:24 pm
They ought to get somebody so completely different to host that it would make it fun and interesting like: HOME FREE They are great if you ever saw any of their videos and listened to any of their music. I can dream, please oh please vote for Home Free to do the gig !!!
January 1, 2020 @ 2:54 am
I think Trisha Yearwood would be a good host for the CMAS. She is very likable, has a good sense of humor and already has experience as a host via her cooking show on The Food Network. She’s a natural in front of the camera. I think she’d do great on her own as host or alongside someone like Vince Gill, if he’s willing to return (and if TPTB is interested in having “older” hosts).
January 1, 2020 @ 7:03 am
Kacey Musgraves and Post Malone. Put Post in overalls and hand him a pitchfork.
January 1, 2020 @ 1:47 pm
That’s been Ashton Kutcher’s role as presenter for the past 8 years…
January 1, 2020 @ 9:32 am
The CMAs will likely play it safe. They could shift Reba to the CMAs, solo or with a cohost. I don’t think they will mess the brand too much.
But…the ACMs could then do something a little more risky though. Since they already have more of a Hollywood/Vegas element…CBS should try their own hosts of The Talk (Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood, Carrie Ann Inaba, Eve, and Marie Osmond – a CMA winner). They have great chemistry, have a lot of humor, respect country music, and their musical holiday special (with Vanessa Williams) was a knockout. This would be great brand synergy for CBS with cross.-promotion, and they could easily keep things moving.
January 1, 2020 @ 3:58 pm
If CBS wanted some pull at the ACMs hosting gig, they’d probably go with James Corden. But in my opinion they should stick with county stars hosting. The problem with this new generation of country stars is that their fans don’t watch live tv.. Why cater to the 18-35 year old demographic with Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini if their fans won’t watch live? That’s why Reba, Dolly, Jennifer Nettles, and Trisha Yearwood host many events, their “older” fans will watch.
Even Luke Combs couldn’t get his millennial fans watching live.. They’ll watch the highlights on YouTube. TV consumption is at such a crossroads, just as it was with TV and Radio in the 1950s
January 1, 2020 @ 12:27 pm
GOOD!! WHY DON’T WE HAVE COUNTRY ARTIST…MCing THIS EVENT? CARRIE UNDERWOOD IS NOT! SAY ALAN JACKSON…GEORGE STRAIT?? I BET ROY ACUFF IS TURNING OVER IN HIS GRAVE! LOOK AT KEITH URBAN?? WHY KEITH DON’T YOU TAKE A BATH…SHAVE…A HAIRCUT WOULD MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE!! THIS GENERATION…THINKS A BEARD IS IN? I BEG TO DIFFER! WHAT EVER HAPPEN TO CLEANLINESS??
January 1, 2020 @ 6:55 pm
exactly…..”why don’t we have a country artist ” .
January 1, 2020 @ 8:18 pm
Someone mentioned having no host. The CMAs tried that in the early 2000s, right after Vince was no longer hosting. Instead, they had several hosts (Sara Evans, an actress from Grey’s Anatomy, etc) and it fell flat. Having a host keeps the pace of the show going. As entertaining they are in concert, Brooks + Dunn were not great hosts during the years they hosted the CMAs. The Brad and Carrie combo worked very well.
It’s hard to imagine who could be good hosts for the show. Kelsea Ballernini has hosted several ABC shows including the CMA Fest special and does a decent job. And even though I adore him and he’s hilarious, I have no hope for Jon Pardi becoming a host. He messed up all his lines hosting the ACM Honors a few years ago and it became painfully awkward.
LeAnn Rimes hosted the ACM Awards in 2001 and I always thought she did a great job. She was able to poke fun of her legal issues with Curb Records and was funny.
I still think Vince Gill is the greatest host the show ever had and would love to see him return.
Also, if you haven’t watched it, Brad Paisley’s recent ABC special is worth watching. There are comedy bits with Tim McGraw and they make a good team.
January 3, 2020 @ 11:31 am
I think it will be interesting to see if they go the Legend route (Vince Gill, Reba, Tim & Faith?) or someone newer/more current like they did with Brad & Carrie. I honestly thought it was an odd/bad move at the time – I was obviously proven wrong.
January 10, 2020 @ 12:34 pm
Legend? Faith Hill and Tim are legends? God… u are a moron!
January 25, 2020 @ 11:45 pm
Honestly, I enjoyed the Brad and Carrie duo and will be sad to see it end. The only other person I could think of that would be a (more than) fitting host would be Reba, but I’m not entirely sure what her deal is with the ACM’s. If we can’t have Brad and Carrie or just Reba by herself, how about they just forgo a host? Seems best.