Introduction
The 53rd CMA Awards opened with Carrie Underwood, joined by Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton as co-hosts. Carrie enthusiastically welcomed the audience and celebrated the presence of two iconic women in country music, Reba and Dolly, calling them her “sheroes.”
The show kicked off with a focus on honoring women in country music, from the legends to today’s stars and rising talents. The hosts emphasized the importance of inspiring young girls to dream big — whether it’s dominating the country charts or leading the world.
The segment was full of humor and warmth, with the women joking about sharing a dressing room, Dolly’s famously large wardrobe, and their different social statuses — from Dolly’s “social security” to Carrie and Reba’s “social media.”
They acknowledged Brad Paisley, Carrie’s long-time co-host, who stepped aside this year to let the women lead. Though he wasn’t present, they sent him and his wife Kimberly warm wishes.
The hosts also gave a shout-out to the Entertainer of the Year nominees, including Garth Brooks, Eric Church, Chris Stapleton, and Keith Urban, and celebrated that Carrie Underwood was among them as a female nominee.
Finally, they introduced an exciting lineup of musical performances for the night, including stars like Blake Shelton, Thomas Rhett, Maren Morris, Brooks & Dunn with Brothers Osborne, P!nk with Chris Stapleton, Halsey with Lady Antebellum, and Kacey Musgraves with Willie Nelson. The segment closed with playful jokes about Willie’s “Reserve,” setting a light, fun tone for the rest of country music’s biggest night.