Why Carrie Underwood's ACM Performance Has Everyone Talking

From over-the-top live performances to stunning red carpet looks, awards shows have it all — and country music's biggest night was no exception. As the genre's biggest names gathered at three of Nashville's most iconic venues, the 2020 Academy of Country Music Awards offered fans an intimate — but virtual — evening with their favorite acts. While the event will surely go down in history for its socially distanced approach amid the COVID-19 safety guidelines, fans won't soon forget country superstar Carrie Underwood's captivating performance, either. The singer helped open the show, setting the tone for the night, but it was her solo performance on the Grand Ole Opry stage that left viewers mesmerized. Although the event was an unusual one, the performances were nothing short of impressive. This year's awards show might have had the greatest number of artists performing, according to ACMs CEO, who spoke to The Tennessean. But out of all the performances, it was Underwood's tribute to country music's greatest female performers that fans couldn't stop talking about. Not only does Underwood always look like a dream up on stage while delivering soul-shaking vocals, but she's also aware of the fact that giving her audience a glimpse of what's coming up can increase the anticipation. That's just what she did prior to the 2020 ACM Awards when she took to Instagram to share a photo of herself prepping for the night ahead. In the caption, the superstar simply told her fans, "Getting ready for tonight! Let's do this, [ACM Awards]!" Underwood's fans were thrilled to see the snap of their idol, with one person commenting on the pic, "Beautiful already!! Rooting for you." Another admirer wrote, "Beautiful!! Can't wait to watch." Over on Twitter, one user wrote, "Looking gorgeous as always! [...] Loving the new fall [colors]! Can't wait to see you perform twice tonight! Go kill it lady!" And that's just what she did. Underwood, who was the ACM Awards' only female nominee for Entertainer of the Year — performed a stunning tribute that wasn't to be missed. Dressed in a maroon gown, the singer performed a medley honoring country music's greatest female performers, including singers Patsy Cline, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, and Dolly Parton. Underwood called those singers and, in her words, "all the other female artists who stand on their shoulders" her "heroes." These singers inspired Underwood's striking combination of songs, including Loretta Lynn's "You Ain't Woman Enough," Parton's "Why'd You Come in Here," McEntire's "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia," and more. Not only were her vocals stunning, but the concept behind the medley struck a note with many country fans. Taking to Twitter, fans and other artists couldn't stop talking about how heartfelt Underwood's performance was. Singer Carly Pearce wrote, "Ummm [Carrie underwood] you are GOALS. That last note, the whole entire tribute... thank you for always being so true to country music." Another user tweeted in response, "THIS reminds me of why I LOVE Country Music so much. THAT was a beautiful tribute to the legendary greats." Fans continued to describe her beautiful delivery as everything from "awesome" to "a gift." While plenty of viewers were thrilled by Underwood's 2020 tribute performance, not everyone was impressed by what she delivered the previous year at the country music ceremony. According to Cosmopolitan, Underwood got some major hate on Twitter at the time for what the publication called an "awkward" 2019 performance. In case you missed it, the country singer began a rendition of her song "Southbound" outside, where she appeared to be at a staged pool party. She then wandered inside to finish the tune. While it was certainly a fun vibe, it wasn't exactly a hit with everyone. Cosmo noted that some viewers even called it "super cringey." One Twitter user wrote, "This Carrie Underwood performance is so forced, awkward, and cheesy. Total fail. Ouch." Another person tweeted, "Carrie Underwood's 'pool party' at the MGM Grand looked about as exciting as a suburban water park but with a worse soundtrack." And viewers weren't just feeling bad for Underwood, someone else tweeted, "Major secondhand embarrassment for everyone in Carrie Underwood's pool party entrance." But a year later, everyone was focused on the singer's incredible tribute performance — and her night definitely ended on a high note. Watch the video to learn Why Carrie Underwood's ACM Performance Has Everyone Talking! #CarrieUnderwood #ACMs