The 2022 CMA Awards oare still hours away, but we already know who won the trophy for Musical Event of the Year. Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde were announced as early winners, ahead of tonight’s ceremony, for their “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” collaboration.
Pearce shared the exciting news on social media.
WOWWWW what a way to start #cmaawards day!!! This song means everything to me & seeing the life it has had this year has been so rewarding. Thank you @cma for this. MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR!!! 🥲♥️ pic.twitter.com/8VI8U3slLR
— Carly Pearce (@carlypearce) November 9, 2022
The Kentucky native also posted a video of her at home, when she learned that she and McBryde won the CMA Award.
Actual footage of me finding out we won this morning 😂😂😂 @CountryMusic #CMAawards pic.twitter.com/WxtzLzJ7at
— Carly Pearce (@carlypearce) November 9, 2022
Perhaps ironically, Pearce’s first-ever CMA Awards win was also for Musical Event of the Year. That trophy was given to her in 2020, for her “I Hope You’re Happy Now” duet with Lee Brice.
The reigning CMA Female Vocalist of the Year could win in three other categories tonight, including another Female Vocalist trophy. Pearce and McBryde’s “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” is still in the running for both Song of the Year and Single of the Year. They were also nominated for Music Video of the Year, with that award already given out to Cody Johnson, for his “‘Til You Can’t” video.
Receiving five nominations this year was far more than Pearce dared to hope for herself. She unashamedly poured her heart and soul into her 29: Written in Stone record, hoping and praying that she would receive just one nomination to validate her hard work.
“I said to somebody that I work with, that all I want is one,” Pearce told Everything Nash. “And to get all five that I was up for, I don’t know how to explain that at every single step of this, I still am like, ‘Please let it happen.’ So just to see it and to see ‘Never Wanted to Be That Girl,’ a song, again, that I wrote from real-life experience — and it was my idea to have Ashley come and write a song with me — just to know again, that my instinct was right on, that is really awesome.”
Pearce not only received multiple nominations this year, but she will also perform twice. The 32-year-old will sing a song from her 29: Written in Stone album, and will also perform with Kelly Clarkson and Kelsea Ballerini, on ‘You’re Drunk, Go Home.’
“I feel really lucky to have five nominations, and just to be a part of the show,” Pearce tells the Country Music Association. “I mean, this is my dreams coming true every single year, more and more, as I go along. So I’m just really excited to be here.”
Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning will host the 2022 CMA Awards. The show will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, November 9, at 8:00 PM ET on ABC.
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