Carrie Underwood Steals the Show With Dual Tributes to Country Legends at the ACM and CMA Awards
Few artists embody the soul and legacy of country music quite like Carrie Underwood, and over the years, she’s proven that her place among the genre’s greats is well earned. Two unforgettable moments — her Grand Ole Opry 95th anniversary tribute at the 2020 ACM Awards and her powerful homage to Alan Jackson at the 56th CMA Awards — remain among the finest displays of her artistry, reverence, and vocal might.
💫 2020 ACM Awards: Honoring the Women Who Built Country Music
At the 2020 Academy of Country Music Awards, Underwood graced the stage of the Grand Ole Opry House to celebrate 95 years of the Opry’s legacy — and more specifically, the trailblazing women who shaped its history.
Wearing a floor-length maroon gown that shimmered under the lights, she delivered a show-stopping medley of songs by country queens who came before her:
Patsy Cline – “Crazy”
Loretta Lynn – “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man)”
Barbara Mandrell – “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool”
Dolly Parton – “Why’d You Come in Here Lookin’ Like That”
Reba McEntire – “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia”
Martina McBride – “A Broken Wing”
Before launching into the medley, Underwood spoke directly to the audience, her voice filled with emotion as she thanked these women for paving the way:
“These are the voices that built this house, and I wouldn’t be here without them.”
The performance was met with thunderous applause and instant critical acclaim. Viewers and industry insiders praised her ability to “nail every note” while capturing the spirit of each icon she honored.
That night was especially meaningful: Carrie was the only female nominee for Entertainer of the Year, a title she went on to win in a historic tie with Thomas Rhett — a moment that underscored both her artistry and her enduring influence as a modern torchbearer for women in country music.
🎸 56th CMA Awards: A Salute to Alan Jackson’s Timeless Legacy
Two years later, at the 56th CMA Awards, Underwood once again delivered a performance for the history books — this time joining Dierks Bentley, Jon Pardi, and Lainey Wilson to honor Alan Jackson, one of the genre’s most beloved traditionalists.
Each artist took on a signature hit from Jackson’s unparalleled career:
Carrie Underwood – “Remember When”
Dierks Bentley – “Drive (For Daddy Gene)”
Jon Pardi – “Don’t Rock the Jukebox”
Lainey Wilson – “Chattahoochee”
Underwood’s rendition of “Remember When” was hauntingly beautiful — her voice soaring over the Opry orchestra with both power and tenderness. Bentley brought heartfelt warmth to “Drive,” while Pardi delivered the kind of honky-tonk swagger that Jackson made famous. Wilson’s “Chattahoochee” brought the house down, complete with fiddle, steel guitar, and her unmistakable charm.
When Alan Jackson rose to his feet, visibly emotional, the entire Bridgestone Arena joined him in applause. The camera captured teary-eyed reactions from Luke Bryan, Brooks & Dunn, and countless others who grew up idolizing Jackson’s music.
The tribute wasn’t just a look back — it was a reminder that Jackson’s songs, and the artists he inspired, remain the beating heart of country music.
🌟 Carrie Underwood: The Bridge Between Eras
Across both performances, one truth rang clear: Carrie Underwood isn’t just carrying the torch for country music — she’s shaping its future while honoring its past.
From paying homage to the women who broke barriers to celebrating the legends who defined a generation, Underwood continues to prove that reverence and reinvention can exist side by side.
Whether she’s belting out “A Broken Wing” or quietly delivering “Remember When,” Carrie’s tributes remind fans that the soul of country music — its stories, its heroes, and its heart — lives on through voices like hers.