Carrie Underwood brought the house down with her performance of “Hate My Heart” at the 56th Annual CMA Awards.
Donning a black and gold fringe ensemble with her athletic legs on full display, Underwood commanded the stage with a colorful geometric heart behind her as pyrotechnics lit up the stage.
“Hate My Heart” is the second single off Underwood’s latest album, Denim & Rhinestones, and follows the project’s lead single, “Ghost Story.”
The song is a boot-stomping breakup anthem that begs for radio airplay. Throughout the lyrics, which Underwood crafted alongside Hillary Lindsey, David Garcia, and HARDY, Underwood shares her frustration over trying to move past a breakup as her heart won’t seem to allow her to.
“I hate my heart right now/ Underneath the covers in the dark right now/ Wishin’ I was sitting in a bar right now/ Two drinks in/ Makin’ me a last call friend/ I want my feel good back/ Instead of feeling bad that I can’t get past/ The fact that I can’t love nobody else/ I would if I could, but I don’t know how/ I hate my heart right now,” she sings on the chorus.
“‘Hate My Heart’ was definitely part of my desire to have fun on this album. I wanted songs that would be exciting to perform live and would fill up an arena, and that’s exactly what we’re about to do with The Denim & Rhinestones Tour,” she shared in a statement. “This one is definitely going to get everyone up on their feet and having a good time. It was great writing ‘Hate My Heart’ with Hillary Lindsey and David Garcia, who I love collaborating with, and also getting to work with Hardy, who brought a cool vibe and an energy to the track.”
Denim & Rhinestones arrived on June 10 and features her current single “Hate My Heart” as well as “Ghost Story” and fan-favorite tracks like “Pink Champagne,” “Crazy Angels,” and “Velvet Heartbreak.”
“We cover a lot of ground on this album,” Underwood previously shared in a press release. ”We have a lot of songs that have a bit of a ‘throwback’ feel, but they sound super fresh. I grew up listening to so many different kinds of music and that is extremely evident in this body of work.”
“These are musical influences that are all in me and work their way out, and I just decided this time not to get in their way,” the hitmaker added. “I think this whole album ended up being a big reflection of me as a person and as an artist.”
Underwood is currently in the midst of her massive headlining Denim & Rhinestones tour, which kicked off on Saturday, October 15 in Greenville, South Carolina.
Heading into the 56th Annual CMA Awards, Underwood was nominated for three trophies, including the night’s top honor – Entertainer of the Year.
The 56th Annual CMA Awards featured performances from Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Cole Swindell, Cody Johnson, and Carly Pearce.
The show opened with an all-star tribute to the late Loretta Lynn from Underwood, Reba McEntire and Lambert.
Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Jon Pardi, and Lainey Wilson joined together to honor the 2022 CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Alan Jackson.
Additionally, the show included star-studded collaborations from Kelsea Ballerini, Kelly Clarkson and Carly Pearce, HARDY and Lainey Wilson, Elle King with The Black Keys, Brothers featuring The War and Treaty, Thomas Rhett and Katy Perry, Chris Stapleton with Patty Loveless, Zac Brown Band, Jimmie Allen and Marcus King as well as Ashley McBryde with Pillbox Patti, Brandy Clark, Caylee Hammack and John Osborne.
Mookie Betts, BRELAND, Jessica Chastain, Jordan Davis, Sarah Drew, Cole Hauser, Tyler Hubbard, Wynonna Judd, Lady A, Rex Linn, Little Big Town, Parker McCollum, Reba McEntire, Ben and Erin Napier, Jeannie Seely, Michael Shannon, and Lainey Wilson were on hand to present during the ceremony.
Co-hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, the 2022 CMA Awards broadcasted live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and aired on ABC (8:00-11:00 PM/ET).
The CMA Awards will also be available for viewing on Hulu beginning Thursday, Nov. 10.
The 56th Annual CMA Awards was a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton served as the Executive Producer, Alan Carter as the Director, and Jon Macks as the Head Writer.
