A few days ago, Carly Pearce was voted the Female Vocalist Of The Year by the CMA. 

I have briefly met Carly Pearce backstage at Blossom a time or two, and Sarah Kay and I have phone interviewed her a couple of times on our show, and I always like to hear what she has to say. For me, she is a breath of fresh air with a clear direction and knows where she wants to go, and I think she can get there -  and stay there.

 Great Song - Well Done

She has repeatedly stated in our interviews things like this, and I will paraphrase here.  "I am a country singer, I love country music, and I want to record and sing country songs."  Strong, convicted and rare words from a young star and I love it. I follow her on socials as you may too. She takes great pride and has great humility for the gifts Nashville can offer, including her new glass trophy.   She loves the Ryman, and the Opry. And she seems to love the direction she is going.

Carly WINS The CMA  - A Wonderful Moment

For me, that's a great path.  With Carly Pearce there doesn't seem to be a desire to use her success here to go some other place or format with her music and career.  She seems exceedingly comfortable here and it shows and I think fans see it and like it.  Her music over the past couple of years seems to have been true to herself and to Nashville.  She has written, and recorded great songs, and her latest album 29: Written In Stone is fantastic. among the years best. There have been solo hits and duets too, some have performed better on the charts than others. But they are all country rooted and I applaud that.

With Lee Brice

I feel Carly Pearce winning the CMA was huge.  I feel there is always room for real rooty, back to basics performers recording grown up songs in our format.  Traditionalist doesn't really apply here, as that term for some reason seems to make some a bit uncomfortable, but the move that way recently has been highly successful for many.  Luke Combs, Jon Pardi, Ashley McBryde and others are in that conversation, and now Carly Pearce. 

New Song With Ashley McBryde

She's a great singer, and a fine songwriter that writes about what she knows, and that's the secret for any great writer. That formula has worked in country for 100 years from Hank Williams Sr, to Loretta Lynn to Alan Jackson, to Taylor Swift, and it's working for her now.  I look forward to more from her, and I really hope she stays the course that she has plotted for herself, as I feel there is great room for real success for a long time ahead.

Bravo, Carly Pearce, Bravo!