Miranda Lambert’s Support of Carrie Underwood for CMA Entertainer of the Year ‘Isn’t a Female Thing’

In early October, Miranda Lambert threw her weight behind Carrie Underwood for the title of Entertainer of the Year at the upcoming CMA Awards. The two artists' careers have risen in parallel over the last decade and a half, and they're both currently helming all-women tours; for much of their careers, they've been the most successful female country artists at radio, in a largely male-dominated field.

However, Lambert says that there's much more than female solidarity behind her endorsement of Underwood for Entertainer of the Year. "It wasn't about being a woman. I'm not waving that flag," she tells Taste of Country Nights in an interview. Rather, she goes on to say, she looked back at Underwood's career to date when making her choice.

"It was about, if you think about what Entertainer of the Year encompasses, for the year, and how you've represented country music in the public eye -- she's got a brand," Lambert explains. "She's a mom, and that's her own brand, a working mom. She does Sunday Night Football. And she is on tour with all females right now."

Even more important than Underwood's decision to tour with all women artists on her 2019 Cry Pretty Tour 360 is the hectic tour schedule she maintains, Lambert points out. "She tours like rock 'n' roll -- like, every other day. I'm weekend warrior over here," the singer says. "I'm like, 'I'll see y'all on Thursday through Saturday!' This girl is on the road with two babies and a husband, all this going on."

Lambert also points to Underwood's track record as CMA Awards host, as well as the way she has drawn mainstream attention to country music. "Plus, she never misses a note, ever," Lambert adds, jokingly rolling her eyes. "She's my Entertainer of the Year this year. And people need to pay attention to what Entertainer of the Year means. It's all the things. It's not just ticket sales or your stage show. It's all of it."

After Lambert came out in support of Underwood, the nominated artist got in touch with her to thank for her kind words; however, Lambert says, the two singers have always supported each other. "We're very different artistically, but we're both in this for the same reasons ... She's somebody that pushes me to do better. She's competition, you know what I mean? And that's a good thing," Lambert reflects.

Underwood is the first woman to be nominated in the category of Entertainer of the Year since 2016; if she wins, she'll be the first female artist to do so since Taylor Swift won the title in 2011. While Lambert isn't nominated alongside Underwood in the Entertainer of the Year category, the two performers are both up for Female Vocalist of the Year.

In addition to her nominations at this year's awards show, Underwood will return to co-host the event. She'll share those duties with Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton, as part of the Country Music Association's efforts to spotlight iconic women during the 2019 ceremony.

The 2019 CMA Awards are set for Nov. 13. The show will air live from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on ABC beginning at 8PM ET.

The Boot will be staying up late covering the most buzzed-about winners, fashion and moments at the 2019 CMA Awards. Readers can watch along with us by checking back to TheBoot.com for the latest CMAs headlines, liking The Boot on Facebook and following The Boot on Twitter.

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