CMA Reveals Carrie Underwood And Brad Paisley’s Replacements For 2020 Awards

Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley’s CMA Awards replacements have been revealed. After more than a decade hosting the award show together, the duo has stepped away so their fellow superstars, Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker can take over for 2020.

CMA confirmed the news via Instagram on Monday, October 5, with a promo video of Reba and Darius looking very glamorous. The post noted that this year’s ceremony, the 54th edition of the Country Music Association Awards, will still be live as planned on November 11.

In the clip, Darius admitted he didn’t think he’d “ever get a shot” at hosting the awards.

The “Fancy” singer said that she thought bringing him on was a “great idea” and noted that the ceremony will be “different” to those prior. She added that everyone is “hungry to get back” to some normalcy and perform again.

“We need country music,” she said.

“We’re gonna go and have a blast and laugh and say some funny stuff and see some great performances,” Darius added.

The “Turn On The Radio” singer co-hosted last year’s ceremony, which celebrated the women of the genre, alongside Carrie and Dolly Parton. Prior to that, Carrie and Brad hosted 11 ceremonies between 2008 and 2018.

While many fans shared their excitement to see the new hosts put their own spin on the show, others couldn’t hide the fact that they’d miss the “Remind Me” and “Oh Love” duet partners.

“Will miss Carrie and Brad but these 2 will be great,” one person tweeted.

“Brad and Carrie will be missed!… watching them on that stage for 11 years representing country music with such class, wit and creativity was so special!” another wrote in a tweet.

“I like Reba, but I would so much rather have our Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley back doing [the] CMA’S!! It’s just not going to be the same without them,” a third person tweeted with a crying face emoji.

Brad quietly departed the show last year, while the “Drinking Alone” singer confirmed she would no longer be hosting a few weeks after the 2019 event.

Carrie shared via an Instagram post that she decided it was time to walk away and later explained her choice in an interview. She told Parade that she was “beyond proud” and “emotional” about her final time as a co-host and called it a “mic drop.”

She added that she’s also become pickier about the jobs she takes on since becoming a mom of two.