Carrie Underwood steps aside as CMA Awards host: 'It's time to pass the hosting torch'

By Kelly McCarthy

Longtime Country Music Association Awards host Carrie Underwood has announced "it's time to pass the hosting torch."

After 12 years as the awards show host, the country music superstar shared the news on Instagram Monday night.

Underwood shared a split image alongside her longtime co-host Brad Paisley and a moment from this year when she shared the stage with "the legends that are Reba and Dolly Parton."

View this post on Instagram

One of the highlights of 2019 and of my entire career so far was being on stage with the legends that are Reba and Dolly Parton. I’m so proud that we could celebrate the incredible female artists that are part of the legacy of country music, past, present and future, and I’m thankful for the huge audiences all over the world that tuned in to see it. It’s hard to believe that it was my 12th year hosting and I will always treasure every show, from the 11 that I was so lucky to do with my partner in crime and friend for life, Brad Paisley, to sharing the stage with two of my all-time heroes. I’m so incredibly grateful to everyone involved with the CMA Awards all these years. It’s hard to imagine topping what we have accomplished together, so I’ve decided that it’s time to pass the hosting torch (at least for now!) to others that will cherish it and honor it as much as I do. I’ve got so many exciting things coming in the new year and beyond, and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for all of us. #blessed #MemorableMoments

A post shared by Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) on Dec 30, 2019 at 11:03am PST

"It’s hard to imagine topping what we have accomplished together, so I’ve decided that it’s time to pass the hosting torch (at least for now!) to others that will cherish it and honor it as much as I do," she wrote. "I’ve got so many exciting things coming in the new year and beyond, and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for all of us."

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A post shared by Country Music Association (@cma) on Nov 3, 2019 at 5:25pm PST

The Country Music Association shared Underwood's post on their official feed with the caption, "We love you, Carrie!"

"You’ll always be family to us. Thanks for 12 amazing years hosting the #CMAawards," their post continued. "We look forward to working with you in 2020 and beyond to help spread Country Music to fans around the world!"