Female country music artists have consistently faced a lack of equality in radio – their music is typically played less on the radio compared to their male counterparts. The highest-played male artist on country radio, Kenny Chesney, has earned more than six million spins, while the highest-played female artist, Carrie Underwood, has only earned a little more than three million spins. At the end of the year, even the male artists with the lowest numbers performed better than their female counterparts. 

Six months after debuting her first Christmas album, Carrie Underwood debuted her first gospel album, titled “My Savior,” on March 26. The album marks her eighth studio album and ninth album in her career.

It seemed like the perfect moment. On a night dedicated to the women of country music, Reese Witherspoon announced the final award of the night at the 53rd annual Country Music Association (CMA) Awards: entertainer of the year. Carrie Underwood, the favorite for the night’s highest honor, looked like she was about become the first female artist to take the award since Taylor Swift in 2011. And the CMA went to ... Garth Brooks?!