Carrie Underwood steps aside as CMA Awards host after 12 years: 'Time to pass the torch'

Carrie Underwood is stepping aside from hosting the CMA Awards, the country star announced on her Instagram account on Monday.

Underwood had hosted for the past 12 years, most often with Brad Paisley but this year she was paired with Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton as part of the show's celebration of female artists.

"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," Underwood wrote on Monday. "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!)."

"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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The CMAs gave Underwood a proper sendoff on Twitter after her announcement. 

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

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Earlier this year, Underwood talked with the Paste BN Network about how she manages to strike a balance as a mother, wife and performer.

Underwood said she knows being successful in all three roles is possible, because she's living proof, but she also acknowledged that it "takes a village."

Underwood, in the the midst of her The Cry Pretty Tour 360, did it with her sons Isaiah, 4, and Jacob, 8 months, on the road with her. Her husband, Mike Fisher, her assistant and a nanny come along to help, but it’s vital to Underwood for her children to remember her cooking them dinner and waking up with them at night. So, when Jacob predictably stirs at 3 a.m. — even though Underwood hasn’t yet been asleep long following her post-show wind-down — she tends to him herself.

“I never knew what it was like to be a mom and a wife and a woman in this business until I became those things,” Underwood said. “It makes me respect those women that I grew up idolizing even more, and I didn’t even know all that they had on their plate.”

'It really is amazing how she does it all': Mike Fisher praises Carrie Underwood