ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: At next month's CMA Awards, you have three nominations, but not Entertainer of the Year, the biggest prize. In the last six years, no women have been nominated for that. Why do you think that is?
CARRIE UNDERWOOD: Um, I don't know. And frankly, I get mad when I think about it. I feel like we have to work three times as hard as the guys just to be almost where they are. I don't think it's fair, and I don't think it's right, and I'm hoping I can do something about that.
I've heard people say it's because that award is primarily about touring, and the guys are the ones who play the big arenas.
'Cause they get the opportunity! People like Martina McBride, it's not like they're singing in front of 25 people — they're singing in front of thousands and thousands of people every single night. Someone like that should be nominated.
Speaking of prizes, it seems like you can't go to an awards show without causing some scandal.
It's all my fault! It's just been a lot of bad luck. It's not like I've done anything that I'm in the hot seat.
Is it because you've won so many big awards so early in your career, and not just new-artist awards?
It's just 'cause I didn't go about it the way a lot of people did. Every single person in the music industry knows if they had a chance like [Idol], they'd take it. And I'm sorry, anybody who says I took a shortcut, they are insane. We didn't take the easy way; if anything we took a more difficult way. It was just unconventional, therefore it must be wrong.
There was that one awkward moment backstage at the CMT Music Awards where Wynonna Judd was answering a question about you and then said that country music was ''getting a little vanilla.'' Have you bumped into her since?
There's no weirdness at all. We've had several long talks. I have her phone number. If I ever need anything she's made it very clear that I can call her for whatever. It was just taken out of context. And people want drama, so they will create drama.
But you were within earshot when she said it, and it upset you.
Definitely. I was standing right there. Nobody knew I was back there, but I was back there. It was a big mess. I took it out of context too.
What about that Faith Hill fiasco? I'm sorry, but wasn't it pretty clear that she was joking?
Oh, yeah. And half of the people got that. She called me immediately after that happened. I felt so horrible, and I even told her that. I was like, ''I'm sorry for what I'm sure is about to happen.''
Are you hopeful that this new record will help your case in the country world?
We do have [songs] like ''Flat on the Floor,'' and that's the first impression that you get from that album. It's got a jaw harp on it, it's gritty and very country, and that makes a statement. But it still goes with that ''haters hate'' policy. If you're going to hate me, that's one of the main things that you're going to be able to say, that I allegedly don't sing country music.
Well, there's nothing on Carnival Ride that could be mistaken for a pop song.
I consider that a compliment.
NEXT: Click to see what Carrie Underwood has to say about her publicized romance with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.
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