Carly Pearce is heading into this week’s CMA Awards with five nominations. The industry recognition only further validates Pearce’s hard work, and proves that it is, finally, paying off — and paying off well.

“I feel really lucky to have five nominations, and just to be a part of the show,” Pearce tells the Country Music Association. “I mean, this is my dreams coming true every single year, more and more, as I go along. So I’m just really excited to be here.”

Pearce will perform two times, once with two of her favorite female artists, and also an undisclosed song from her 29: Written in Stone album.

“I am very excited about my performances,” says the singer. “I actually get to sing with Kelly Clarkson and Kesea Ballerini, our song, ‘You’re Drunk, Go Home.’ We’ve never sung it together, so this is going to be really special. And then I am very excited to get to perform a really special song off of my album, 29: Written in Stone, with some really amazing musicians that I’ve looked up to for my whole life.”

Pearce will try to continue her reign as the Female Vocalist of the Year, with another nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year. Her four other nominations are for her “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” collaboration with Ashley McBryde.

“I obviously had a lot of success with ‘I Hope You’re Happy Now’ with Lee Brice, but I didn’t write that song with Lee Brice,” Pearce notes. “So to have this song that I wrote with this other person, doing what it’s doing, and having all these nominations, it’s really, really awesome.”

For Pearce, the five nominations are more than she ever dared dream for herself. With an early love of country music, thanks to her doting grandparents, the Kentucky native only hoped to have some form of a career in country music, never imagining how much that career would explode.

“I’ve watched the CMA Awards since I was probably five years old,” Pearce says. “It’s to me the best of the best coming together. When you’re recognized by country music fans throughout the year, to get these nominations and then to be recognized by your peers, it’s just one of the most uniquely special things, and I truly dreamt my whole life of being a part of it.”

Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning will host the 2022 CMA Awards. The show will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, November 9, at 8:00 PM ET on ABC.

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