Carly Pearce

Though her Grand Ole Opry invite was a surprise to Pearce, it wasn't much of one to anyone who’s been paying close attention to her career.

"Dreams come true… sometimes even better than you dare to dream."

They've since become good friends.

Pearce told Taste of Country first about her first 2021 ACM Awards win.

It's both singers' first CMA Award win.

Pearce will perform her hit duet, "I Hope You're Happy Now," with Kelley instead of Brice, who's sitting out the 2020 CMAs after testing positive for COVID-19.

"It's a lot harder than I thought it would be," the "Next Girl" singer says.

Carly Pearce is leading with the truth.

All of that time at home, she says in a new interview, has "showed [her] a lot."

She says the uncertainty of the situation is what's most frustrating.

"I'm happy for him," she said at the time.

They’d been together as a couple for more than two years.