Carrie Underwood Performs Rock ‘n’ Roll-Inspired ‘Dirty Laundry’ at 2016 CMA Awards

Carrie Underwood took a break from CMA Awards co-hosting duties to perform a blazing, rock 'n' roll-inspired version of "Dirty Laundry."

Although Underwood was switching outfits frequently in a nod to the CMAs' various decades, her performance look was edgier. The singer sported messy hair and a short white dress with glammy accouterments: fingerless leather gloves, studded black suspenders, a shirt collar with a long black tie and low black booties. That edgy vibe extended to the song's arrangements and instrumentalists, too: Joined by a fleet of strong, confident women musicians -- including three backup vocalists and multiple guitarists, all of whom sported heavy makeup, teased hair and '80s hard rock-leaning outfits -- Underwood began the song on a raised platform that looked like something out of the musical Rent.

Underwood brought a snarling, forceful vocal tone to the song's kiss-off vibe, and added in almost hip-hop-tinged cadences to some of the lines. A blazing, hard-edged guitar solo even found and one of her female guitarists together at the front of the stage, bathed in red lights and smoke. Post-guitar solo, Underwood strutted on the stage and brought the song home with even more formidable vocals. Naturally, the performance ended with a literal bang: an explosive burst of sparkler-like fireworks.

A nine-time CMA Awards host and five-time winner, Underwood has a long and loving history with the CMAs. This year, she's nominated for four awards, including the coveted Entertainer of the Year title. Underwood spent most of 2016 on the road in celebration of her history-making sixth studio album, Storyteller.

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