Carrie Underwood Keeps Up with the Boys

Carrie Underwood has joined the ranks of country's most well-known artists, but she admits that it wasn't until recently that some opportunities wouldn't have been available to her because of her gender.

"I feel like before it was always this anomaly -- woman, one, singular -- that would come in and really make her mark and do great, she tells CMT. And now there's more of us, and we're all doing this. And so, I'm really happy with the way things are going. Hopefully, we can take over. I know it's possible."

In an industry that has until recently been primarily male-dominated, Carrie feels that even though women are becoming more easily accepted, they still have a long way to go. "I definitely do see more women in country music and more women doing well, and I think it will be a while before we really get what's coming to us."

"I'm not complaining at all," Carrie continues, "because I'd rather work as hard as I can and see a difference than have things handed to me, but it does seem sometimes like women have to work a lot harder to kind of keep up with the boys. And I definitely see the tides changing."

Carrie will be both performing on and hosting Wednesday night's CMA Awards, where she's also nominated for two awards. Catch Carrie and several ot country's hottest female performers, including Taylor Swift, Reba McEntire, Martina McBride and Lee Ann Womack live tomorrow night (Nov. 11) on ABC.