Martina McBride Gets Emotional During ‘Girls Night Out’

Martina McBride is one of the women celebrated during the Academy of Country Music's 'Girls Night Out: Superstar Women of Country -- The Concert of the Year' television special, which airs tonight (April 22). The 'Teenage Daughters' singer could not believe she was sitting alongside the women who were being honored, including her idol, Reba McEntire, as well as Miranda Lambert, Loretta Lynn, Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles, Carrie Underwood and the Judds.

"It was amazing," Martina tells The Boot. "It was such a special show, it's such a special moment to be with those other women and be recognized in that way in that group of women. I mean, I'm sitting next to Reba and we're here together. This is crazy, right? I just felt so proud and happy to be there with those other women. People like Miranda, who is just doing such amazing work and Jennifer Nettles, who's such a great singer, and Carrie, who's a great singer. Just being part of that whole [night], and the Judds! My gosh!"

Little Big Town saluted the 20-year vet by performing her 1994 hit, 'Independence Day,' and then harmonizing with her on the Linda Ronstadt classic, 'When Will I Be Loved.' "It was a great night, and then to have Little Big Town, who I just love to death, they're so amazingly talented, to come out and sing 'Independence Day' for me, it was really moving," says Martina. "It was a really moving, emotional night, and it was a celebration!"

Martina was recognized by ACM Lifting Lives for "her dedication to raising social consciousness of domestic violence and encouraging female empowerment through her music."

The special tribute, which also features performances by Jason Aldean, the Band Perry, Ronnie Dunn, Sara Evans, John Fogerty, Vince Gill, the JaneDear Girls, Pistol Annies (featuring Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley), Rascal Flatts and Blake Shelton, will air Friday (April 22) at 9:00 PM ET on CBS.