Cry Pretty (song)

"Cry Pretty" was written by Underwood, Hillary Lindsey, Liz Rose, and Lori McKenna.{{cite web|last1=Underwood|first1=Carrie|title=Carrie's Letter To Fans|url=https://www.carrieunderwood.fm/news/news/letter-from-carrie-about-new-music|website=CarrieUnderwoodOfficial|accessdate=April 10, 2018}} About the song, Underwood said:

"The title refers to when emotions take over and you just can't hold them back. It really speaks to a lot of things that have happened in the past year and I hope when you hear it, you can relate those feelings to those times in your life. It's emotional. It's real. And it rocks!"{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/8301240/carrie-underwood-open-letter-health-update-new-single|title=Carrie Underwood Gives Health Update & Talks New Single in Open Letter to Fans: 'I Feel More Like Myself'|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=April 22, 2018}}

Underwood revealed the personal nature of the song's lyrics, which center around the emotions she experienced after having three miscarriages in two years:

"Right after I'd found out I'd lose a baby, I'd have a writing session. I'd be like, 'Let's go,' you know? I can't just sit around thinking about this. I wanna work. I wanna do this. Because I would literally have these horrible things going on in my life, and then have to go smile and do some interviews, or do a photo shoot, or something. So it was just kind of therapeutic, I guess.".{{Cite web|url=https://theboot.com/carrie-underwood-miscarriages-baby/|title = Carrie Underwood Reveals Three Miscarriages, Says Writing 'Cry Pretty' Was 'Therapeutic'| website=The Boot | date=September 16, 2018 }}

"Cry Pretty" received positive reviews upon its release. Billboard praised its subject matter, writing, "The four-minute song digs deep into the difficulty of "dressing up" heartache with fancy rhinestones and lace when all you want to do is break down and cry, building to a sky-high crescendo in the final minute, where Underwood unleashes the full, soulful power of her voice."{{cite magazine|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|title=Carrie Underwood Doesn't Hold Anything Back on Emotional 'Cry Pretty': Listen|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/8302674/carrie-underwood-cry-pretty-single-listen|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=April 11, 2018}} NPR praised Underwood's delivery, writing that her "performance communicates the same weary rage these classics do, the injustice of being expected to keep it together so that the world is a little better-looking, a version of country's tragic punchlines that could only be sung by a woman."{{cite web|last1=Powers|first1=Ann|title=Ahead Of Her Return, Carrie Underwood's 'Cry Pretty' Does Some Heavy Lifting|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2018/04/11/601520841/ahead-of-her-return-carrie-underwoods-cry-pretty-does-some-heavy-lifting|website=National Public Radio|date=April 11, 2018 |accessdate=April 11, 2018}} USA Today praised the song, writing "The track is a promising return for Underwood, featuring an enduring melody that's instantly more memorable than "The Champion", her Super Bowl theme she released in January. For country music's unshakable sweetheart, "Cry Pretty" shows Underwood in full empowerment mode, even if she's not always in control of her emotions."{{cite web|title=Carrie Underwood's new song 'Cry Pretty' is an emotional comeback|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2018/04/11/carrie-underwood-new-song-cry-pretty/506135002/|website=USA Today|accessdate=April 14, 2018}}

The song debuted at number 20 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart for the week ending April 21, 2018.{{cite web|url=http://headlineplanet.com/home/2018/04/16/carrie-underwoods-cry-pretty-erupts-country-radios-added-song/|title=Carrie Underwood's "Cry Pretty" Erupts As Country Radio's Most Added Song|date=April 16, 2018|work=Headline Planet|accessdate=April 22, 2018}} It peaked at number 9 on that chart, becoming Underwood's 27th consecutive top ten single and extending the record for most consecutive top ten singles from the start of a career.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8464798/carrie-underwood-gets-27th-straight-country-airplay-top-10|title=Carrie Underwood Is Sitting 'Pretty' As She Links Her 27th Straight Country Airplay Top 10|publisher=Billboard}} The following week, the song topped the Digital Songs chart with 54,000 sold, becoming the first country song to top that chart since 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8376548/carrie-underwood-first-country-no-1-since-2014-cry-pretty|title=Carrie Underwood's 'Cry Pretty' Is First Country No. 1 on Digital Song Sales Chart Since 2014|publisher=Billboard}} It also became Underwood's first ever number one on the Digital Songs chart and reached number 5 on the Hot Country Songs chart, becoming her 27th consecutive top ten single. It also debuted at number 48 on the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite web|url=http://headlineplanet.com/home/2018/04/23/carrie-underwoods-cry-pretty-debuts-billboard-hot-100/|title=Carrie Underwood's "Cry Pretty" Debuts on Billboard Hot 100|work=Headline Planet|date=April 23, 2018|accessdate=April 24, 2018}} As of September 2018, the single has sold 189,000 copies in the United States.{{cite news|url=http://roughstock.com/news/2018/09/43332-the-top-30-digital-country-tracks-september-5-2018|title=Top 30 Digital Country Singles: September 5, 2018|work=Roughstock|last=Bjorke|first=Matt|date=August 14, 2018|accessdate=September 5, 2018}} The song was certified Gold by the RIAA on November 7, 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=CARRIE+UNDERWOOD&ti=CRY+PRETTY|title = Gold & Platinum| website=Recording Industry Association of America }}

In Canada, the song debuted at number 83 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart. On the Canadian Country Songs chart, it debuted at number 35 and has reached number 8. "Cry Pretty" debuted at number 94 on the Scottish Singles Chart before moving to number 75 in its second week.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/|title=Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 – Official Charts Company|website=www.officialcharts.com|accessdate=April 22, 2018}}

Underwood first posted a short teaser clip for the official music video of the song on May 3, 2018, with a note at the end of the clip saying "official video coming soon". The video premiered during the May 6 episode of American Idol.{{cite web|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/carrie-underwood-cry-pretty-video-premiere-american-idol/|title=Carrie Underwood Premiering 'Cry Pretty' Video on 'American Idol'|website=Taste of Country|date=May 5, 2018 }} It was directed by Randee St. Nicholas.

The video begins with Underwood in the shower, then shows her walking onstage getting ready to perform the song. This is intercut with scenes of her in her dressing room, bedroom, shower and limousine, where she is seen crying. It was filmed over two days at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium and at the Noel Hotel in Nashville.{{cite web|last=Maslow|first=Nick|title=Carrie Underwood's Tears Flow in First Music Video After Receiving Over 40 Stitches in Her Face|url=http://people.com/country/carrie-underwood-cry-pretty-music-video/|work=People|date=May 6, 2018|accessdate=May 7, 2018}}

Underwood performed the single live for the first time at the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards on April 15, 2018, marking her first public appearance since November 2017.{{cite web|url=http://people.com/music/acms-2018-carrie-underwood-perform-new-single/|title=Carrie Underwood Will Debut New Single at the ACMs, Returning to the Stage for First Time Since Accident|last=Pasquini|first=Maria|work=People|accessdate=April 10, 2018|date=April 9, 2018}} The performance was very well received and she received a standing ovation from the crowd.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/8337914/carrie-underwood-2018-acm-awards-performance-cry-pretty|title=Carrie Underwood Stuns With Emotional 'Cry Pretty' ACM Awards Performance|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=April 22, 2018}} Billboard ranked it as the best performance of the night.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/acmas/8337849/2018-acm-awards-performances-ranked|title=2018 ACM Awards: All the Performances Ranked|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=April 22, 2018}}

On May 13, 2018, Underwood performed the song live during the semi-final of American Idol.{{cite web|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/carrie-underwood-cry-pretty-american-idol/|title=Carrie Underwood Delivers Another Perfect 'Cry Pretty' for 'Idol'|work=Tasre of Country|last=Hermanson|first=Wendy|date=May 13, 2018|accessdate=May 14, 2018}} On May 11, she performed the song during her ten-year Grand Ole Opry anniversary celebration,{{cite web|url=http://www.soundslikenashville.com/news/carrie-underwood-10-year-opry-anniversary/|title=Carrie Underwood Commemorates Her 10 Year Opry Anniversary|work=Sounds Like Nashville|last=Brickey|first=Kelly|date=May 15, 2018|accessdate=June 2, 2018}} and at the 2018 CMT Music Awards on June 6, 2018.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/country/news/carrie-underwood-backstreet-boys-added-to-2018-cmt-awards-w520863|title=Carrie Underwood, Backstreet Boys Added to 2018 CMT Music Awards|magazine=Rolling Stone|last=Betts|first=Stephen L.|date=May 29, 2018|accessdate=June 2, 2018}} Underwood's performance of the song was shown during the CMA Music Fest on August 8.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/8460158/carrie-underwood-cma-fest-2018-performance-recap|title=Carrie Underwood Puts On Awe-Inspiring, Fan-Loving Show at CMA Fest 2018|publisher=Billboard}}

Underwood performed this song at 2018's CMT Artists of the Year along with Tammy Wynette's "Stand by Your Man." From there, her 2019 tour mates Maddie & Tae and Runaway June joined her on the next seven songs: Dolly Parton's "9 to 5," The Judds "Rockin' with the Rhythm of the Rain," Martina McBride's "Independence Day," Faith Hill's "Wild One," Reba McEntire's "Why Haven't I Heard from You," and Shania Twain's "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" {{Cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1800047/carrie-underwood-closes-cmt-artists-of-the-year-with-50-years-of-songs/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019015929/http://www.cmt.com/news/1800047/carrie-underwood-closes-cmt-artists-of-the-year-with-50-years-of-songs/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 19, 2018|title=Carrie Underwood Closes CMT Artists of the Year with 50 Years of Songs|website=CMT.com|accessdate=October 7, 2018}}

In September 2018, she included it during her set at the iHeartRadio Music Festival.{{Cite web |title=Carrie Underwood's Baby Was Kicking During Her iHeart Festival Performance |url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2018-09-22-carrie-underwoods-baby-was-kicking-during-her-iheart-festival-performance/ |access-date=2022-07-12 |website=iHeart |language=en}}

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Cry Pretty"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Carrie Underwood|award=Platinum|type=single|title=Cry Pretty|certyear=2023|access-date=June 21, 2023}}

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{{Awards table}}

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| align="center|2018 ||align="center| "Cry Pretty" ||align="center"| Choice Country Song || {{nom}}

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{{Awards table}}

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| align="center"|2018 ||align="center"| "Cry Pretty" ||align="center"| Music Video of the Year || {{nominated}}

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{{Awards table}}

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| align="center"|2019 ||align="center"| "Cry Pretty" ||align="center"| Video of the Year || {{Won}}

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{{reflist}}

{{Carrie Underwood singles}}

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Category:2018 songs

Category:2018 singles

Category:Carrie Underwood songs

Category:Capitol Records Nashville singles

Category:Country ballads

Category:Music videos directed by Randee St. Nicholas

Category:Songs written by Carrie Underwood

Category:Songs written by Hillary Lindsey

Category:Songs written by Liz Rose

Category:Songs written by Lori McKenna