2005
Here is Carrie at the beginning of it all. She'd won American Idol and was at a pre-party for her first CMAs, and unexpectedly, she looks like she's about to play a bullfighter in a ballet. Call it The Gutcracker Suite.
2005
She wore this to the actual ceremony, which is actually pretty good -- consider, it's her first big ANYTHING post-Idol.
2005
She wore this to sing "Jesus Take The Wheel," and Jesus was like, "I will, because you are going to kill yourself trying to drive with those sleeves."
2005
And this is the afterparty. Times were so, so different, but her hair has always been RIDICULOUSLY healthy.
2006
This photo says, "I did my hair with a dinglehopper."
2007 CMAs
At this point she was already pretty established -- she hit it big quite quickly after Idol -- and this dress actually looks kind of like something she'd wear now, EXCEPT that today the lower half of it would be sheer.
2008
Bold color! (She likes it; she'll wear it twice more in this slideshow.) I think it needed slightly more sophisticated head-styling, because it's a strong hue and the cut of the bodice leans cheesy.
2008
This feels like an extended blouse.
2009
This is easily one of her prettiest gowns. I am a sucker for sparkles and patterns, so it's right in the Venn Diagram for me.
2009
On-stage, she was firmly in her LEGS phase. She looks like she's hatching.
2009
This is a little Lemon Wedding Cake, but I don't hate it.
2010
That's intricate and pretty, but perhaps... a bit grim on her? What if it were fuchsia?
2010
She looks shockingly like Reese Witherspoon here. That's quite a ball gown; I wish the satin overskirt didn't look SO much like invisible fists were grabbing it out of the way.
2010
This was a big swerve into something simple. I assume she was hosting this year; I'm not actually sure when that started. WAIT, Wikipedia will tell me: 2008, so yes, she was definitely running through outfits as the emcee. I'm so glad we worked through that process together.
2011
Not bad, but why is the extra-gold part right over her crotch?
2011
This is both pretty, and something I would have guessed came WAY earlier in her career, had I not already known the date on the photo.
2011
Her shoes seem so complicated and clompy that I did for a second think the microphone base was part of them. I don't know WHAT this outfit is. An ode to mobsters?
2011
These are the shoes in their actual state. They are... not right with that origami pillowcase of an outfit.
2011
Again something about the hair and makeup seems... dowdy, almost, compared to the drama of the dress?
2011
This looks like a magic trick gone wrong.
2012
Okay, now we're into Fancy Gangrene.
2013 in Ralph & Russo
Remember earlier when I said, "This dress looks like she'd wear it now, but the skirt would be sheer?" This is the one I was picturing.
2013
I ABSOLUTELY think Carrie should switch it up and try wild pants and suits, but... let's not start with bell-bottoms.
2013 in Georges Chakra
And here we have a pink penis and a harness.
2013
"I call it CROCODILE HUNTER COUTURE. Do you LOVE IT???"
2013 in Siriano
Carrie doesn't often wear big designers, or at least, not the ones we traditionally think of as big. Siriano's profile has only grown since this time, and I don't think she's worn him since, honestly.
2013
... Did she sit in some bleach?
2014 in Lorena Sarbu
This was maternity wear. It's perfectly nice.
2015
She looks GREAT in this color. I like when she keeps it a bit simpler.
2016
Wait so I might need to start watching the CMAs.
2016 in Michael Cinco
THIS version of "simpler" is also GLAM. I might love it.
2017
This is a bit Joan Collins on her, but honestly, she IS one of the biggest celebrities in country music so I do not object to this direction.
2017
I DO object to her wearing a small table.
2017
And Joan Collins would not endorse this direction.
2017
Two capes in one night! I am concerned she's wearing a romper under this one, which is not at all a helpful step away from the Britney catsuit.
2018
That's a nice enough pattern, against a dull as HELL background shade.
2018
Thankfully, Carrie knows how to bring the drama on-stage.
2018
Props to her for doing this pregnant and bringing scores of challenging costume changes.
2019
This was clearly a joke, but I am on the outside of it.
2019
But I... really don't like this. At least Fraulein Maria's drapes weren't sheer, and didn't devolve into tulle nonsense.
Carrie and Reba
Oh, CARRIE. Why must your gowns run out of steam?
2019
OH CARRIE. Well, look, her inevitable Vegas show someday is going to be crackers.