The Country Music Association Awards almost fully honored and highlighted the women of country music — whose songs have been heavily dismissed on country radio over the years — until two words were uttered when they named its entertainer of the year: Garth Brooks.

Wednesday night's show kicked off with a performance featuring country female acts across generations, included three female hosts and had Maren Morris as its top nominee. But in the final moments, Brooks won the top prize over Carrie Underwood, who many had hoped would be the first female to win entertainer of the year since 2011.

Brooks did highlight female acts during his acceptance speech at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

"If they gave this award for this show tonight, I'd have to give it to Reba McEntire's performance," Brooks said, also praising Kelsea Ballerini and Luke Combs, who won two honors.

All eyes seemed to be on Underwood, who had a successful year with her album "Cry Pretty" and an all-female tour, for an entertainer of the year win. The last woman to win the prize was Taylor Swift and Underwood was this year's sole female nominee.

Underwood hosted the show alongside McEntire and Dolly Parton, though she didn't win any awards. Underwood did win in a way — she won over the audience: She was a vocal beast, hitting all the right notes and more during a smoky performance of "Drinking Alone."

Morris, however, marked a big night for female country acts by taking home album of the year for "GIRL." The award also went to her producer busbee, who died in September at age 43 from brain cancer.

"I would be really remiss if I didn't mention a huge facet of why this album sounds the way it does, and we miss him so dearly. He texted me the morning that we got the nomination for album of the year this year, and we were so excited, and that's our friend busbee," a teary-eyed Morris said onstage. 

Kacey Musgraves, who won four Grammys this year, picked up female vocalist of the year and music video of the year for "Rainbow."

"The female creative spirit, the female energy is really needed right now, it's really important and I feel like it's something that Earth needs. So whether it's me that's up here or any of the other women in this category, I just think that it's a beautiful thing and I'm very appreciative," Musgraves said.

Other women who won Wednesday included Ashley McBryde, who won new artist of the year and fiddle player Jenee Fleenor, named musician of the year.

(Cover image, L-R: Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, and Dolly Parton perform onstage during the 53rd annual CMA Awards at the Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee, November 13, 2019. /VCG Photo)