Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce perform heartfelt duet at 2022 ACM Awards

There are seven 57th Academy of Country Music Awards nominations split between Ashley McBryde and Carly Pearce. They performed their award-nominated single, "Never Wanted To Be That Girl" at the event emanating from Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium and currently streaming via Amazon Prime.

"Carly and I feel that this song having a TV moment is really important," says McBryde. "We love this song so much because it doesn't matter which of those positions [within the song's lyrical narrative] you're in, it's not your fault. Sometimes you stumble into things like that, and though everyone gets hurt, it's not necessarily your fault [alone]."

Pearce offered a note regarding not just the song, but also her well-known friendship with her co-writer and co-performer, McBryde.

"When Ashley and I got in the room and started writing 'Never Wanted To Be That Girl,' it felt like two honest women recalling an unfortunate, shared experience. At its best, country music allows for people to spill their hearts to each other and for songs to emerge. I wrote this song, and the album, '29: Written In Stone' out of sheer survival. Country music saved me, so it's special whenever I can share the [commercial and personal] success this album has had for me."

Of course, for viewers of country music awards programs, McBryde and Pearce sharing time onstage will recall the duo celebrating Pearce's win for Female Artist of the Year at November 2021's Country Music Association Awards.

WINNERS: ACM Awards 2022: A list of winners and nominees

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce perform heartfelt duet at 2022 ACM Awards