Why Carrie Underwood's Husband Mike Fisher Was Nowhere To Be Found At The 2023 CMT Awards

Carrie Underwood and her husband, Mike Fisher, have been a staple couple on the red carpet. They've walked together at some of the most famous award shows in the world over the years, from the Grammys to the CMA Awards to the American Music Awards. We usually can't get enough of seeing this country star and her retired hockey player hubby looking oh-so loved up.

One place you can usually guarantee to see Fisher proudly by his wife's side is the CMT Music Awards. The former Nashville Predators star made an appearance alongside Underwood at the show in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019. The pandemic then changed how award shows worked for a little while, but Fisher was back by his talented wife's side once again in 2022. Though, when the 2023 CMT Awards rolled through Austin, Texas, on April 2, Fisher was nowhere to be found. So, what gives?

Don't go thinking there's trouble in paradise when it comes to Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher. There's a pretty sweet reason why he wasn't supporting his wife in person, as she competed for Female Video of the Year and Video of the Year at the 2023 CMT Awards. The "Hate My Heart" singer was asked about her husband's whereabouts, and she revealed on the red carpet he was actually on daddy duties for the evening. "My husband's got the kiddos. He's always holding down the fort while I'm out doing stuff like this," she said, even giving her three boys back at home a little shoutout, suggesting they were watching her from home. Aww!

Notably, the 2023 award show probably wasn't quite as accessible to the former hockey star as it has been in years past. Previous years saw the CMTs take place in Nashville, the home of country music. This was near Franklin, the Nashville suburb where Underwood and Fisher live. However, it was confirmed back in November 2022 that the award show would move to the Lone Star State.

It seemed like Underwood was making the most of her time in Texas away from her boys, though, as the country superstar wowed in a rhinestone two-piece that will land her on all the Best Dressed lists.

Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher are both in the spotlight, but they do their best to shield their two children, Isaiah and Jacob, from it. In fact, when the "Jesus Take the Wheel" singer went on her last tour, she and Fisher decided not to have the kids tag along so as not to disrupt their routine. "This time, they are not coming with me," Underwood shared with ET Canada. "My oldest is in school, and we definitely feel like that's a huge priority. We want both of their lives just to be as normal as possible."

Moreover, Underwood mentioned that Fisher is a hands-on dad, which allows her to focus on her work. "I also feel very blessed. I have to toot my husband's horn a little bit," she added. "He's got it. He's got it on lock when I'm gone. I never have to worry that lunches aren't being packed and laundry's not being done."

And it checks out, considering how Fisher has always wanted to be a father. In 2015, before Isaiah was born, he told The Tennessean that he couldn't wait to take care of his little ones. "(Having kids) is something that a lot of people say it's hard to explain until it really happens, and then it's the greatest thing ever," he shared. "I'm just kind of thinking about wanting to be the best dad I can be."

Although Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher may seem like exemplary parents now, it wasn't always the case. Initially, Underwood didn't think she would be a good mom, while Fisher has always wanted to be a doting father.

"I was never good with other people's kids. Why would I be good with one of my own?" the country singer said in the "Mike and Carrie: God & Country" docuseries, adding that raising a family wasn't even initially part of her list of priorities. "I never thought about getting married or having a family, I don't think," she said. "I've always kind of done well kind of by myself." Fisher, however, was the exact opposite. "I grew up with three other siblings. And I had a great mom and dad. And I think that I just wanted something like that," he said. "I wanted to be the best dad, just to be like my dad and have a wife like my mom. And have kids and living in the country."

But it all worked out for them, as Underwood and Fisher are now living in the country with their two children. When Isaiah was born, Underwood's whole stance on parenthood was upturned. "I definitely feel like it's changed me as a person. I'm happier. I'm in a better mood a lot of the time," she shared with Redbook Mag. "I'm completely in love!"