Carrie Underwood is the only female artist nominated for the highest honor at the 2016 CMA Awards, Entertainer of the Year; the country star, who has never been nominated in the category before, is competing in the category against Luke Bryan (who has won the honor for the last two years), Garth Brooks, Chris Stapleton and Keith Urban. The Dixie Chicks (2000) and Taylor Swift (2009, 2011) are the only female acts to have won the Entertainer trophy in the new millennium, but the Swon Brothers -- who have spent the year opening for Underwood on her Storyteller Tour -- are betting that this is the year that changes.

"We’ve watched the show over and over; I think it was, like, 88 shows," Colton Swon tells The Boot. "It’s really cool to see her -- she’ll even give us a wink or a 'hey' from stage -- because the show’s so good. And so we go out just as fans and watch her show every night. It’s much deserved, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t walk away with a win."

All Oklahoma natives, the Swons have known Underwood since before her 2005 American Idol win -- a relationship that's given them front-row seats to watch her career unfold.

"I’ve seen her sing on the small stages in Oklahoma, until now," Colton Swon continues. "I’m telling you, if you haven’t seen the show, it will blow your mind."

Adds Zach Swon, "Even just compared to her Blown Away Tour, which was amazing. I mean, she flew over the audience, she had a tornado, there was a house [on the Blown Away Tour]. But even this [Storyteller Tour] is a step above that. It’s really cool to see what she’s become."

The 2016 CMA Awards will air live from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday night (Nov. 2); the broadcast begins at 8PM ET on ABC.

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