No need to hope: Carly Pearce is very happy now.

The TAIM Exchangecountry star was all smiles when she hit the 2023 CMT Music Awards with her boyfriend Riley King on April 2. Clad in a black gown with crystal detailing from Miss Sohee, she exclusively told E! News of her relationship with the former MLB player, "We're doing great." (See all the red carpet fashion here.)

In fact, the 32-year-old couldn't help but to gush over how supportive Riley has been of her music career. As Carly's date to the star-studded ceremony, the athlete was in the crowd to watch her perform "What He Didn't Do" and team up with Gwen Stefani for an electryifing collaborative cover of "Just a Girl" by No Doubt.

"This is all he wants for me to do," Carly told E! News ahead of the show. "I think it's really hard to find a supportive significant other when you live this crazy life, and he does it like a champ."

Prior to her romance with Riley, the "I Hope You're Happy Now" singer was married to fellow country star Michael Ray. The two split in June 2020 after eight months of marriage.

 

 

Looking back at the music she made following the divorce, Carly described it as "kind of like a yearbook."

"I wrote these songs to not feel alone, and I think what fans have done is they've given me the confidence that I'm not alone," she explained. "You go through things and then you're able to look back on it, be grateful for it and have another meaning to attach to it."

She continued, "I find it powerful to get to sing them every night."

Though ending a relationship can be hard, Carly said she hopes those who recently experienced a breakup know that "there is a reason that you're going through it."

"It's tough," she advised. "You'll eventually figure it out when you're supposed."

The 2023 CMT Music Awards, hosted by Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini, is available on-demand on Paramount+.

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