Kellie Pickler’s emotional performance of “I Wonder,” the song she wrote about being abandoned by her mother, was one of the most talked about moments of last week’s CMA Awards telecast.

While singing the line, “Forgiveness is such a simple word, but it’s so hard to do when you’ve been hurt,” Kellie began to cry. Among those in the audience was her younger brother, Eric, who was also overcome with emotion as Kellie broke down at the end of the song.

Before the CMAs, both Kellie and her mother, Cynthia Malone, spoke separately to ABC-11 Eyewitness News in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., about their relationship. Malone left Kellie to be raised by her grandparents when Kellie was two years old. They haven’t seen each other since Kellie was 11.

Kellie says the song helped her deal with her anger and emotions. “The song has not only really helped me, because writing it and performing it every night has been kind of like therapy for me, but I think it’s really helped a lot of other people that might be going through similar circumstances,” she says.

Cynthia Malone insists that she was driven away by an abusive relationship with Kellie’s father, Clyde Pickler. “I did what was in the best interest of her, Miss Kellie,” she says. “The beatings came more frequent, and I knew I was gonna lose my life if I didn’t leave.”

Malone said she prays for reconciliation with her daughter someday, although Kellie says she is still too hurt to consider that possibility, and accuses her mother of telling lies about the situation. “I don’t know why you want anything to do with me now,” she says, addressing her mother. “You never wanted anything to do with me my whole life.”

“I’m not mad, I’m not upset. I’m just hurt because she continues to make herself look like the victim,” says Kellie.

Kellie now uses her celebrity to assist the AARP’s Grandparenting program, which helps grandparents who raise their grandchildren.

On Thursday, she’ll be a contestant on Fox’s Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?, with her winnings going to the American Red Cross and the AARP Grandparenting program.

CMT will re-air the Country Music Association Awards telecast on Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. (ET).