Carrie Underwood Is Everywhere, CMA Fest & Other News

Carrie Underwood is off to a Super (Bowl) start for the New Year
It is possible that, the above title is an understatement! She really is everywhere and I think for her this year has been more then Super so far, and only look to get better (if possible).

After getting engaged in just before Christmas, Underwood went back to Nashville to do some work on her upcoming tour, then it was off to Hollywood to film her small screen debut for "How I Met Your Mother". After she went back for some time with her new fiance in Ottawa only to return to L.A. for the Grammys, where she took part in the highlight of the show the Micheal Jackson tribute, which she receive much praise for.

After the chaos of January she headed off to Miami, to have the prestigious privilege of sing the National Anthem. This portion of the Super Bowl had been pre-recorded since 1993, but Underwood being the artist that she is and would never lip sing, went live for the first time in 17 years. So the nerves must have been tremendous, but she handle it with nothing less then poise, and class. Although there was a faulty note at the end (awaiting the fly over) the performance was what is exactly what is expected when you have Underwood involved in anything, perfection.

Immediately after the game she was jet set for Hawaii, to start filming her big screen debut in the bio epic Soul Surfer. Underwood will play a church youth leader to Bethany, a 13 yr old who had her arm severed after a shark attack while surfing and is now a champion surfer. Underwood's character apparently played a big role in getting Bethany back on her feet, staying positive and to start surfing again. She is said to be filming for he week.

How could there possibly be more....well there is, she will have to return to Nashville to start rehearsing for her Play On tour which begins in less then a month. She just added an additional nine dates to her tour to bring he through the end of June, when presumably she will get hitched. After the wedding there is already talk about a fall leg of the tour she announced at the Super Bowl press conference. At the press conference she impressed the room full of male reporters with her whit, humor, class, and love for "Pants On The Ground". She went in depth to explain how "Pants On The Ground" is a song with a message, much to the crowd and Queen Latifah's delight. Here's the clip;



2010 CMA Fest
Underwood was the the first artist announced for the CMA Festival June 10 - 13, with a surprise phone call to one of her biggest fans who emailed the CMA requesting Underwood's appearance at the Festival this year.



Just announced today Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Reba McIntire, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Keith Urban and Zac Brown Band! Wow that is already more then worth the cost of a four day pass! Check out all your CMA Fest info here;CMA Fest

Also announced is Miranda Lambert setting out on her first headlining tour, so watch out for dates near you.

ABC Is Going Country For Fall

ABC GOES COUNTRY WITH PROGRAMMING AND APPEARANCES LEADING UP TO THE "THE 43rd ANNUAL CMA AWARDS"


ABC, the official broadcast home of "Country Music's Biggest Night," is getting the festivities started early with programming celebrating the best of Country Music leading up to the big gala, "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards." The show will be broadcast live from the Sommet Center in Nashville, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

From Primetime to Daytime, ABC is going Country! Highlights include:

Tuesday, October 27 (9:00-10:01 p.m., ET) "Dancing with the Stars Results Show" It's Country Music night at "Dancing" when Taylor Swift, who sold more records in 2008 than any artist in the world, makes a very special appearance on the release date of the Platinum Edition of her "Fearless" album to premiere a brand-new single, "Jump, Then Fall," as well as perform her worldwide chart-topping hit, "Love Story." Taylor, who at 19 is the youngest artist in history to be nominated for the Country Music Association's prestigious Entertainer of the Year Award, is currently nominated for four Country Music Association Awards and 6 American Music Awards.

Tuesday, November 3 (7:00-9:00 a.m., ET) "Good Morning America" CMA Awards co-host and five-time CMA Award winner and the first country music artist in history to achieve 10 No.-1 singles from their first two albums, Carrie Underwood will be stopping in New York to make an appearance on "Good Morning America." Her highly anticipated new album, "Play On," featuring the current smash single, "Cowboy Casanova," is being released on November 3.

Sunday, November 8 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" Country Music sensation Kellie Pickler joins the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" team in Beavercreek, Ohio, to tell James Terpenning, a wheelchair sports champion and mentor to disabled Iraqi War veterans, that he and his family will have their home rebuilt in seven days. Kellie will be the celebrity volunteer for this build and will perform her new song at the family's reveal.

Tuesday, November 10 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) "In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts: Bright Lights. Big Stars. All Access Nashville." ABC News' Robin Roberts sits down wish some of Country Music's hottest stars in this hour-long special. In addition to interviews with legendary artists Loretta Lynn, Vince Gill and Rosanne Cash, Carrie Underwood takes Roberts back to her hometown in Oklahoma where Underwood surprises her former high-school with a very big, musical surprise; Tim McGraw takes Roberts horseback riding on his family farm and opens up about his challenging childhood; and Robin Roberts joins Martina McBride and her family in their Nashville home and also spends time with the country superstar at Blackbird Studios.

Tuesday, November 10 (7:00-9:00 a.m., ET) "Good Morning America" Returning CMA co-hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will perform live outside the Sommet Center in Nashville. This concert is free and open to the public.

Tuesday, November 10 ABCNEWS.com ABCNEWS.com will feature a special section for "In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts: Bright Lights. Big Stars. All Access Nashville." The section will feature extended interviews with Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw and Martina McBride, as well as additional photos and music. Viewers will be able to log onto ABCNEWS.com and vote for their favorite country song immediately following the special on Tuesday evening. America's favorite country song will be revealed live on "Good Morning America" the following morning.

Country Music's superstars and the industry's elite will gather to recognize and celebrate the best and brightest performers, songwriters, record producers and music video directors on "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards." Some of the performers will include Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, who are hosting the gala for the second time, Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews, Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Billy Currington, Vince Gill and Daughtry, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban and Zac Brown Band. Additional artists and presenters will be added to the lineup and announced soon.

Darius Rucker "History In The Making" Review

Darius Rucker - History in the Making

Well the title sure leaves the imagination open to the many possibilities of what this song is about, one being his transformation from being in a "pop" group to a solo country artist. But that is not the case...he seems to be taking a page from Taylor Swift's book, singing about first kisses, dancing in the moonlight, making lasting memories among many other things.

The steel guitar backing Rucker's voice makes it all that much more captivating. A much more sensual side of him, almost something you would hear from Dierks Bentley. This song will definitely make everyone reminisce upon their own first kiss, or your first that gave you those butterflies that he sings of.

I will take the chance at saying that the song will live up to the title and be yet more "History In The Making" for Rucker, and probably become his fourth straight #1 single off of his first album.

Grade - B+

Check it out...

CMA Awards Predictions; Male Vocalist of the Year

Male Vocalist of the Year
This award is based on individual musical performance on records or in person. Award to artist.


Brad Paisley - Two time reigning champ is the most consistant hit maker out of the men. This year he scored his 10th straigh #1 single. Also in the eligibility period he release and instrumental album and his current #1 album American Saturday Night, which is probably one of his best to date. His songs range from humor and love to make the perfect combination when releasing singles. I think this is safe to say three peat for Brad.

Possible Contenders - George Straigt, Blake Shelton, Toby Keith, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney or Darius Rucker.