Carrie Underwood: Country Superstar

Carrie Underwood: Country Superstar

I have to type this out. Last night, after Carrie’s amazing night at the opry, and talking to various people about her performance, last night was a special night. I hardly slept last night thinking about this. I don’t know if you guys felt the same way as I did watching Carrie at the Opry last night. There was just something very special about last night’s performance. I know many of us are in absolute awe of her rendition of Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man” (an absolute country classic by the way). But the whole of last night’s show was something special. It was a night where everything fell perfectly in place.
It started with a great introduction to the show. Carrie was introduced as the “best selling debut artist in country music history”. Lordy, how big is that? In country music history! She also looked absolutely beautiful. Her performance of JTTW was a perfect lead-off for things to come last night. She was so comfortable, so relaxed. It was like she was performing in her backyard for her mom. She had an aura that only country superstars like Martina McBride has. The only other person I follow as closely as Carrie is Martina, and she has that special aura whenever she performs. Last night, Carrie certainly had it. Not only were her vocals spot on for JTTW, she also connected big time with the crowd. She seemed to make eye contact with people in the crowd and smiled at them.
What else is there to say about “Stand By Your Man”? That performance told me a couple of things. Carrie really is as country as there can be. I hope her next album will be a little geared towards traditional country. Also, she has to do what Martina did: release an album of classic country hits. I don’t know about you guys, but if I were up on that stage performing such a huge classic, I’d be nerve-wrecked. But, she was so relaxed on the stage. She even did those cute facial and hand gestures during the song and even cracked out “ain’t that right ladies?” after the line “after all he’s just a man” and had a good laugh even. And then she nailed that huge note at the end “caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan”. She won the crowd, she had them eating out of her hand. I was watching that performance with my mouth open in awe. And then the standing ovation. Correct me if I am wrong, I believe this is the first standing ovation she’s ever gotten at the opry. It was a great, spontaneous, reaction to an absolutely brilliant performance. Even Barbara Mandrell agreed!
It was at this point where she perhaps showed that she isn’t used to this; she started talking about DFTRM too quickly instead of milking the applause! LOL girl! Get used to it, this will the first of many to come! It was as if she was like “ooh guys! Take it easy! I’ve got another song! Quick! Sit down!”
And then, DFTRM. Wow. She again felt the lyric of the song. Another sign of her comfort was that she took the mic off the stand and started walking around singing the song, as if she was walking around at home! I felt her every emotion. She got another standing ovation for this one too.
I really do think she stole the show last night. She was performing with 2 much more established stars in Leann Womack and Lorrie Morgan, but she was the only one who got the standing ovations. Poor Danielle Peck. No one is going to remember her opry TV debut. Everyone will be talking about that new superstar: Carrie Underwood. She was so comfortable and relaxed throughout. She looked beautiful, and her dress was so elegant. Her vocals were spot on, and her emotion was felt and she connected with the crowd. And I bet she won a lot of respect with SBYM. It was a perfect night. Guys, remember March 18 2006. Mark it down in your calendar if you have to; but I won’t need to. I will remember this night forever. This night will go down in history as the night our girl took the next step. She truly is now a bona fide country superstar.