Carrie Underwood's star bright in ‘Play On’

BY BRANDY MCDONNELL Comments 0
Published: November 3, 2009

Carrie Underwood’s star just keeps rising with today’s release of her highly anticipated third album, "Play On.”

Photo provided

Multimedia

Videoview all videos

Carrie Underwood's hometown donation

Aug 29Dave Morris interviews Carrie Underwood about her musical...

It’s been less than five years since the Checotah native won "American Idol,” but Underwood’s music career has been supernova hot since. With her first two albums, 2005’s "Some Hearts” and 2007’s "Carnival Ride,” she has sold 10 million records, notched 10 No. 1 hits and won four Grammy Awards, along with numerous other industry accolades.

So, sky-high expectations hang over "Play On,” but the Oklahoma native seems poised to meet them. The album’s first single, "Cowboy Casanova,” rocketed into the top five in just seven weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. A cautionary tale about a man "who looks like a cool drink of water, but he’s candy-coated misery,” it blasted out of the gate with first-week sales of more than 110,000 digital copies.

Underwood co-wrote seven of the 13 songs on "Play On,” penning "Cowboy Casanova” with fellow Okie Brett James (who also co-wrote her Grammy-winning hit "Jesus, Take the Wheel”) and hip-hop impresario Mike Elizondo.

She keeps the country-rock sound and tough-chick tone on "Undo It,” a scathing kiss-off to someone "who stole my happy.” She teamed with three other writers on the song, including "American Idol” judge Kara DioGuardi.

Underwood shows her softer side on "Play On.” The ballad "Mama’s Song,” about a woman assuring her mother that the man in her life is a keeper, is sure to be a favorite at weddings. And "Temporary Home” will tug the heartstrings as effectively as smash singles "So Small” and "Jesus, Take the Wheel.”

Underwood is marking the album release with a publicity blitz in New York City. She performed Monday on "The Late Show With David Letterman” and will play an outdoor show at the Lincoln Center today on "Good Morning America.” Thursday, she will cap her Big Apple outing appearing on "Live With Regis and Kelly.”

For more country music news, read BAM’s Blog at blog.newsok.com/

bamsblog.