[Naco1776]

HOT DISH: Visiting With Carrie Underwood
American Idol Winner Is Not Letting Major Stardom Go to Her Head
September 8, 2008; Written by Hazel Smith

If Carrie Underwood is the least bit concerned about the state of the music biz, she never seems to let on. During a recent gathering with a few media folks, Carrie was all smiles in a short royal blue dress. Her eyes sparkled, and her heels were high.

The country music headliner won the American Idol competition in 2005, and her debut CD sold 7 million copies, but Carrie Underwood is the most down to earth of all the country girl singers. If the Checotah, Okla., star has an ego, it does not show. Why, she even remembered me teaching her to shake hands when she first came to Nashville with a wimpy handshake and a dream after winning American Idol.

Carrie was well rested when we sat down with her in the green room at the Grand Ole Opry House, although we ended in dressing room No. 1, the one used for years by the late Roy Acuff. She and Ann Edelblute, her day-to-day manager with 19 Management, had just returned from vacationing in France and Italy, specifically Rome. I knew she'd been on vacation, so I thought this meeting of hacks and flaks (only four of us) with Carrie and her PR folks was to announce some big overseas tour. But, no, she just wanted to have some time with some of Nashville's top mouths. Lord knows, I've got a big one.

Carrie is very much an animal lover, so I asked if she still had her dog. Says she has her little doggie, a rat terrier named Ace. She's totally concerned about those who mistreat animals. She supports neutering cats and dogs, and she is an advocate for animal shelters.

She lived south of Nashville until she bought another house closer to town. Her sister, a single mom who teaches school in the Nashville school system, and niece live in her original place. The school is five minutes from where Carrie lives.

What's the best part of show biz?

"Going home," Carrie allowed between bites of salad.

"Meaning Nashville?" someone asked. Her eyes lit up when she replied, "Yes, Nashville is home."

Her first car, a graduation gift from her parents, is a 2000 Mustang with 70,000-plus miles. It now belongs to her nephew who plans to move to Tennessee to attend college near Nashville. Carrie likes having family close by. By the way, she still drives the red Mustang presented to her when she was named American Idol, but with her hectic schedule, it still only has 16,000 miles on it.

When we spoke, she was looking forward to heading to New York City to perform on the Stand Up to Cancer television special that aired Friday (Sept. 5). Carrie was proud to be a part of America's fight against cancer. She and LeAnn Rimes, the only country artists, joined Miley Cyrus, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Melissa Etheridge and a slate of others on the program that was broadcast on all three major TV networks.

Carrie, who was born in 1983, admits to feeling like she's 15 going on 25. She's been on a rollercoaster ride continuously for three years, and it doesn't seem like it's about to slow down. She's constantly busy.

Nobody mentioned her romantic life, but she laughed when I teased her about Kenny Chesney being so cute.

"You know, men sweat more than women," laughed Carrie. "I don't sweat. But when I was opening shows for Kenny, he would be drenched when the show ended. He'd hug me, and I'd get all wet from Kenny's sweat. And I'd think about all those girls down front who'd really like to get some Kenny sweat on them."

CMT : News : HOT DISH: Visiting With Carrie Underwood

[kewlie78189]

ha love that she is still driving the car from AI!

[pgk]

Nice to see that Carrie is very generous and looks after her family. I wonder if this is the sister who was with her in NY for Carrie's New Years E ve performance and was at the Opry for her induction?

[teesharky]

That is a very odd interview... lol It is good- but they said nothing, really. I just don't get the point of it? lol

I thought there would be a big announcement, etc. Makes no sense.

[Chuckerwood]

Wow no major news. But wow this makes up for her column from awhile back. We know Carrie is down to earth and to hear Hazel gush about her puts a smile on my face!!
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[teesharky]

^ yeah it was a good article- just sort of pointless. lol

[carrie65]

We are all looking for big news and it never seems to come. Carrie will tell us in her own sweet time. I thought that the article was very interesting from a point of view that Carrie is really cementing her ties with the Nashville crowd. I would love to know who the other people were.

[CheerBear402]

No major news, really, but that's ok. I mean, Carrie is everywhere...at least every time I look, she's on mags (I don't care for the words, I just like the pretty pics! ), on the radio, on TV...it's great!

[pkc4rls]

Originally Posted by carrie65

We are all looking for big news and it never seems to come. Carrie will tell us in her own sweet time. I thought that the article was very interesting from a point of view that Carrie is really cementing her ties with the Nashville crowd. I would love to know who the other people were.

The article mentions it was her PR folks that were with them. Isn't Ann Edelblute one of those PR folks? Anyway, it mentions it was her PR folks, which are probably friends by now.

[jptexas]

Ah yes, nothing like a good morning cup of coffee with visions of Kenny's sweat splashing all over. Ace, Idol, sweat, her mustang, and her management team are newsworthy? At least she got the cancer event in.

Give me a half hour Carrie interview and I'll give you an article worth reading.

[rainbow1]

Originally Posted by pgk

Nice to see that Carrie is very generous and looks after her family. I wonder if this is the sister who was with her in NY for Carrie's New Years E ve performance and was at the Opry for her induction?

Yes, it is the middle sister. It's too bad, that she is now a single mom...but wonderful that Carrie is looking after them! Guess the big hunk nephew, will soon be there too!! I thought it was quite a compliment for Hazel to say that Carrie is the most down to earth of all!!

[ChesneyzGirl]

Originally Posted by Naco1776

But, no, she just wanted to have some time with some of Nashville's top mouths. Lord knows, I've got a big one.

Nobody mentioned her romantic life, but she laughed when I teased her about Kenny Chesney being so cute.

"You know, men sweat more than women," laughed Carrie. "I don't sweat. But when I was opening shows for Kenny, he would be drenched when the show ended. He'd hug me, and I'd get all wet from Kenny's sweat. And I'd think about all those girls down front who'd really like to get some Kenny sweat on them."

CMT : News : HOT DISH: Visiting With Carrie Underwood

LOL I absolutely love and adore Hazel. She cracks me up, especially when she disses herself. Her quote about her having a big mouth cracked me up.

The part I LOVED the most is when she mentioned Kenny. Hazel is a HUGE fan of him and has a lot of repect for him and a close friendship with him. Carrie's got a very good point about us girls who'd LOVE to get Kenny sweat on us..lol I would have taken her place hugging him.

[pkc4rls]

Originally Posted by rainbow1

Yes, it is the middle sister. It's too bad, that she is now a single mom...but wonderful that Carrie is looking after them! Guess the big hunk nephew, will soon be there too!! I thought it was quite a compliment for Hazel to say that Carrie is the most down to earth of all!!

Plus, it probably really helps Carrie personally to have some family near.

[CheerBear402]

Originally Posted by jptexas

Ah yes, nothing like a good morning cup of coffee with visions of Kenny's sweat splashing all over. Ace, Idol, sweat, her mustang, and her management team are newsworthy? At least she got the cancer event in.

Give me a half hour Carrie interview and I'll give you an article worth reading.

HA...you're too funny! I'll take the half hour interview and probably spend 4 paragraphs describing her outfit and setting. I'm sure someone would appreciate that.

[ivantot2024]

ok, yes there are no major news, but I think the point of this interview is just simply to let everybody know that she is back and that she is ready to conquer once again. I'm not saying that she hasn't but now she is well reseted and ready to start with her tour and posibly a world tour or a new album, but for now she this a start.

[icsuf28]

honestly i love reading ANY interview with carrie cuz i can picture jus how she answered and kinna makes me think i was there for it

[jeff]

Originally Posted by teesharky

^ yeah it was a good article- just sort of pointless. lol

well, i think the point is Hazel wanted to say how down to earth Carrie is. especially with all the nonsense that is circulating with the tabloids,...

i thought the story about Carrie remembering Hazel's lesson about the handshake is a very positive story about Carrie; that she, the current queen of country music, remembers the lessons she learned from the 'older folk' till this day

not every article needs to be about news about a big upcoming tour overseas or a new album or anything to do with her career... i thought this column is better than any such news, because it reaffirms what a wonderful young lady she is.

[dylan007]

Originally Posted by teesharky

^ yeah it was a good article- just sort of pointless. lol

No, it is not pointless. Far from it.

But, no, she just wanted to have some time with some of Nashville's top mouths.

Implied in that sentence is the continuous goodwill that Carrie is building with Nashville people. Exactly how many superstars of Carrie's stature do that nowadays - just treat them to lunch and catch up on mundane things? Other stars feel like they only need the media when they need some publicity. Publicity or not, Carrie is cultivating relationships that will help her career in the future.

And at least these people respect and treat her well enough that they'd meet with her even though she really has nothing "big" to say. Some media people who are out there for blood only see you as something worthwhile when you have something important to say. Other than that, they could care less about you.

[DaisyTweets]

Originally Posted by dylan007

No, it is not pointless. Far from it.



Implied in that sentence is the continuous goodwill that Carrie is building with Nashville people. Exactly how many superstars of Carrie's stature do that nowadays - just treat them to lunch and catch up on mundane things? Other stars feel like they only need the media when they need some publicity. Publicity or not, Carrie is cultivating relationships that will help her career in the future.

And at least these people respect and treat her well enough that they'd meet with her even though she really has nothing "big" to say. Some media people who are out there for blood only see you as something worthwhile when you have something important to say. Other than that, they could care less about you.

Thank you for saying this because I agree wholeheartedly with everything you've said.

I've always gotten the impression from Carrie that she is an 'old soul' and wise beyond her years. I just admire her so much for how I see her handling herself and how she is living with her stardom and fame. She truly is an inspiration and such a joy to watch.


PS. And just for the record when I say 'old soul' I mean she lives her life with values, morals and manners. And that is just so refreshing in this day and age.

[scoutfisher]

Originally Posted by CheerBear402

No major news, really, but that's ok. I mean, Carrie is everywhere...at least every time I look, she's on mags (I don't care for the words, I just like the pretty pics! ), on the radio, on TV...it's great!

yeah, she's everywhere. she's becoming something of an institution in the country and pop music world - popular and critically acclaimed. amazing that it's only been 3 years!!!!

it appears at first glance something of a pointless interview in the sense that there is nothing new. i suspect it has something to do with what she's been saying in the media about female country artists - that 1) she and her team knows that for women to get the same level of respect they have to work harder than the men and 2) her building good relations with the media will only serve her cause in females getting more recognition good.

i think not many artists, male or female, at this point in time, has such a cachet such that the media would be willing to meet up 'just to talk'. that's respect.