We Need a Carrie Underwood Classic Country Album. And Now.
Look, lobbying for Carrie Underwood among the classic country crowd has always been an uphill battle. And it’s not like she’s done herself any favors over the years with some of the exclusively pop singles she’s released to radio which have unarguably done more harm to the legacy of country music than good.
But the career of Carrie Underwood is a perfect example of why you can’t paint all pop country with the same broad brush. Even though to some it may seem like Carrie just showed up yesterday, winning American Idol, and being foisted upon country fans as the next shiny new thing, in 2020 Carrie Underwood is very much in a mid-career phase. And the native Oklahoman came up at a time when you still had to actually have talent in country music to be successful, and you still needed a foundation of classic country knowledge before you could ever consider playing on the contemporary stage.
For years Carrie Underwood has been contemporary country’s good girl, whether it’s been her steadfast support of the Grand Ole Opry by making regular appearances—something no other major country star does at the moment—to having the guts to release more substantive singles like “Jesus Take The Wheel,” or “Something in the Water.”
But the case for Carrie Underwood was put on full display Wednesday, September 16th at the 2020 ACM Awards. Without any legendary performers scheduled to take the stage themselves—and for understandable reasons due to the pandemic and the elderly’s increased risk to COVID-19—Carrie Underwood was tasked to perform a medley of classic country covers, with the overall theme being the ladies of the Grand Ole Opry. The Opry is celebrating it’s 95th Anniversary this year.
Carrie Underwood performed Patsy Cline’s “Crazy,” Loretta Lynn’s “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man),” Barbara Mandrell’s “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool,” Dolly Parton’s “Why’d You Come in Here Looking Like That,” Reba McEntire’s version of “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” originally recorded by Vicki Lawrence, and Martina McBride’s “A Broken Wing.”
But it wasn’t just the “what” and the “who.” It was the “how.” The ending note on “A Broken Wing” will go down in the record books. Some wondered why Carrie picked certain songs from the respective artists she covered, but she only wanted songs she could knock out of the park, which she did. And though Underwood sometimes faces fair criticism that she only has one volume setting, which is super loud, she proved at the start with “Crazy” that she can dial it back when necessary.
And this isn’t just about the CMA Awards. To a much smaller audience on the Grand Ole Opry stream on September 5th, Carrie Underwood performed “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” with Brad Paisley, “I Told You So,” written and originally recorded by Randy Travis—which Carrie Underwood turned into a hit for herself in 2009—and she finished up the night with “Will The Circle Be Unbroken?”
The power of contemporary artists covering classic country songs is the way it can create a bridge from the old and new, the young and old, and even the pop and traditional. Carrie Underwood is in a unique place to accomplish that very thing, ingratiating herself to classic country fans, while exposing classic country songs to a contemporary audience. This is how you save country music.
And sure, we have enough renditions of old country songs to last a lifetime. But just like Josh Turner recently illustrated with his recent covers record, when you have a one-of-a-kind voice, it’s almost a sin if you to utilize it on country standards in the recorded context. Furthermore, with COVID-19 keeping arena tours at bay for the immediate future, Carrie Underwood could probably find the time, and a hole in her release schedule to accomplish a covers record—her upcoming Christmas record due out September 25th notwithstanding. It feels like it’s not really a matter of “if” Carrie Underwood will do this, but “when.”
Or perhaps even better, maybe at some point Carrie Underwood could put out a record of original material in a classic country vein, steeped in steel guitar and twang. As she proved on the ACM Awards, it suits her well.
No pressure, Carrie. But we’re waiting
countryfan24
September 17, 2020 @ 11:07 am
What a stunning performance last night! I hope Carrie puts out an album of country covers (similar to what Martina did with her 18-track album “Timeless”) in the next few years. It would be even better if Brad Paisley was featured on the duets or even just background vocals; their harmonies on “I Told You So” were pretty stunning during their Opry show.
Rackensacker
September 17, 2020 @ 11:08 am
In the years before her American Idol win, Carrie Underwood would perform in small towns all over Eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas at fairs, fundraisers, Walmart parking lots, etc. She always included classic songs like she performed last night. I think it is who she is at her core.
Derek Sullivan
September 17, 2020 @ 11:09 am
It doesn’t have to be classic country. What’s stopping Carrie from putting out an album like Stronger than the Truth. There are lots of great songwriters out there writing great country songs.
Graciella
September 17, 2020 @ 11:15 am
I was in awe during her entire performance, but when she started with Broken Wing I had chills all over my body. She truly lit up an empty room last night and brought personality when the majority of the show was a snooze fest honestly.
ADJ
September 17, 2020 @ 11:20 am
Yes to all of this! And not only a classic covers album, but definitely an album with just great country songs in general! 🙂
country girl
September 17, 2020 @ 12:07 pm
Oh my god Trigger you have a soft spot for Carrie Underwood. She puts out pop country and you swoon but Kelsea and Maren put out pop country and you bury them. I won’t argue that Carrie is extremely talented but if you only have one female (or two) to chose from then that women is going to be put on a pedestal because no one else has a chance to shine. Does all it take is a booming voice? Because Ashley McBryde and Lori Mackenna can write and perform better material than Carrie ever has. Give me one song that Carrie has written herself that is better written and contains more intelligent lyrics than the two women above?
What exactly puts her on the pedestal? Miranda has written extremely smart and impactful songs yet she never gets these types of posts?
barn
September 17, 2020 @ 12:19 pm
I mean the voice is not an insignificant part. Its the same reason Josh Turners album was so worthwhile. Carrie’s voice may not be your favorite, but it is a once in a generation talent.
Matt F.
September 17, 2020 @ 7:55 pm
Carrie Underwood is a once in a generation talent? I’m genuinely curious what you mean. I don’t see it at all.
Ben Noblit
September 18, 2020 @ 6:45 am
From a technical perspective, her range, control, and sheer power are out of this world. She’s the Randy Moss of country music. Don’t always like what she does with it, but her ability is astounding.
Matt F.
September 18, 2020 @ 7:09 am
Thanks. That’s interesting. I don’t have the technical know-how, but I do know what I like–and I don’t like her music.
barn
September 18, 2020 @ 12:29 pm
As someone who watched her on American Idol, watching her do completely different genres week to week, it was shocking just how much better she was than every other person on the show. And the judges saw it too, after a couple weeks they were just “yeah, that was amazing” for every performance. It was like watching Mike McCarey on the food network challenge.
Matt F.
September 18, 2020 @ 12:32 pm
I watched her then, too. I just always found her boring. More people agree with you, though, lol.
That’s what makes the world go ’round.
not a carrie fan
September 17, 2020 @ 12:30 pm
With a possible case for Miranda, none of the other artists have reached the same level of all-around commercial success that Carrie has (McBryde has only recently been noticed by the general country music audience at large, and McKenna is still only recognized, albeit well-respected, in a small circle even within country music). And even though it’s true that Carrie has released plenty of pop-oriented songs, she’s never been a trend chaser, and as Trigger points out, over the years Carrie has also released substantively country songs. I don’t think either can be said of Kelsea and Maren. It’s no surprise, then, that people have higher expectations for her.
Strait Country 81
September 17, 2020 @ 2:09 pm
Maren and Kelsea aren’t nearly as hot either.
Trigger
September 17, 2020 @ 2:13 pm
Okay well first, I praised the Kelsea Ballerini performance last night as well. It was one of the best of the evening. Maren Morris wasn’t bad either. Lori McKenna is a former Song of the Year winner here at Saving Country Music, and Ashley McBryde has been praised here ad nauseum. I would also agree both of these women are better than Carrie Underwood, and they’ve been praised here more than Carrie as well. If you don’t believe it, just go read my reviews of these two’s 2020 albums. They’ve received some of the best scores all year:
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/album-review-lori-mckennas-the-balladeer/
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/album-review-ashley-mcbrydes-never-will/
I’m not saying Carrie Underwood is better than anyone else. But as I tried to explain in the article, with her position as a popular artist in country, she has the opportunity to broaden the appeal for classic country music, like she illustrated on the 2020 ACM Awards. I’m not “putting her on a pedestal.” I just would like to see what she did last night in recorded form.
country girl
September 17, 2020 @ 3:48 pm
“But the career of Carrie Underwood is a perfect example of why you can’t paint all pop country with the same broad brush”. Really, because “southbound” was a monstrosity to the ears. So was “the fighter”.
Look either you treat all country artist who sing pop country the same or you have favorites. You can’t rail against some pop country and not others. You used to take a hard stance against all pop country and now you are ‘its still pop country but some of it is ok”. You have been pretty brutal to Maren Morris in the past but her songs aren’t any less country than some of Carries. Just be fair.
Trigger
September 17, 2020 @ 6:19 pm
“Look either you treat all country artist who sing pop country the same or you have favorites. You can’t rail against some pop country and not others.”
That’s ridiculous. Each song, artist, album, or performance should be judged on its own merit, not “it’s pop country, so it all must be bad.”
I don’t have “favorites.” The first thing I ever wrote about Maren Morris was a positive review for “My Church.” I thought she did great with The Highwomen. I call them as I see them.
” You used to take a hard stance against all pop country and now you are ‘its still pop country but some of it is ok.”
Not true. I’ve always said pop has always been and will always be part of country. The important thing is to distingusih between the good and the bad stuff.
Almost Out of Gas
September 18, 2020 @ 12:18 pm
And that’s only mentioning mainstream singers who’s female. I’ve been digging fairly deep looking for awesome female country, preferable honky tonk, performers and singer/songwriters, because I miss them and I love their take on it. Y’all probably know this already but they are few and far between. But, I’d like to highlight a few. Not always honky tonk though. Zoe Muth, Tessy Lou Williams, Courtney Patton, Lauren Mascitti, Kristina Murray, Kimberly Murray among a few others. Check ’em out.
Janet
October 9, 2020 @ 10:03 am
ITA. I give props to Carrie Underwood. But NO ONE will ever sing Broken Wing like Martina McBride. McBride doesn’t get nearly as many accolades as she should. Carrie will never be as good, for me, as McBride was during her prime.
Loretta Twitty
September 17, 2020 @ 12:33 pm
Agree. Well, any “real” country will suffice. She seems to love old stuff, but never records it.
Country When Country Wasn't Cool
September 17, 2020 @ 6:05 pm
…because you can’t sustain a career by just recording the old stuff you like (unless you’re Tony Bennett or Michael Buble). Look, everyone harps on Carrie for being too pop, too loud or not country enough. Everyone has some really wonky expectations…like she should be in gingham dresses, singing next to hay bales. That’s not the young woman who blew us away on American Idol, and it’s not the artist who knocks it out the park every time we see her. We know who she is…just enjoy her. She is able to sing a wide range of music (even The Sound of Music), and she clearly loves doing so. Classic country is just one facet, and she’s amazing. As Trigger pointed out, she’s mid-career and very confident. She reminds me of Reba in the 90’s, with all of the vocal gymnastics she was criticized for then. Like Reba, Carrie will have a lifelong career because she is so versatile.
To the poster who said she has no emotional depth, take the corn cobs out of your ears. Hello…Temporary Home, So Small,..How Great Thou Art, Just A Dream, and on and on. You don’t have a career like hers if you don’t connect with people.
Looking forward to her Christmas album. Let There Be Peace is fantastic (not “country,” but so appropriate for the moment). If the CMA can lift their heads from the the shame of last year’s snub, I hope she’s invited to perform, and sings that.
CeeCeeBee
September 19, 2020 @ 11:40 am
I just love how everyone here likes to smash Carrie Underwood for being pop, but seem to have no memory whatsoever of Dolly, Reba, Barbara, Crystal, Tanya, etc. ALL putting our LARGE volumes of “pop” music.
It seems as if any female country artist who has even the slightest sustained mainstream success these days can’t put a foot right with this crowd no matter WHAT they do.
Just wait. If Ashley McBryde or Lori McKenna start having the same commercial success as Underwood, Lambert, and Morris, they will be pelted with the same disdain.
Underwood is a fantastic ambassador for Country Music. I am not even her fan, but I don’t get all the nastiness directed at her.
Countrygirl
September 19, 2020 @ 12:10 pm
My issue is not Carrie singing pop my issue is being fair about the criticism…. If this website is going to criticize other female country singers for singing too much pop in Carrie has to be put in that category…
My other issue is that country music will not get give the other females a chance to be as successful as Carrie and Miranda and therefore Carrie and Miranda receive all the attention and praise… not that they don’t deserve it but you can’t tell me it hasn’t become quite boring! Unless of course you’re a Carrrie and Miranda stan then you love it that no other females get a chance lol
CeeCeeBee
September 19, 2020 @ 12:18 pm
It has been boring. Incredibly boring. I would argue that neither Carrie not Miranda “love” it at all. They have both gone out of their way to write with, record with, and go on your with up and coming female acts. Morris and McBryde have both been mentored by Miranda. Carrie has worked with Maddie & Tae. They’ve both been pretty public about their frustration over being the “chosen two.”
I guess my point is that commerical success is so hard for women in Country to achieve – and once they get it – well let me just say I think they are held to a much higher standard, both artistically and personally , than their male counterparts .
Trigger
September 19, 2020 @ 1:05 pm
“Just wait. If Ashley McBryde or Lori McKenna start having the same commercial success as Underwood, Lambert, and Morris, they will be pelted with the same disdain.”
See Chris Stapleton.
CountryKnight
July 10, 2021 @ 8:09 am
They were rightly criticized for going pop as well. Difference with those female singers is that before they went popish they provided plenty of actual country music. Carrie has always been pop-country from the start.
King Honky Of Crackershire Matters
September 17, 2020 @ 12:48 pm
No, thanks. Classic C(c)ountry albums should be reserved for C(c)ountry singers. Underwood doesn’t possess the emotional depth, nor originality to ever be considered a C(c)ountry singer.
Corncaster
September 17, 2020 @ 7:51 pm
Upvote for the moniker, Honkshine. Damn near spewed my drink.
Keith
September 26, 2020 @ 11:14 am
Good lord. Your stupidity is OVERWHELMING. You dont get out much do you?.
Ray
September 17, 2020 @ 12:57 pm
I would love to see Carrie put out an album that has a 90s-country flare to it and NOT be a remake album. I have always felt that when an artist puts out an entire album of remakes, the audience is already tired of hearing the songs. I also think it shows a career downturn and that the artist can no longer find quality songs.
Carrie needs to start cutting back on the bombastic notes before her voice starts showing the strain, much like Martina McBride. This is not a knock at Martina, but she is no longer able to hit many of the notes of the songs that made her a powerhouse in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Liz Rose, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna can write a GREAT country song (“Girl Crush,” “Humble and Kind.”) Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley, Jon Randall and Nicole Galyon can write classic country. I would love to see more variety on Carrie’s next studio album, from classic country, more duets and possibly produced by Vince Gill, who produced Ashley Monroe’s album a few years back.
thegentile
September 17, 2020 @ 1:36 pm
counterpoint: no we don’t.
Blackh4t
September 17, 2020 @ 2:05 pm
Hmmm, definately no. Last thing we need is another remake. Bad enough that there are people who already think Take me Home, Country Roads is called Country Strong and isn’t a John Denver song.
However, an album of relatively unknown songs by classic country writers is another thing.
Just like Gretchen Perter’s amazing Mickey Newbury tribute album.
A good tribute album normally comes down more to the producer than singer. Someone who can reimagine the arrangements and make it new again. I’ve always felt that Carrie was only concerned with vocals and the rest wasn’t important.
So no, now more than ever, we do not need another stripped back covers album.
And we never need to hear Crazy ever again. That is one terrible song in every way.
Bamstrait
September 17, 2020 @ 2:38 pm
Timeless – Martina McBride
No thanks Carrie.
DJ
September 17, 2020 @ 3:22 pm
Re-make? No. her own interpretation, perhaps. It’s all about style. Ask Kristofferson and Johnny Cash neither of whom could sing a lick, but, they had style. Style can make or break- ask Colter Wall- he is a stylist personified and getting great reviews, according to you tube-
Carrie has a great voice and her style is to “knock it out of the park”- any singer that doesn’t think that’s what they’re trying to do is just looking for filler-
DJ
September 17, 2020 @ 3:23 pm
She has great legs too 🙂
wayne
September 17, 2020 @ 4:15 pm
Not a Carrie fan but can’t disagree with Trig on this.
hoptowntiger94
September 17, 2020 @ 4:53 pm
No. More. Cover. Projects.
HerbieVorus
September 17, 2020 @ 5:35 pm
I said last night that if she would do a tour, no opening act, and one set be her own hits, and another full set of covers that might get me to go see her live. She killed it last night. Girl has legs and pipes.
Jake Cutter
September 17, 2020 @ 6:31 pm
If by “we” you really meant “I”, then sure.
Melissa W
September 17, 2020 @ 6:59 pm
My favorite song from Carrie is her cover of Randy Travis’ ‘I Told You So’. Mostly I don’t care for her because she is pop but I would love a country record or a cover country record. She can have a nice voice and a nice country voice at that. Hopefully one day she will do it.
Mike Honcho
September 17, 2020 @ 7:45 pm
I’m with thegenital on this one.
Bob Randall
May 1, 2023 @ 7:37 pm
Was nice we had old fan fare as dj was nice to get records that dint get exsposure and put them on the air
Hey Arnold
September 17, 2020 @ 7:53 pm
She has a Christmas album coming out next week,
From the already released song called “Let there be Peace” it seems like it will be a snooze fest….
Why is it so difficult to write awesome original Christmas songs??
Brett Eldredge is the only exception with “Glow” song.
Ian
September 17, 2020 @ 8:15 pm
I just wish we could get more covers of Garths “That Summer”! Better yet a double album of various artists giving it a shot. Could be called “The sweat, the moonlight and the lace”!
Mama&Trains&Trucks&Prison&GettinDrunk
September 17, 2020 @ 10:36 pm
I wish we could get a cover of Chris Gaines’ songs. Preferably by the two douche brothers from the band perry.
Charlie
September 18, 2020 @ 4:00 am
If Carrie Underwood would appear on SNL as the musical guest, and also be featured in a skit, and that skit was a scene of her friends yanking the chain of an oblivious Carrie and her loud piercing wail (enticing her to sing so that the neck of a stuck wine bottle would shatter, enticing her to sing so that barking dogs would run away howling, finishing with her insisting–over her friends’ protests–on singing her latest/highest/loudest song that shatters the TV screen itself), then I might be in Camp Carrie.
Until then it’s a hard No.
wocowboy
September 18, 2020 @ 4:32 am
The prevailing wisdom is that a country artist might start out their career by sounding “traditional” or old-school country on their first album and then never again release another album that sounds like that, period. And each successive album should be done in a totally different style to the one that came before it. All this to satisfy the demands of critics and reviewers who get bored with an artist if the don’t continually update their sound and do something “different” on each album.
A case in point is Kenny Chesney. His first album or two were died in the wool country, very traditional, and great, imho. Then he switched to pop and the tropical theme and never again went back to traditional country, to this day. As old as he is, he is still shilling out barefoot days on the beach drinking beer and tequila, witha slightly different style on each album. Chesney can do a great traditional country song, but we will probably never hear him do one again. Carrie can belt out traditional country that will make you cry your eyes out, I hope we get to see that from her.
CountryKnight
September 18, 2020 @ 5:20 am
How about she just releases a country album first before she decides to bombast a classic?
I will settle for that.
Carrie loves classic country until it interferes with her pocketbook. I am tired of her receiving free passes because she can sing. Put up or shut up.
OlaR
September 18, 2020 @ 5:22 am
Even Carrie Underwood (& the other “superstars” of “country” music) was not able to save the ratings from going south again.
According to variety.com: 6.6 mil viewers, down 33%, key-demo (18-49) 1.0 rating (last year 1.6).
What the world needs…just another cover album or tribute album or the next “country” star butchering “Crazy”, “I Fall To Pieces” or “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”.
Erik North
September 18, 2020 @ 7:19 am
With respect to whether Carrie is “country enough” or “too Pop”–well, that argument could be made about better than half of all the country music acts that have come along since at least 1955 and the advent of rock and roll, when crossover became a reality, a fair accompli. The debate is usually on how those artists do it.
As for whether Carrie has “only one volume” with her voice, that being “10”–at the risk of sounding like I’m a fan (I’m actually ambivalent), well, I would have to concede that she does occasionally overdo it (an unfortunate lingering residue of her “American Idol” beginnings). However, she has showed in the past that she understands that less can actually be more. A case in point was, ironically, when she paid tribute to Linda Ronstadt at last year’s Kennedy Center Honors in doing “Blue Bayou” and “When Will I Be Loved”, under the longing gaze of Linda, who has made no secret of her disdain of “American Idol” and other TV voice competition shows but who nevertheless appreciated Carrie’s vocal dexterity.
And If Carrie wanted to do an album of classic country songs, she would likely be able to accomplish it quite well. But it would have to be accepted for what it actually would be, an album of country standards by Carrie Underwood, and not what everyone thinks it OUGHT to be.
albert
September 18, 2020 @ 8:38 am
One of the important aspects of ‘ standards ‘ that has been sorely overlooked is the fact that there are so few songs in recent years that are destined to become one . Standards , for the most part , are songs that don’t rely on dated references , trendy sonics or contemporary ‘slang’ but rather universal sentiment and STRONG melody to stand the test of time. This , as we know , is not the case with the short shelf-life offerings of many ‘artists’ and ‘writers’ currently . Certainly we may enjoy a new Kelsea , Carrie , Pardi , Brice or Miranda song . But so many of these are simply forgettable in terms of having staying power for the above reasons . What I believe is more important than singers recording albums of older standards is upping the writing game so that people are writing material which stands the chance of becoming one .
JW
September 18, 2020 @ 10:12 am
A few years ago on the CMAs, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood performed 30 seconds or so of Connie Smith’s “Once a Day.” It was fantastic.
It would great to get more traditional country from them both, either solo or together.
Imre Bidtnes
September 18, 2020 @ 11:19 am
If she is would dedicate herself to such a project, and finds the right producer, and selection of songs, she could make an amazing classic country album. She shure has the voice to do it. I’d prefer original songs over classics, that would be even better 😊
Bamstrait
September 18, 2020 @ 2:45 pm
All her performance proved to me is how truly wretched her original songs are.
Adam S
September 18, 2020 @ 9:03 pm
Hey Trigger, just wanted you to know the video of Carrie’s performance was put up on youtube today. It seems that per your usual article style, it would be fitting to embed the video at the end of the article. As someone who didn’t watch the ACM Awards live, I was informed about her performance from you, and was trying to find a video, to no avail until today. I’m sure anyone after me who reads your article would appreciate the video being accessible easily.
Trigger
September 18, 2020 @ 9:22 pm
Thanks. Just added it.
Robby Turner
September 19, 2020 @ 3:33 pm
I agree w/you & I would hope it’s in the future. After reading your article I listened to her performance. Now I’ve realized her talents/vocal skills throughout her career, but her intimacy on “Crazy” shows a more tender country side of her styling. Then on the the Loretta song she put her stamp on it melodically. Very impressive & heartfelt.
Flip Flapperd
April 1, 2021 @ 5:05 am
Are you gonna review her latest gospel/country album? It’s gonna be a #1 again this week
Trigger
April 1, 2021 @ 7:11 am
It’s being considered for review.