While the Miss American Idol positions on the current Billboard charts are somewhat less than stellar, that is all soon to be changing as the Supreme Miss American Idol, Season Four winner Carrie Underwood is putting the finishing touches on her third album. It's going to hit stores on November 3rd and it will be called Play On. It is sure to continue the record breaking multi-platinum success of her previous releases, Some Hearts and Carnival Ride.
As the excitement builds toward this highly anticipated release, Carrie is finishing up her nationwide live concert tour. I am very happy to report that I was able to fully experience the entertainment talents of the Supreme Miss American Idol on Monday night August 31, 2009. She had two SOLD OUT performances at The Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, IL.
This was the culmination of months of anticipation after the tickets went on sale back in April. If you have never been to Ravinia, it is a spectacular outdoor venue where Carrie's amazing music could be enjoyed in the fresh air under the stars. The show started at 8:00 PM, but in order to stake a claim on prime picnic area it was best for us to arrive when the gates opened at 5:00 PM. The multitude of fans started lining up outside the park at 4:00 PM, while the elite fans who had purchased "priority" tickets were allowed in early. At 5:00 PM the friendly Ravinia staff started to take tickets and we spread out our blankets on some prime picnic real estate just behind the pavilion. By 5:15 almost every piece of lawn was covered with eager fans.
The next three hours until show time was pure enjoyment while friends relaxed with wine and food as the anticipation escalated toward Carrie's grand entrance to the stage. Discussion included guessing what song she would open with (I guessed All American Girl and I was wrong) and games of Carrie Underwood trivia (Answers: She was the winner of Season FOUR - American Idol, Inside Your Heaven was her #1 hit on the Billboard HOT 100 and So Small was the first single off of Carnival Ride).
Surely the Ravinia Festival has never been as filled to capacity as it was for these two nights. The lights flashed indicating that it would soon be show time and the families living in the neighboring homes had to hear the volume rise as the crowd cheered joyfully.
It was finally time for the lights to go down and the video screens to display a lovely desert sunrise with the beautiful Carrie Underwood dressed in a glittering black cat suit emerging through the dust and wind. The lights on stage flashed frantically as the real Carrie rose to the top platform and the band played track one from Carnival Ride, Flat On The Floor!!! (It was so easy, I can't believe I didn't guess that one) She looked stunning in her skinny fit jeans and easy breezy tan blouse.
She sounded pitch perfect as she sang all of the fan favorites including Jesus Take The Wheel, Some Hearts, Don't Forget To Remember Me, I Told You So, Just A Dream and Last Name. I was especially pleased to hear her belt out my favorite track from Carnival Ride, I Know You Won't. It's a lovely ballad that genuinely showcases her impressive vocal range.
She changed clothes a few times looking especially spectacular in a playful little yellow skirt with cowboy boots. In addition to performing all of your favorite hits from her albums, she threw in some fantastic covers of Guns and Roses and Fleetwood Mac's Go Your Own Way.
The fans sang along, cheered, clapped and danced for her entire set. It culminated with her closing song, the huge multi-format smash, Before He Cheats. Carrie Underwood brought her unparalleled talents to her ever growing base of fans and provided what can only be described as the BEST NIGHT EVER!!!
It serves as an illustration of why she was named the 2009 ACM Entertainer of the Year. With her new album just around the corner the Supreme Miss American Idol is sure to have even more huge successes in front of her while her fans can enjoy it all with her.
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