Voting for the American Music Awards closes tomorrow!
VOTE for Carrie today in the Favorite Female Artist Country category at AMAVOTE.COM
You can also vote by tweeting @carrieunderwood for Favorite Female Artist Country #AMAS. You must tag Carrie, type the category and include the hashtag #AMAs for it to count (retweets count too). VOTE NOW!
In this week’s Country Weekly, Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley talk about their co-hosting gig on Country Music’s Biggest Night at the CMA Awards, as well as the intense preparation that goes into making it a success. Plus, learn all about how Carrie and Brad come up with their best jokes. Pick up your copy today!
Carrie Underwood received the Artist Achievement Award October 23 at the TJ Martell Honors Gala in New York City. She was presented the honor by Sony Music Entertainment’s Chief Executive Officer, Doug Morris.
Pictured L-R: Gary Overton (Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Nashville), Underwood, Morris
ALBUM AVAILABLE DEC. 3, 2013
WHILE LIVE BROADCAST AIRS DEC. 5, 2013
On Dec. 3 Sony Masterworks will release the companion soundtrack to NBC’s live broadcast of “The Sound of Music,” based on the classic stage musical. The three-hour live production, starring six-time Grammy Award winner Carrie Underwood as Maria von Trapp, will air Dec. 5.
The cast also includes Audra McDonald (“Private Practice”), who has won five Tony Awards and two Grammys, as Mother Abbess; Stephen Moyer (“True Blood”), who will play Capt. Georg von Trapp; Tony Award winner Christian Borle (“Smash”), who will portray von Trapp family friend Max Detweiler; and Tony winner Laura Benanti (“Go On”), who will portray Elsa Schrader, the captain’s onetime fiancée.
“The Sound of Music” — Music From the NBC Television Event will include studio recordings for all of the musical numbers that are performed by the cast members in the live broadcast, including Rodgers and Hammerstein favorites “The Sound of Music,” “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” and “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” among others.
Executive producers for the telecast are Neil Meron and Craig Zadan (“Smash,” “The Academy Awards”). Directors are Rob Ashford (“Evita”) and Beth McCarthy-Miller (“30 Rock”). David Chase (“Cinderella”) serves as musical director. The soundtrack is licensed through the NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products Group.
“The Sound of Music,” set in the 1930’s before and during “Anschluss” when the Nazi’s annexed Austria, is based on the romantic true story of Maria von Trapp, an aspiring nun who leaves the abbey to become a governess for the widower Capt. von Trapp’s seven children. She soon finds herself falling in love with her employer and questioning her religious calling. It premiered on Broadway in 1959 where it broke box-office records and won the Tony Award for best musical. The 1965 film adaptation won the Oscar for best picture.
The Country Radio Broadcasters’ Board of Directors has announced 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville recording artist Carrie Underwood as the recipient of the 2014 Artist Humanitarian Award. Underwood will be honored during the opening ceremonies of Country Radio Seminar on Feb. 19, 2014.
The CRB Artist Humanitarian Award was created in 1990 by the organization’s board to honor those Country music artists who have exhibited exceptional humanitarian efforts during their career.
“In a format rich with artists that are generous with their time and talents for a wide variety of worthy causes and needs, Carrie Underwood has distinguished herself with her depth of kindnesses and commitment to making a positive difference,” stated CRS President Charlie Morgan. “We are humbled by the good work she has done and are proud to highlight her efforts by naming her Artist Humanitarian of the Year.”
Carrie Underwood has embraced the precious gifts her career has delivered and chooses to give back as a part of life. She established the C.A.T.S. (Checotah Animal, Town, and School) Foundation to focus charitable efforts on her hometown community in Checotah, Oklahoma. She has been part of countless other charitable endeavors which have included work with Pedigree’s Pet Adoption Campaign, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Save The Children, trips to Africa for American Idol’s “Idol Gives Back,” a USO Tour in the Middle East, celebrity fundraisers for City of Hope, and much, much more. Her recent international tour, “The Blown Away Tour,” donated one million dollars from tour proceeds to the American and Canadian Red Cross for disaster relief.
Past recipients of the annual award have included Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Trace Adkins, Randy Owen, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Reba, Vince Gill, Garth Brooks and Charlie Daniels, among others.
Following her “Sound of Music” rehearsal in New York City on Monday, Carrie Underwood was pleasantly surprised by Gary Overton, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Nashville. Overton presented Underwood with three shiny plaques commemorating recent RIAA certifications – “Good Girl” recently reached Double Platinum song award status for over 2 million downloads, “Two Black Cadillacs” is now Platinum for over 1 million downloads and her debut DVD, The Blown Away Tour: LIVE, reaches the Gold threshold.
Nominated in three categories for this year’s CMA Awards for Female Vocalist, Album of the Year (Blown Away) and Video of the Year (“Blown Away”) – Underwood enjoys the continued success of Blown Away. In addition to these three new RIAA metal milestones, her Platinum album has also yielded the Double Platinum single, “Blown Away,” and Gold single, “See You Again.”
Carrie Underwood is temporarily residing in New York as she rehearses for the live three-hour broadcast of the original Broadway production of “The Sound of Music” on NBC on December 5th at 7 p.m. Central/8 p.m. Eastern. Underwood will interrupt rehearsals with a trip back to Nashville to co-host the “47th Annual CMA Awards” with Arista Nashville label-mate Brad Paisley on ABC on November 6th at 7 p.m. Central/8 p.m. Eastern.
Pictured here, are: Carrie Underwood and Gary Overton, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Nashville
Photo Credit: Dan Callister
Special Tribute to Honor the 50th Anniversary of 1963 Television Milestones Sunday – September 22
It was announced today that country music superstar Carrie Underwood will perform during a special tribute on the 65th Emmy® Awards this Sunday, September 22, (8:00pm ET/5:00pm PT) on the CBS Television Network.
The 65th Emmy® Awards will honor the 50th anniversary of 1963 television milestones by featuring a special tribute by six-time Emmy nominee Don Cheadle and a performance by Underwood. Cheadle will present a moving tribute to television’s role in the assassination coverage of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963 and then connect that event to the performance of the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show merely 80 days later on February 9, 1964. Both of these historic events are often mentioned together as two of the most significant television moments in history, and the segment on the Emmy telecast will explore the tie between them.
Following Cheadle’s presentation, six-time Grammy® Award winning artist Carrie Underwood will honor the music of the era with a special performance.
Since releasing her debut album in 2005, Carrie has sold over 15 million albums and charted 18 #1 singles, nine of which she co-wrote. Her current album, Blown Away, made history by debuting at #1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums Chart, making Carrie only the second country artist in the 47-year history of the chart to have each of their first four albums debut at #1. The now Platinum-selling Blown Away album also debuted at #1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, making Carrie only the second country artist in history to have three consecutive albums debut at #1. She is a six-time GRAMMY® winner, a two-time Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, a three-time Country Music Association and ACM Female Vocalist winner, and a proud member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Follow Carrie on Twitter @carrieunderwood.
www.carrieunderwoodofficial.com
www.carrieunderwood.fm
Carrie Underwood looks ready to yodel her way into the hearts of music theater lovers in this first-look image released today of the fresh-faced Checotah native decked out for “The Sound of Music.”
As previously reported, the country music superstar will star as cheerful singing governess Maria Von Trapp in NBC’s live televised production of “The Sound of Music, set to air Dec. 5. Today’s first-look image was released via Underwood’s official Twitter account, www.Twitter.com/carrieunderwood.
The musical is set in Austria on the verge of World War II, and follows the unlikely love that develops between the stern World War I hero Capt. Georg Von Trapp (“True Blood’s” Stephen Moyer) and the buoyant governess, Maria (Underwood), the single father hires to care for his seven children.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Carrie Underwood has taken the handoff from Faith Hill to perform the musical introduction for NBC’s “Sunday Night Football,” but don’t expect the two country superstars to sing it the same way.
Hill performed the song for the last five seasons before Underwood took over this year. The singer says she wanted to put her own style on “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night,” the theme song based on Joan Jett’s rock ‘n’ roll anthem “I Hate Myself for Loving You.” Underwood’s version debuts Sunday before the Dallas Cowboys host the New York Giants.
“We were definitely mindful — she had put her mark on it for so many years,” Underwood said in a phone interview. “We definitely wanted to go in and make sure we switched gears a little bit and made it sound more like me. And changed up the look and the feel just so it wasn’t, you know, the same song with a different blondie up there singing it.”
Besides the football theme song, the former “American Idol” champion spoke with the AP about expanding her acting experience by starring as Maria in NBC’s live holiday production of “The Sound of Music,” and also returning with Brad Paisley as co-hosts for the 47th annual Country Music Association Awards on Nov. 6 on ABC.
AP: Did you aim to make the theme song sound more country than the original?
Underwood: I used my producer so there are going to be some elements that sound like me, of course, that’s what we wanted. But we weren’t like, “Hey, let’s use some fiddle,” or, “Hey, let’s use some steel guitar.” … We just wanted to make it me and make it fit the situation.
AP: Are you nervous about learning lines for “Sound Of Music”?
Underwood: I am. I have definitely been doing my part before we all get together. I figure if I at least have the lines memorized by the time I get there we can slowly concentrate on delivering them. I definitely think I am going to be surrounded by some really amazing people, so I know they’ll be able to help me with that. On the flip side, I will be surrounded by people who might not be used to singing as much. Maybe I can return the favor and help them. But it will be good. I feel like I am a hard worker and we’re going to go in and we’re going to do it so many times by THE night, it’s going to feel like another rehearsal.
AP: One of the songs, “The Lonely Goatherd,” involves yodeling. Do you have to practice at that?
Underwood: That’s the one thing I don’t have to practice. I actually have some yodeling experience. I can yodel. I don’t think you can necessarily learn it. I can just do it. I didn’t have to learn it. I am one of the blessed few.
AP: You’re returning to host the CMAs with Brad Paisley for the sixth year. Do you even have to rehearse anymore?
Underwood: We definitely need to rehearse. We have fun rehearsing. … All the people that work on it are friends. So we just go in there and do our thing and have fun and a few hours later we have some material. You never know what’s going to happen. Last year, there was so much stuff that was going down right before the show and this part was being taken out and they had this big ad campaign in there they had to take out and we were like, do we fill that time? What’s going to happen? Like an hour before the show, we are sitting in the production office going through everything. We didn’t know if we were over or under or how much time we had for anything or how long our bits were going to be. It was kind of madness. That was a reality check last year. And I am glad it happened on Year 5, and not Year 1.
AP: Do you like that aspect of live television when things don’t go to script and you have to improvise?
Underwood: No, I don’t like it at all! I’m a planner. In the end, when you’re like, “Oh wow, you never would have known when you were watching.” It’s almost something you feel proud of and can look back and laugh, but I really like for things to go the way they are supposed to go.
Opening SNF Theme Includes Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Andrew Luck, JJ Watt & Terrell Suggs
Cast of NBC Stars “Auditioned” for the Role
Thirteen NFL players will join six-time Grammy Award-winner and multi-platinum recording artist Carrie Underwood for her performance of “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night,” the opening theme for primetime television’s No. 1 program, Sunday Night Football on NBC.
Underwood makes her debut on NBC’s first SNF broadcast of the 2013 NFL season as the Dallas Cowboys host their NFC East rival New York Giants. Coverage begins with Football Night in America at 7 p.m. ET, and the opening theme will continue each week of the season to kick off Sunday Night Football.
Thirteen NFL players, who have accounted for 55 Pro Bowl selections, six Super Bowl rings and four Super Bowl MVP trophies, will participate in the open (six, denoted with an asterisk*, took part in a shoot this past June).
Following is the complete list:
• Arizona Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald
• New Orleans TE Jimmy Graham
• Detroit Lions WR Calvin Johnson
• Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck*
• New York Giants QB Eli Manning*
• Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning*
• Green Bay Packers LB Clay Matthews*
• Philadelphia Eagles RB LeSean McCoy
• Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers
• Baltimore Ravens LB Terrell Suggs*
• Dallas Cowboys DE DeMarcus Ware
• Houston Texans DE J.J. Watt*
• San Francisco 49ers LB Patrick Willis
“Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” is set to the original Joan Jett song, “I Hate Myself for Loving You” and marks Underwood’s first production with NBC Sports. From 2007-2012, the song was performed by music superstar Faith Hill and in 2006, the inaugural season of Sunday Night Football, Pink performed the open.
Earlier this summer, NBC held “open auditions” to find the new voice for the Sunday Night Football theme song. See what happens when stars like Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, Joan Rivers, Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, Natalie Morales, Jillian Michaels, Billy Bush, Ken Jeong, Mika Brzezinski, Joe Scarborough, Yvette Nicole Brown and Craig T. Nelson take their best shot by clicking here.
Later in this fall, Underwood will star in “The Sound of Music” on NBC in the coveted role of Maria Von Trapp. The three-hour live holiday production airing December 5 will be based on the original 1959 Broadway production of “The Sound of Music,” which won the Tony Award as best musical.
Since winning American Idol (season four) and releasing her debut album in 2005, Underwood has sold over 15 million albums, and placed 18 No. 1 singles on the charts, nine of which she co-wrote. Her recent album, Blown Away, made history by debuting at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums Chart, making Underwood only the second country artist in the 47-year history of the chart to have each of their first four albums debut at No. 1.
The now platinum-selling Blown Away album also debuted at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, making Underwood only the second country artist in history to have three consecutive albums debut at No. 1. She is a six-time Grammy winner, a two-time Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, a three-time Country Music Association and ACM Female Vocalist winner, and a proud member of the Grand Ole Opry.
SNF NO. 1 PRIMETIME PROGRAM ON TELEVISION FOR 2 YEARS RUNNING: For the second straight primetime television season in 2012-13, Sunday Night Football ranked as the most-watched (persons 2+) show, and the No. 1 program across the key demographics of Adults 18-49, 18-34, 25-54, as well as Men 18-49, 18-34 and 25-54, based on Nielsen live + same day data. Additionally, SNF was the No. 2 show among Women 18-34, and Women 18-49 based on Nielsen live + same day data.
2013 SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Thurs. Sept. 5 NFL Kickoff Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos
Sun. Sept. 8 Week 1 New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys
Sun. Sept. 15 Week 2 San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
Sun. Sept. 22 Week 3 Chicago Bears at Pittsburgh Steelers
Sun. Sept. 29 Week 4 New England Patriots at Atlanta Falcons
Sun. Oct. 6 Week 5 Houston Texans at San Francisco 49ers
Sun. Oct. 13 Week 6 Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys
Sun. Oct. 20 Week 7 Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts
Sun. Oct. 27 Week 8 Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
Sun. Nov. 3 Week 9 Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans
Sun. Nov. 10 Week 10 Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints
*Sun. Nov. 17 Week 11 Green Bay Packers at New York Giants
*Sun. Nov. 24 Week 12 Denver Broncos at New England Patriots
**Thurs. Nov. 28 Week 13 Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens
*Sun. Dec. 1 Week 13 New York Giants at Washington Redskins
*Sun. Dec. 8 Week 14 Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers
*Sun. Dec. 15 Week 15 Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
*Sun. Dec. 22 Week 16 New England Patriots at Baltimore Ravens
*Sun. Dec. 29 Week 17 TBA
*Flex Week
** Thanksgiving Night Game
For more information about NBC Sports Group shows and properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios and headshots, please visit NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com
–NBC SPORTS GROUP–