Multi-platinum global superstar Carrie Underwood will release Cry Pretty, her first studio album on Capitol Records Nashville on September 14th.  The title track and lead single was released worldwide on April 11th and is the most added song at Country radio this week.  “Cry Pretty” has already topped the iTunes Top Songs charts in 12 countries and quickly racked up over 1.3 million streams in the U.S. with only two days of reporting. In addition to co-writing the single with Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, and Liz Rose (aka The Love Junkies), Carrie is co-producing her album with fellow writer/producer David Garcia.

Underwood says, “At this point in my career, I feel stronger and more creative than ever.  I think you can hear that in this new album.  It’s emotional, it’s soulful, it’s real, and we also have some fun on there too.  I hope everyone loves it as much as I have loved making it.”

On Sunday night at the 53rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards™, Underwood took home her 14^th career ACM Award for Vocal Event of the Year for “The Fighter,” her collaboration with Keith Urban, after bringing the audience to their feet with her emotional performance of “Cry Pretty.”  Billboard ranked the “vocal dynamo” performance as the best of the night, touting “this is how you do an award show performance” while Rolling Stone noted that Underwood “channeled her inner country-soul diva” during the “knockout rendition.”

Underwood, who is a seven-time Grammy Award winner, gives fans an intimate look inside her recording and co-producing process for Cry Pretty in this exclusive album trailer.

Photo Credit: Randee St. Nicholas

CARRIE UNDERWOOD emerged from the promise of her 2005 American Idol win to become a true multi-format, multi-media superstar, spanning achievements in music, television, and film. A seven-time GRAMMY® Award winner, she has sold 64 million records worldwide and recorded 26 #1 singles, 13 of which she co-wrote.  In 2013, the Grand Ole Opry member starred as Maria von Trapp in NBC’s three-hour holiday blockbuster, the Emmy®-winning The Sound of Music Live!, whose airings attracted 44 million viewers.  Her latest platinum studio album, Storyteller, produced four #1 hits.  2017 marked her fifth season as the voice of primetime television’s #1 program, Sunday Night Football and last November, she co-hosted the CMA Awards for the tenth consecutive year.  Earlier this year, she released the hit event anthem “The Champion” featuring Ludacris, which she wrote with Brett James, Chris DeStefano and Christopher Bridges PKA Ludacris and was produced by Jim Jonsin to open NBC’s Super Bowl and was incorporated into NBC’s coverage of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

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Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood pick up the ACM Vocal Event of the Year Award for “The Fighter,” which they recorded for Keith’s 2016 album, Ripcord. The song topped the country charts last August.

“It was a really simple idea that you’re in a relationship, at the beginning of the relationship, and in my case, the girl is saying, she just wants reassurance, and I thought I’d love to hear that in a song where the girl says really simple things, like ‘What if I fall?’ And the guy’s like, ‘I won’t let you fall?’ ‘And if I cry?’ ‘I’ll never make you cry.’ ‘And if I get scared?’ The guy says, ‘I’ll hold you tighter, and when they’re trying to get to you, I’ll be the fighter,’” says Keith. “I just liked the simplicity of all that, because that’s been my experience. More often than not, the more real, simple scenario is pretty universal.”

Keith has hit the country charts with his latest hit, “Coming Home,” from his upcoming Graffiti U album, set for release April 27^th.

Carrie has just released her new single, “Cry Pretty.”

Carrie Underwood’s husband, Mike Fisher, announced his retirement after the NHL’s Nashville Predators went to the Stanley Cup last year, and then announced his return earlier this year. She said after he revealed he was going back to play hockey for the Preds, she received some pretty funny texts from friends.

“After Mike announced that he was going back to play for the Predators, I got so many text messages, like ‘Couldn’t stand to have him home any more, could you? Ha ha ha ha.” I found that so funny because, honestly, he was just as busy when he wasn’t playing for them as he was when he was playing with the Predators,” says Carrie. “But I was very supportive and encouraging and maybe a little bit pushy, honestly, to get him to go back to play for them. I’m like, ‘Omigosh! This team is incredible. These fans are incredible. This town is incredible. One more run, baby. Come on. You can do it.’”

She was very supportive of his decision, adding, “Definitely understanding that I don’t know the physical aspects or what it takes to be a hockey player, it’s got to be a lot. But I, in the end, wanted him to do what would make him happy and ultimately what he felt like he was being led to do. I guess he felt like he was led to play one last time; one more playoff, so here we go.”

In Round One Game One on Thursday night, the Predators topped the Avalanche, 5-2, to take a 1-0 series lead.

Carrie just released her new single, “Cry Pretty,” which she’ll perform for the first time on the ACM Awards this Sunday (April 15th). Carrie is up for two awards – Female Vocalist of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year for “The Fighter” with Keith Urban.

The 53rd Annual ACM Awards, hosted by Reba McEntire, will broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas April 15th at 8pm ET on CBS.

Carrie Underwood has released her new single, “Cry Pretty,” which she co-wrote with the Love Junkies (hit songwriters Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna and Liz Rose) and co-produced with David Garcia.

Carrie felt excited about the new song after leaving the writing session. “Hillary came in with the title and a few lines and we all just loved it,” said Carrie. “I mean we’re all women in different places in our lives and kind of have all lived different lives and from different places, but we all love music and we all love sharing our heart in our music. Off we went,” says Carrie. “I left that day so excited and feeling so good about and couldn’t wait to get my hands on it, as an artist and also as a producer. So, it’s come a long way since the day we wrote it, but it’s something I’m very proud of.”

Carrie is nominated for Female Vocalist and for Vocal Event of the Year along with Keith Urban for “The Fighter.” The 53rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards will broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas April 15th at 8pm ET on CBS.

Carrie posted a note to her fans on Tuesday (April 10th) to update them on what’s been happening the last few months, including her new song, “The Champion,” how she’s recovering from her accident (“about 90% there”), her husband Mike Fisher coming out of retirement to play for the Nashville Predators again and much more. Read it here.

Carrie Underwood is set to perform her new single “Cry Pretty” at Sunday night’s (April 15th) ACM Awards. She releases the song to radio this morning, and while she’s thrilled to debut it on the show this weekend, she’s also a little bit nervous, as well.

“I am super-excited to perform ‘Cry Pretty’ on the ACMs. I’ll definitely admit that I’m a little bit nervous too, just because it’s something that we’ve been working on and it’s kinda like that week, it’s gonna be like, ‘Here’s the single. Here it is. I hope you like it. Now I’m gonna perform it a few days later.’ I mean I just really hope – I know fans seem to be really excited because we’ve been kind of hinting at things to come, and I just want to go out there and just lay it all out there, and hopefully just set up the rest of the album and I just hope people are into it.”

Previously announced ACM Awards performers include Lauren Alaina, Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Kelly Clarkson, Florida Georgia Line, Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Midland,Maren Morris, Jon Pardi, Bebe Rexha, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban and Brett Young.

Carrie is nominated for Female Vocalist and for Vocal Event of the Year along with Keith Urban for “The Fighter.” The 53rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards will broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas April 15th at 8pm ET on CBS.

The Academy of Country Music® revealed today that 13-time ACM Award® winner Carrie Underwood will perform the world television premiere of her soon-to-be-released single live on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, joining a star-studded lineup of performers and presenters. Carrie is nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year as well as Vocal Event of the Year for “The Fighter” with Keith Urban.

Previously announced ACM Awards performers include Lauren Alaina, Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Kelly Clarkson, Florida Georgia Line, Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Midland,Maren Morris, Jon Pardi, Bebe Rexha, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban and Brett Young.

Previously announced presenters include David Boreanaz, Drew Brees, AJ Buckley,Cam, Sam Elliot, Eve, Ashton Kutcher, Dustin Lynch, Nancy O’Dell, Rebecca Romijn, Max Thieriot and Lindsey Vonn.

The 53rd ACM Awards will broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas April 15th at 8pm ET on CBS.

Luke Bryan is making the media rounds this week. He’ll appear on ABC’s Good Morning America, Live With Kelly and Ryan and Late Night With Seth Meyers on Tuesday (March 6th), followed by an appearance on ABC’s The View on Thursday (March 8th)

Jon Pardi will perform on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday (March 6th).

Songs from Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood, Josh Turner, Vince Gill, George Strait, Eric Paslay and many others will be included in the new collection, NOW That’s What I Call Country – Songs of Inspiration. The compilation features inspirational songs from some of country music’s biggest stars and will be released March 16th.

NOW That’s What I Call Country – Songs of Inspiration Track List:

1. Lady Antebellum – “Hello World”
2. Tim McGraw – “Touchdown Jesus”
3. Carrie Underwood – “Jesus, Take The Wheel”
4. Rascal Flatts – “Bless the Broken Road”
5. Josh Turner – “Long Black Train”
6. Alison Krauss – “Down To The River To Pray”
7. Vince Gill – “Go Rest High On That Mountain”
8. George Strait – “I Believe”
9. Alabama – “Angels Among Us”
10. Brad Paisley featuring Dolly Parton- “When I Get Where I ‘m Going”
11. Eric Paslay – “Deep As It Is Wide”
12. Phil Vassar – “This Is God”
13. Chris Young – “The Man I Want To Be”
14. Craig Morgan – “God Must Really Love Me”
15. Brooks and Dunn – “Believe”
16. Martina McBride – “God’s Will”

Multi-platinum superstar Carrie Underwood’s music video for her hit event anthem “The Champion” which features Ludacris premiered on NBC’s Today Show this morning before launching globally across digital platforms.  The poignant and powerful montage video, directed by Jimmy Lynch, features a behind-the-scenes look at Underwood and Ludacris recording the song as well as historic moments and footage highlighting professional athletes and everyday champions.  Fans have already started joining in by sharing their own champion-inspired photos and videos across social media using #TheChampion. The song was written by Underwood, Brett James, Chris DeStefano and Christopher Bridges PKA Ludacris, and was produced by Jim Jonsin.

“The Champion,” originally written to open NBC’s Super Bowl LII with its own video seen by over 131 million viewers worldwide, and was incorporated into NBC’s current coverage of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. Globally, “The Champion” has reached No. 1 on the iTunes Top Songs chart in 10 countries including the U.S. where it held the top spot throughout its release week then rose back to the top of the chart for four consecutive days after the Super Bowl LII opening. The song also debuted Top 5 on the all-genre Top 200 Digital Songs chart and reached No. 7 on the Spotify US Viral 50 Chart.

The lyric video and playlist for “The Champion” are also available now.

Underwood is currently in the studio working on her next album which will be released on Capitol Records Nashville. This week, Underwood garnered her 13th ACM nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year and was also nominated for Vocal Event of the Year for “The Fighter” with Keith Urban.

Chris Stapleton leads the list of nominees with eight nods in five categories, including Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Single of the Year for “Broken Halos,” Song of the Year for “Whiskey and You” and Album of the Year for From a Room, Vol. 1. He’s won numerous awards over the past few years, and while he’s grateful for every single trophy he takes home, he has a special affinity for the Album categories.

“They are all significant and if you get one award for anything it’s a treat. But any of the awards that awarded the album, the album awards, because I really wanted to make an album that was good,” says Chris. “I wanted that to be a thing, again, more than I wanted it to be, ‘Well here’s the single and eight other songs.’ So, the album awards for me were important in that we did our job in a good way, you know. Just I have such an affinity for albums that I don’t know if I want those more or if they mean more, but they are all meaningful.”

Luke Bryan has won a handful of ACM Awards over his career, including the New Artist of the Year Award in 2010 following it up with two Entertainer Awards just a few years later. He tell us he is honored to be included in that category. “[I’m] so honored to have another Entertainer of the Year nomination and I always think about winning my first Entertainer of the Year [Award] at the ACMs,” he says. “To go to the ACMs knowing that you’re one of those lucky people that have that nomination, it just tells me that I’m doing all I can and doing the right things out on the road and hopefully, the fans are still loving what I’m trying to give to them every night.”

Keith Urban has quite the plethora of nods going into this year’s ACM Awards, including Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year for “Female”  and twice, as both artist and producer in the Vocal Event of the Year category for “The Fighter” (featuring Carrie Underwood). Urban won Top New Male Vocalist of the Year in 2000, and Top Male Vocalist of the Year in 2004 and 2005.

Keith posted to his socials that he was “extremely grateful” for all of the recognition.”

ACMs…… HOLY SMOKES!!!!! MAD LOVE TO U ALL THIS MORNING FOR THESE INCREDIBLE NOMINATIONS. I’M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL!!!!!!!!!! – KU #ACMawards

— Keith Urban (@KeithUrban) March 1, 2018

Keith’s “Female” was nominated for Song of the Year. The Top 10 hit was written by Nicolle Galyon, Shane McAnally and Ross Copperman, and he said he just had a feel that he needed to record the song and let everyone hear it. “The song spoke to me. It just spoke to me,” said Keith. “As I was singing it, I thought I feel like I’ve known this song my whole life. Something else was going on with it how it felt to me. So, I love it. I believe in it. I didn’t record it for any other reason than it was a heart reaction that I had to it.”

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In addition to Vocal Event of the Year for “The Fighter” with Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, is also nominated in the Female Vocalist of the Year category.

Brothers Osborne could possibly take home a pair of trophies next month. TJ and John are up for Vocal Duo of the Year and Video of the Year for “It Ain’t My Fault.”

It's always a great honor to be nominated with such talented folks. Thanks y'all! @ACMawards https://t.co/M9S9wqXCqe

— Brothers Osborne (@brothersosborne) March 1, 2018

Sam Hunt could also win two awards next month. He’s up for Single and Song of the Year for his HUGE hit “Body Like a Back Road.”

Dierks Bentley is nominated for Video of the Year for his steamy video, “Black,” which stars his wife Cassidy. The beautiful clip was shot in Iceland in nearly subzero temperatures.

Reigning Vocal Group of the Year, Little Big Town, earned their twelfth nomination in the category. This would be their fourth consecutive win and fifth overall. They are also nominated for Album of the Year for Breaker and Single Record of the Year for “Better Man.”

Thanks to all our friends and fans for these nominations. We wouldn't be here without you guys. #ACMawards pic.twitter.com/TrFfQi0Xww

— Little Big Town (@littlebigtown) March 1, 2018

Lady Antebellum won their first ACM Award in 2008 with the Top New Vocal Duo or Group Award. Just two years later, they took home their first Vocal Group of the Year Award, followed by another and another, as well as Single, Song and Album Awards along the way. They’re once again nominated for Vocal Group, an honor they certainly don’t take for granted.

Eternally grateful to be able to make music for a career. Thanks @ACMawards! https://t.co/C9x1p7nHTY

— Lady A (@ladya) March 1, 2018

Last year Jon Pardi won the Top New Male Vocalist Award. This year, he’s up for Album of the Year for California Sunrise, which has yielded three No. 1 singles and a fourth hit.

Amazing!!! Thank you, @ACMawards! #californiasunrise https://t.co/9x6w88OAJO

— Jon Pardi (@JonPardi) March 1, 2018

Lauren Alaina, who’s making her way up the country charts with “Doin’ Fine,” is up for two awards, including Top New Female Vocalist and Vocal Event of the Year for “What Ifs” with pal Kane Brown.

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The nominees for this year’s ACM Awards:

Entertainer of the Year
Jason Aldean
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban

Male Vocalist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Chris Young

Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood
Reba McEntire

Vocal Duo of the Year
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
LoCash
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill

Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Lanco
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
Song of the Year
Sam Hunt, “Body Like a Back Road”
Keith Urban, “Female”
Miranda Lambert, “Tin Man”
Chris Stapleton, “Whiskey and You”

Single of the Year
“Better Man,” Little Big Town
“Body Like a Back Road,” Sam Hunt
“Broken Halos,” Chris Stapleton
“Drinkin’ Problem,” Midland
“I’ll Name the Dogs,” Blake Shelton

Top New Male Vocalist
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Devin Dawson
Russell Dickerson
Brett Young

Top New Female Vocalist
Lauren Alaina
Danielle Bradbury
Carly Pearce
Raelynn

Album of the Year
Breaker, Little Big Town
California Sunrise, Jon Pardi
From A Room: Vol. 1, Chris Stapleton
Happy Endings, Old Dominion
Life Changes, Thomas Rhett

Video of the Year
“Black,” Dierks Bentley
“It Ain’t My Fault,” Brothers Osborne
“Legends,” Kelsea Ballerini
“Marry Me,” Thomas Rhett
“We Should Be Friends,” Miranda Lambert

Vocal Event of the Year
“Craving You,” Thomas Rhett f/Maren Morris
“Dear Hate,” Maren Morris f/Vince Gill
“(Funny) How Time Slips Away,” Glen Campbell and Willie Nelson
“The Fighter,” Keith Urban f/Carrie Underwood
“What Ifs,” Kane Brown f/Lauren Alaina
The 53rd Annual ACM Awards, hosted by Reba McEntire, will broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas April 15th at 8pm ET on CBS.

Carrie Underwood is cheering on all of the Olympic Champions and feels each one of the athletes is a good role model for children watching at home.

“I think it’s absolutely impossible to pick one Olympic champion that’s a great role model, because I think in so many ways they all are,” says Carrie. “They work so hard for so long and they’re representing us. I think that is the definition of a role model is the determination and the drive and laying it all on the line and giving it everything they got. I couldn’t imagine the pressure that they’re under, and there are so many incredible athletes that just handle everything with grace and humility. I think no matter where you’re from or what you’re into, you can watch the Olympics and just find someone to cheer for and be proud that they are the ones out there that are representing us.”

Some of the most notable Olympic athlete role models include boxer and champion Muhammad Ali, gymnasts Mary Lou Retton and Nadia Comaneci, swimmers Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz, diver Greg Louganis, skaters Scott Hamilton and Kristi Yamaguchi, track stars Usain Bolt, Carl Lewis and Wilma Rudolph and some of this year’s Winter Olympians — gold medal snow boarders Shaun White, Red Gerard, Jamie Anderson and Chloe Kim and slalom skier Mikaela Shiffrin.

“The Champion” is being used for NBC’s coverage of the 2018 Winter Olympics. Competition runs through Sunday, February 25th, the day of the Closing Ceremony.

Carrie is currently in the studio working on her next album which will be released on Capitol Records Nashville.