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.