Carrie Underwood: ‘The best way to get revenge is to just move on’

The country music superstar flew to the UK on Wednesday for an exclusive question and answer session with fans and media at London’s Charlotte Street Hotel to promote her latest album, Denim and Rhinestones.

Ghost Story is the lead single from her new record and while songs about ending relationships are well-trodden, there is a twist.

Speaking to radio host Kevin Hughes, who led the Q&A, she said: “The twist is she’s taking her revenge on him by just living her life. It’s like I’ve moved on, I’m out with my friends, I don’t think about you, but you’re so attached to this girl that he just can’t go on, it’s like she’s chasing him wherever he goes.

“It’s still very powerful. I sing cheating, I sing revenge songs, I like it; I like that it’s spicy. It’s a lot of fun playing that character, but in reality the best way to get revenge on someone is to just move on.”

Demin and Rhinestones marks the Cowboy Casanova hitmaker’s ninth studio album. Explaining the reason behind the fun title, she said: “If there are two things we country ladies like, it’s denim and rhinestones. If I could have worked hairspray anywhere there, I would because we like that too!

“I feel like there are so many moments and so many songs [on the record] that – and I know it probably sounds crazy – I can hear the songs sparkle. There are certain little instruments or effects that we put in to make them sound like sparkles.”

Despite the impressive number of records and songs to her name, she insists it doesn’t get any easier.

She said: “It’s definitely a challenge, every [album] poses new challenges. With the last few projects we’ve had to figure out how to work differently just with the state of the world, but it’s always fun and I feel like my confidence as an artist and as a songwriter is just growing, you know, how more I do.”

Underwood recently got into gospel music with the release of My Savior and performed an epic rock duet with Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose at the Stagecoach music festival in the US. Although country has her heart, the versatile star does not rule out that she will also dabble with other genres in the future.

She said: “I am so lucky to have been able to work with so many different artists and different types of artists. I got close to Dolly [Parton]I have to be around Steven Tyler, Joan Jett, Tony Bennet, you know, it’s pretty amazing and I like collaborations that are out of the box and unusual, things that are a little more unexpected.”

Incredibly, this year marks 17 years since Underwood first rose to fame after winning the 2005 American Idol series. In that time, she has sold 66 million records worldwide and won eight Grammys.

She’s also released a best-selling book, launched a fitness app, and somehow found the time to start a family with hockey player husband Mike Fisher, with whom she shares two sons.

Reflecting on her success, she said, “I’m just really thankful that the stars just lined up the way they did and trying out American Idol wasn’t something I would necessarily do. I’m not that into it. , but obviously door after door just opened up and making music and doing what I love the most is just incredible, so I know how blessed I am and I’m very grateful.”

Looking to the future, she’s just as excited to see what comes next, saying, “I feel like I’ve come so far in my career and I’ve been able to maintain a level that I’ve been very proud of all these years.” and there is a lot to be thankful for and to look back on and say that I have accomplished a lot.

“But it’s always the challenge to try to reinvent it and keep it interesting and try to keep making music that I love and I’m up for the challenge.”

And for those clamoring for a UK tour announcement, she’s heard you, and while nothing is planned soon as the world continues to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, never say never.

Carrie Underwood’s album Denim and Rhinestones is out now.