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Underwood Carries Away Forum Audience
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Published: December 12, 2008
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If Carrie Underwood is an All-American girl, then little ladies across the country are in for one bright future — even if there's a recession.
The unusually chilly weather outside might have been frightening for those around Tampa Bay, but country music sensation Carrie Underwood heated things up Friday inside the St. Pete Times Forum before a crowd of 7,750.
Concertgoers sporting everything from 10-gallon hats to leather jackets counted down with a digital clock in anticipation of Underwood taking the stage after the country caravan band Little Big Town opened things up for the 2005 "American Idol" winner. (They returned to sing along with Underwood on "Go Your Own Way.)
When Underwood rose up from beneath the stage, who knew this country music singer could look so purty. For the first half of the evening she wore a thigh-length black sequined dress with silver piping, which coordinated nicely with her bedazzled microphone, and knee-high boots.
The platinum blonde country vixen started things off with "Flat On The Floor," and actually took the time to wave, wink and smile at adoring fans — all the while singing the song. Let's not forget her uncanny ability to make real eye contact, wave and smile again, directly at the kiddies sitting atop their boot-stomping daddy's shoulders.
The second half of the show got under way after a too-long video montage of Underwood's accomplishments. Still, she made up for it when she arrived on stage in a floor-length ball gown to sing the ballad "I Know You Won't." (She had a few more wardrobe changes.)
Showing her love for the fans, she called up an adorable 6-year-old girl to bring home her "All American Girl" and strutted down the runway jetting off the main stage to snag gifts from the crowd. Underwood also performed "Wasted," "Crazy Dreams" and "Jesus Take The Wheel" and even played the guitar. For an encore, she sang "Paradise City" and "Before He Cheats" while wearing a Tampa Bay Lightning jersey.
For a girl who stood in line for days and auditioned her heart out on national television to score a record deal, this little Okla-homie proved she could hold a note (and hold it and hold it), and had the time of her life in the spotlight.
Reporter Sarah Hoye can be reached at (813) 259-7832.
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