Carrie Underwood Discusses High School & New Album

By Lori Fullbright, The News On 6

MUSKOGEE, OK-- Three people are new members of the Oklahoma Music Hall of fame.  They were inducted on Thursday night and include Carrie Underwood.  She had a lot of interesting things to say about the induction, her high school and new album.

After seeing a video of her life from small town girl to country super star, Carrie Underwood told the Muskogee audience she's an emotional person and the whole experience made her teary eyed.  Before her concert, Underwood talked about everything from her new album to the Checotah Wildcats.

"I know they had a good year last year and took down some Ironheads," said Carrie Underwood.

She has a new album called Play On that's supposed to come out on November 3^rd.  The collection features much more of her writing.  She says she co-wrote with a friend who's a staple in country music along with new people she'd never met.

"Which was fun. Sometimes you get things that are oh my gosh, this is new and fresh and awesome and sometimes, it's ooh, what have we done. It was a really great learning experience," said Carrie Underwood.

The singer also talked about what she thinks about Ellen DeGeneres replacing Paula Abdul on the American Idol show.  Underwood has been a guest on Ellen's TV show and was impressed.

"She's a really nice person and I think since Paula's gone, they need a really nice person to encourage people on there and not just rip em to shreds every week. I think she's impressive and will do a great job," said Carrie Underwood.

Underwood credited growing up in small town Oklahoma, good parents and good friends, for her success.

"More than anything, I want where I come from to be proud of me," said Carrie Underwood.

When asked how she's giving back to her community, Underwood mentioned her new foundation which is designed to help her hometown and recently gave more than $100,000 in musical instruments to Checotah High School.