Underwood's "Play On Tour" nominated for top tour

Nashville – January 4, 2010 – Country music’s most powerful vocalist Carrie Underwood wrapped her 2010 headline arena tour, the “Play On Tour,” Thursday night in Connecticut after performing 108 shows across the U.S. and Canada, and with one million fans attending since its launch last March. Underwood was the top-ranked female country touring artist of 2010, as she was in 2008.  The “Play On Tour” was hydrated by vitamin water®, sponsored by Olay, and presented by AEG Live. Special guests over the course of the tour this past year included Craig Morgan, Billy Currington, and Sons of Sylvia. 

The “Play On Tour,” under the direction of Raj Kapoor, brought in renowned set designer Michael Cotten, best known as Michael Jackson’s production designer for “This Is It,” as well as Emmy Award winning costume designer, Soyon An, who created one-of-a-kind costumes for Underwood. 

Underwood’s “Play On Tour” production utilized a massive stage production with state-of-the-art lighting and high-tech video. The tour carried 80 personnel on the road, traveling over 35,000 miles in 13 trucks and 8 buses.

The tour is currently nominated for a Pollstar Concert Industry Award (Feb. 5) for “Most Creative Stage Production.”

Throughout the tour, fans and critics raved about Underwood’s masterful vocals and the impressive production level of the tour.  The San Antonio Express News shared, “Underwood’s diva-worthy, high-tech entrance up through the floor made perfect sense for her thunderous opener, ‘Cowboy Casanova.’”  “She took the stage with the confidence of a seasoned veteran, delivering a near two-hour set that offered highlight after highlight. Underwood zipped through flawless versions of countless radio hits…it was abundantly clear the singer was comfortable in her live element.  She's grown more as a performer in two short years than many artists do over the course of a career…Underwood is at the top of her game,” expressed the Tennessean.  “Every song showed off Underwood’s powerful pipes,” said The Toronto Sun. “It’s only Ms. Underwood’s impeccable, frosted vocals that bring firm resolution. Every few minutes during this show she delivered a knockout blow — a series of huge notes sung flawlessly…Ms. Underwood is a monster vocalist, almost impossible to distract from and unwise to challenge,” shared the NY Times.  “She performed on a large stage that sported a circular lighting rig, a semi-circular video screen, a levitating and rotating platform, and eight band members.  (She was) pitch perfect throughout the entire night,” said the Cleveland Plain Dealer.  And The Arizona Republic called it “A night filled with interesting sets, sparkling costumes, and larger-than-life vocal acrobatics.”

During the “Play On Tour’s” fall leg, Underwood donated 36 cents of every ticket sold to Save the Children’s United States Programs.  This initiative was inspired by the “36 cents” written in the lyrics of her album track “Change,” which addresses how even the smallest bit of spare change that one might have can add up to make a difference and help “change” the world.  

Underwood is a five-time Grammy Award winner, a member of the Grand Ole Opry, a CMT and ACA Artist of the Year, a two-time reigning Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, and a three-time CMA and ACM Female Vocalist winner.  Since her debut in 2005, Underwood has amassed more than 13 million in album sales and has placed 13 #1 singles on the charts.