A very special thank you to Douglas for writing up this awesome review of Carrie Underwood’s Fan Club Party.  It sounds like it was a fabulous time.  It seems that most of the Fan Club Parties from last week got started pretty late….she wasn’t the only one.  BUT this party sounds like it was pretty organized from start to finished.  I wish I could say the same for all of them.

Country superstar Carrie Underwood held her annual Fan Club party at the Grand Ole Opry on Tuesday, June 9, 2009. Though doors were scheduled to open at 10 a.m,; they did not open until close to 11, but that didn’t stop fans from lining up in the Opry Plaza as early as the night before.

Upon entering the historic Opry House, fans were given goodie bags that included bottles of VitaminWater, a coupon book for various events around Nashville, some sort of chocolate/peanut butter candy bar and a special laminate for the party that Underwood autographed. (We could have done without the candy bar. A few glances around the room showed fans taking one bite and quickly putting them away with a look of disgust on their faces. We love Carrie, but not the candy.)

CMT’s Lance Smith hosted the party and welcomed Underwood onto the stage where she chatted with the fans and launched into a setlist of ten songs (only four songs were her own), each voted on by fans. I’m guessing because she wasn’t going to perform anywhere else during CMA Fest week, she decided to throw her vocals into high-gear and show what she’s made of. I’ve seen her live several times and never heard her sound like this. Ever. For example during “Sometimes You Leave,” “Ever Ever After” and “Wheel of the World,” her high notes were massive. And during covers of “Alone,” “Voices Carry,” “Sweet Child of Mine” and “Stand By Your Man,” she belted out a few notes no one saw coming. She even moved everyone in the venue with an impressive version of the Gospel hymn “How Great Thou Art” where she outsang what she did on the Opry special last year. She also sang the most voted on song, “Home Sweet Home” from Idol and of course, it wouldn’t be a Carrie Underwood show without the signature hit “Before He Cheats.”

After the performance Smith returned to ask Underwood a few questions that had been collected from the Fan Club and then a select number of fans were chosen to come on stage and compete in a “Singing Bee” type competition for prizes that included signed merchandise, meet and greets and the grand prize of hotel and airfare, tickets, and meet and greet passes to see Underwood at a festival in Illinois. During the game she sang clips of songs she had recorded or performed in the past and fans had to pick up where she left off. During the game, she belted out acapella portions of “So Small,” “Last Name,” “Just A Dream,” “I Told You So,” “Get Out Of This Town,” “Flat On The Floor,” “All American Girl,” “Were Young and Beautiful,” “Starts With Goodbye” and “I Ain’t In Checotah Anymore.” To make it harder as the game went on, she threw in cover songs such as “I Remember You,” “Islands in the Stream,” “Umbrella,” “Praying For Time,” “Jolene,” “The Sound of Music” and “Desperado.” All in all, the game was entertaining as fans tried to keep up with Carrie and test their knowledge of her lyrics.

As we left, each person received a Fan Club party t-shirt which had the logo and date on the front and then “CU @ The Opry!” printed on the back.

Also at the party fans were able to view some of Underwood’s awards and clothing from her career. Various items were placed in glass cases in the lobby of the Opry House. New 2009 merchandise was also released at the party for fans to purchase.