Cover Girl Carrie

Check out the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly to see a gorgeous Carrie Underwood on the cover and a wonderful interview inside, or read it online at

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20057685_20057687_20152857,00.html

In the interview, Carrie reveals that at 24, she has reached an age none of the other women in her family reached before getting married, that she would rather go bowling than go to a club, and that the songs on her sophomore album will remove any doubt that she is a country girl...yee haw!

Elliot Kicks off Fall Tour in Chicago (and we were there)

I should subtitle this post "What a difference ice cream makes"...Elliot didn't take the stage until two (quite fabulous) other bands had played.... after the first band, my husband realized it was going to be another hour (at least) before Elliot performed, so he offered to take the kids next door for ice cream, while I sat on my keister and sipped my beer....which I thought was a fabulous idea :))

I go to the ladies room 20 minutes after they leave, and only then do I hear my cell phone beeping to tell me I've missed a call. I check, and I've missed three, all from my husband, and all within a span of about 4 minutes....something is up. I'm thinking, major problem, accident, injury, vomit, something....so I call, only to hear that they just met Elliot, standing around outside the tour bus. Quite accidentally. And, he's really nice....stops to chat with them, all FIVE of them....poses for pictures (taken with a cell phone and too dark to post, since I had the real camera in my purse)...gives my daughter a hug, my other daughter a high-five, and encourages my son to keep taking drum lessons. Really spent time talking with them. Kids are amazed and grateful. I am, too! What a really cool encounter with a cool guy.

The show itself was short, only 12 songs, but it was packed with power, musicianship I honestly wasn't expecting, and a LOT of heart from Elliot Yamin. He opened the show with "Alright" from his self-titled CD, and it was on from there with all of our favorite tracks as well as a few treats interspersed. One treat was a cover of the 70's classic "Sharing the Night"...wow, what fun. The other treat was enjoying Jose "Sway" Penala (Season 5 Idol alum) providing background vocals and percussion, and looking like he was enjoying every minute!

I am absolutely convinced that Elliot is the true star from Season 5, and know that we've only seen the beginning of what he can do! And he's a nice guy to boot ;)

Now, if only I'd gone for that ice cream.....