Carrie Underwood Gives Exuberant Show

may have received the loudest cheers of any performer at the this season.

The singer thrilled fans during her third annual concert Sunday. She performed 17 songs accompanied by her band and the Ravinia Festival Orchestra, causing a rush to the stage near the end by numerous fans, many of them teenagers. 

Underwood did not disappoint them as she finished singing “Songs Like This” at the end of her performance and moved across the entire length of the stage, touching as many of the audience's hands as she could. 

The volume of Underwood’s voice, the guitar playing of Ed Beason, Shawn Tubbs, Mark Childers and Chad Jeffers along with the drumming of Garrett Goodwin added a distinct rock feel to the artist’s country music. 

Playing with an orchestra full of strings and woodwinds was an unusual experience for Underwood. “I’ve only done the orchestra thing once before,” said the singer, who handled it like it was part of her regular routine. 

Mia Barone, 9, of Naperville had never been to a concert before according to her mother, Maria. The penultimate number and the first of her encore, “Before He Cheats,” was Mia’s favorite. 

“I liked how it goes, how it got louder,” said Mia, who share a special night with her mother while her brothers got a trip with their father. 

“The boys got to go fishing this weekend," she said, "We did this.” 

Mia’s voice was one of many to coax Underwood back on stage to sing “Before He Cheats” and “Songs Like This” after she appeared to have finished the performance with “Last Name.” 

“Carrie, Carrie, Carrie,” they shouted repeatedly. She returned to even louder applause and cheers to sing two additional songs. 

Mia wasn't the only one to hear her favorite song of the night with the encore. Samantha Chipman of Wilmette was pleased as well.

“It was rhythmic and dirty,” Chipman said. “I liked it.” 

A special moment of the night came when Underwood introduced a song she wrote, “Temporary Home.” After a career of singing tunes written by others, she explained what it meant to create her own music.

“What a cool thing it is to be part of a song from the beginning,” Underwood said. “I was blow drying my hair and the idea came to me. I feel such ownership of it.” 

The possession was obvious from the moment she started to sing “Temporary Home.” Her eyes were closed throughout as her face showed the emotion of her message. She held the microphone like she was hugging a good friend. The crowd’s reaction registered total appreciation. 

Another one of Underwood’s original numbers, “Mama’s Song” touched the audience as well. 

“I wrote this song when I was dating my now husband,” she said. “He thinks it’s about him. It’s not. He always asks, ‘How’s our song doing?’ ” 

Unlike Underwood’s husband, Mary Glaser of Greensboro, NC, understood the song was written to the mother of a young woman about motherhood and the importance of finding the right man. 

“It was really nice because she wrote to her mom,” Glaser said. “It was funny her husband thought it was about him.” 

Glaser’s mother, Peggy, liked all the music but chose “Jesus, Take the Wheel” as her favorite of the night. “She sang it so well,” Peggy Glaser said. “It moved me.”  

Her other daughter, Katie, raved about “Some Hearts” for a very basic reason. 

“I just liked it,” Katie said. 

During parts of the concert, the audience stood and sang along, often with Underwood’s encouragement. Megan Pavich, Lauren Pavich and Lauren Shroy of Hinsdale were three concertgoers who paid heed to one of their favorite musicians during “Undo It.” 

“It reminds me of high school and growing up,” Lauren Pavich said.