Carrie Underwood to Perform During "Grand Ole Opry" Week on American Idol Next Wednesday

2005’s American Idol winner and Grand Ole Opry member Carrie Underwood will return to the Idol stage for a performance on Wednesday, March 18. American Idol will feature a Grand Ole Opry theme March 17 & 18, as contestants will select and perform songs popularized by Opry members as part of the show’s ongoing competition to name the next American Idol which airs on FOX Tuesday, March 17 8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed and Wednesday, March 18 at 9:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed.

Underwood will perform her current hit single “I Told You So” with fellow Opry member Randy Travis, who will also be participating as Idol’s “Opry” mentor for the show’s contestants. Carrie’s version of this 1988 #1 classic by Travis can be found on her Carnival Ride album, and fans will soon be hearing another version on the airwaves as a new studio recording pairing Carrie and Randy arrives at country radio next week. A digital single of that recording will be available for sale at online music providers everywhere to coincide with their American Idol performance.

"I am so excited that two of my musical passions, American Idol and the Grand Ole Opry, are joining together to create a really special week of music,” says Underwood. “I am always thrilled to return to the Idol stage, and am so proud to this time be bringing with me one of my heroes, Randy Travis. I knew the Opry first, but Idol gave me my start and helped lead me to the Opry stage. It’s a great feeling to be able to help bring these two worlds together.”