Carrie Underwood is no Paul McCartney

I’m a huge Paul fan. Huge. If I ever got to meet him I’d for sure lose my cool and start babbling on and on like an idiot peppering him with comments and questions that would ID me as a crazed fan in an instant. I loved this and that song! What did you mean when you wrote this line? What was it like writing and performing with John Lennon? Could you sing ‘Michelle’ for me right now so I could record it on my phone and show my wife? And on, and on…

A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to meet and spend time with Carrie Underwood as part of a project at work I’m involved with. I knew who she was- I’m not living under a rock- but I had never listened to a song by her, nor spent the last 30 years memorizing all her music, learning it on guitar and piano, and trying to imitate her voice and delivery style. For one reason at least… she wasn’t even born 30 years ago. To me- she was a famous singer that I knew little about and I was thrilled that she was part of our project. End of story.

So when I got to meet her, it was like meeting anyone else- simple and honest conversation. Where are you from? Tell me about your family. What’s going on in your life? What’s next for you? It was great getting to know her, learning she’s a neighbor (has a place right down the road from us in Leipers Fork and her main home is up the road a bit farther away), and sharing about our respective favorite music, people, places and food. Later in the week there was a party for the folks on the project and I even got to sit next to her and ended up harmonizing on a song when the party shifted from chit-chat to group sing when a couple guys got out guitars. It was Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours.”

She is a lovely person, wonderful voice, great spirit- and now I’m a fan. Started listening to her music and it’s amazing. I’ve been missing out. But- If I get the chance to hang with her again, I’m afraid I might come off a bit different now. And of course I’ll want pictures with her and for her to sign my shirt with a sharpie.