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NASHVILLE — Before Carrie Underwood became a contestant on American Idol in 2005, middle America’s county fairs had been her biggest stage. Then she stepped into Simon Cowell’s national spotlight. Her audience instantly grew from dozens to millions and, with it, came the scrutiny from viewers lobbing criticism at her for “just standing there."

Eleven years later, Underwood nightly helms one of country music's most visually adventurous and elaborate productions, belting out hit after hit surrounded by fireworks and lasers, expertly navigating four in-the-round stages while engaging audiences at every side and corner of the arena.

"It's a huge undertaking, but it's a great show," Underwood told The Tennessean about The Storyteller Tour. "I still feel like I’m working towards being comfortable in my own skin as a performer. I’ll probably never get there. I should always be striving for new goals and challenging myself, and it’s good to be nervous because that means you care."

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“She doesn’t need to hide, she’s great,” said Underwood’s longtime agent Jeff Frasco at Creative Artists Agency. “She is amazingly talented and her work ethic is second to none. Everything she does has a long-term effect on her career. There’s no short-term thinking when it comes to her.”

When Underwood started to conceptualize her arena tour, the mother to 18-month-old Isaiah thought more basic: children’s story time. She knew she wanted to name her tour after her album Storyteller and she said storytelling in its simplest form begins with a storyteller and a circle of listeners.

“You think of little kids on the floor and the teacher reading,” she explained. “It just kind of made sense to think about maybe doing the tour in the round.”

The tour isn’t simple. It takes 17 semi-trucks and eight buses to move the show from venue to venue.

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Carrie Underwood Over the Years

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American Idol winner Carrie Underwood meets with country music people at the Creative Artist Agency in Nashville June 8, 2005.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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American Idol winner Carrie Underwood, left, poses for a picture with Taylor Ware, 10, of Franklin, during a visit to the Creative Artist Agency in Nashville June 8, 2005.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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American Idol winner Carrie Underwood gets her nose touched up by make-up artist Melissa Schliecher during the filming of her music video at The Factory in Franklin Oct. 19, 2005.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood was all smiles as she talked to reporters on the red carpet before the Broadway Meets Country event at the Fredrick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Nov. 12, 2005.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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American Idol winner Carrie Underwood, left, and Broadway star Patrick Wilson sing a duet of "Suddenly Seymour" during the Broadway Meets Country event at the Fredrick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Nov. 12, 2005.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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Gary LeVox, left, of Rascal Flatts claps for Carrie Underwood as her nomination was announced for the Academy of Country Music Awards show during the event at the Country Music Hall of Fame on March 8, 2006 in Nashville.  Dipti Vaidya / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood accepts the award for Breakthrough Video of the Year at the CMT Music Awards show at Belmont University's Curb Event Center on April 10, 2006. Underwood also picked up the "buckle" for Female Video of the Year.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood rehearses with her band for her upcoming tour dates with Kenny Chesney at the On Stage Rehearsal Studios in Las Vegas May 21, 2006.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood, left, talks with band members Cherie Bebout, vocals, and guitar player Mark Oakley after finishing rehearsal at the On Stage Rehearsal Studios in Las Vegas May 21, 2006.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood, left, walks on stage at the beginning of her set as guitar player Ed Eason starts the jam during the ACM third annual New Artists' show in Las Vegas on May 22, 2006.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood gives thanks after winning new female artist during the 41st annual Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 23, 2006.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood, left, signs autographs for fans at the Lonestar & Friends Strike Out for the Kids fundraiser at Hermitage Lanes on June 5, 2006.  Mandy Lunn / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood performs for the packed audience at the CMA Music Festival at LP Field on June 10, 2006.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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After winning the Horizon Award and Female Vocalist of the Year, Carrie Underwood answers questions by the media backstage at the 40th annual CMA Awards show at the Gaylord Entertainment Center on Nov. 6, 2006.  Jeanne Reasonover / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood smiles for the cameras on the red carpet for the CMT Music Awards show April 16, 2007 in Nashville.  Mandy Lunn / The Tennessean

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Presenter Barbara Mandrell, right, congratulates Carrie Underwood for winning the Video of the Year award for "Before He Cheats" at the CMT Music Awards show on April 16, 2007.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood performs for the crowd at the CMA Music Festival at LP Field on June 8, 2007.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood relaxes in the Women of Country Music dressing room at the Grand Ole Opry House before her performance on the famous stage on Oct.10, 2007.  Shelley Mays / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood poses for the photographers on the red carpet for the BMI Country Awards show on Nov. 6, 2007.  Mandy Lunn / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood, left, and producer Mark Bright, right, stand as they win the Single of the Year award at the 41st annual CMA Country Music Awards show at the Sommet Center on Nov. 7, 2007. Congratulating them is Brad Paisley.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood performs "So Small" during the 41st annual CMA Awards show at the Sommet Center on Nov. 7, 2007.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood gives thanks after winning the Female Vocalist of the Year at the 41st annual CMA Country Music Awards show at the Sommet Center on Nov. 7, 2007. Looking on is presenter Dierks Bentley, left.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood signs autographs for her fans after being honored at ASCAP for her No. 1 song "So Small" Dec. 11, 2007.  Billy Kingsley / The Tennessean

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Country music artists Carrie Underwood, left, Kellie Pickler and Taylor Swift cheer for the Nashville Predators against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the first period at the Sommet Center on Dec. 27, 2007.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood, right, has her hair touched up prior to going on the air to make the ACM Awards show nominee's announcements with Brad Paisley during the CBS Early Show on March 4, 2008.  Billy Kingsley / The Tennessean

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Grand Ole Opry member Randy Travis, left, invites Carrie Underwood to become the next member on March 15, 2008.  Josh Anderson / AP Photo

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Carrie Underwood gives her autograph to a fan as she walks the red carpet for the CMT Music Awards show in Nashville on April 14, 2008.  Billy Kingsley / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood smiles for a picture as she signs autographs at the 18th annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge in Nashville on June 4, 2008.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood makes her way to the plate for her first at bat during the 18th annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge to unofficially kick off the CMA Music Festival at Greer Stadium on June 4, 2008.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood performs at the CMA Music Festival at LP Field on June 6, 2008.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood, center, receives a songwriter award for her part in writing "All-American Girl" at the BMI Awards dinner and performance on Nov. 11, 2008.  Billy Kingsley / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood blows a kiss for fans from the red carpet of the 42nd annual CMA Awards show on Nov. 12, 2008 at the Sommet Center.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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Co-hosts Brad Paisley, left, and Carrie Underwood act up during the CMA Awards show at the Sommet Center on Nov. 12, 2008.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood waves to her fans after winning the Female Vocalist of the Year, presented by Vince Gill, left, at the 42nd annual CMA Awards show on Nov. 12, 2008 at the Sommet Center.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood, right, takes a photo with PFC medic Tami McLaughlin during a welcome home concert honoring the return of the 101st Airborne in Fort Campbell on Aug. 14, 2009.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood performs for the troops during a welcome home concert honoring the return of the 101st Airborne to Fort Campbell on Aug. 14, 2009.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood, left, and Randy Travis pose for photographers during the second annual ACM Honors at Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Sept. 22, 2009.  Jae S. Lee / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood sings for the crowd during the Good Morning America show taping at the Sommet Center Nov. 10, 2009.  John Partipilo / The Tennessean

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Little Jimmy Dickens, center, surprises co-hosts Carrie Underwood, left, and Brad Paisley during the 43rd annual CMA Awards show at the Sommet Center on Nov. 11, 2009.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood, center, performs with a group of dancers during the 43rd annual CMA Awards show at the Sommet Center on Nov. 11, 2009.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood, center, greets Ball co-chair Perian Strang, left, her daughter, Pia, and co-chair Dara Dickson, right, and their family at the 2009 Symphony Ball at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Dec. 12, 2009.  Dipti Vaidya / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood performs during the 2009 Symphony Ball at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Dec. 12, 2009.  Dipti Vaidya / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood takes a swing at the City of Hope’s 20th annual Celebrity Softball Challenge at Greer Stadium on June 7, 2010.  George Walker IV / The Tennessea

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Carrie Underwood accepts the award for CMT performance of the year for "Temporary Home" at the annual CMT Music Awards at Bridgestone Arena on June 9, 2010.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood performs "Undo It" at CMT Music Awards show at Bridgestone Arena on June 9, 2010.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood, center right, kisses her boyfriend, Mike Fisher, after winning Video of the Year at the annual CMT Music Awards show at Bridgestone Arena on June 9, 2010.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood, left, and Jason Aldean perform at the CMA Music Festival at LP Field on June 10, 2010.  Shelley Mays / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood performs during her tour concert at Bridgestone Arena on Oct. 13, 2010.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood, center, receives a songwriter award for "Cowboy Casanova" at the BMI Country Awards show and dinner on Nov. 9, 2010.  Jae S. Lee / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood, left, and Kellie Pickler pose on the black carpet for the 44th annual CMA Awards show at Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 10, 2010.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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Little Jimmy Dickens, left, surprises co-hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood during the 44th annual CMA Awards show on Nov. 10, 2010 at Bridgestone Arena.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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Co-hosts Brad Paisley, left, and Carrie Underwood perform during the 44th annual CMA Awards show at Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 9, 2010.  Samuel M. Simpkins / The Tenness

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Carrie Underwood, left, wife of Nashville Predators center Mike Fisher, joined Vince Gill for a song during the first intermission of the Predators playoff matchup with Anaheim Ducks at Bridgestone Arena on April 20, 2011.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood, left, sings with Brigitte Anderson, center, as ACM Lifting Lives Music Campers record a song they wrote at Starstruck Studios on June 29, 2011 in Nashville.  Samuel M. Simpkins / The Tenness

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Carrie Underwood, center, accepts a songwriter award for her part in "Temporary Home" during the 59th annual BMI Country Awards show and dinner on Nov. 8, 2011.  Samuel M. Simpkins / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood smiles on the red carpet of the 45th annual CMA Awards show on Nov. 9, 2011 at Bridgestone Arena.  George Walker IV / The Tennessea

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Co-hosts Brad Paisley, left, and Carrie Underwood, right, have some fun with Hank Williams Jr. during the CMA Awards show at Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 9, 2011.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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Co-hosts Brad Paisley, left, and Carrie Underwood perform during the 2011 CMA Awards show at Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 9, 2011.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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Miss Piggy, center, steals the spotlight from co-hosts Carrie Underwood, left, and Brad Paisley during the 45th CMA Awards show on Nov. 9, 2011 at Bridgestone Arena.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood speaks to the media at the Nordstrom Symphony Fashion Show, a benefit for the Nashville Symphony, held at Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Feb. 27, 2012.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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Stylist Melissa Schleicher, left, owner of Parlour 3, is the stylist for country music star Carrie Underwood.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood smiles for the cameras on the red carpet of the ACM Awards show on April 1, 2012 in Las Vegas.  Dipti Vaidya / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood performs at the ACM Awards show at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on April 1, 2012.  Dipti Vaidya / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood, left, looks on as her husband Mike Fisher, center, and Brad Paisley celebrate as she and Paisley won the Collaborative Video award during the CMT Awards show at Bridgestone Arena on June 6, 2012.  George Walker IV / The Tennessea

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Carrie Underwood, left, and Brad Paisley accept their award for Collaborative Video of the Year during the CMT Awards show at Bridgestone Arena on June 6, 2012.  George Walker IV / The Tennessea

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Carrie Underwood performs for a packed audience during the CMA Music Festival at LP Field on June 8, 2012.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood, with her husband Mike Fisher, arrive on the red carpet for the 46th annual CMA Awards show on Nov. 1, 2012.  George Walker IV / The Tennessea

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Co-hosts Brad Paisley, left, and Carrie Underwood dance "Gangnam Style" as they play up their hosting roles during the 46th annual CMA Awards show on Nov. 1, 2012.  Dipti Vaidya / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood performs during the 46th annual CMA Awards show at Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 2, 2012.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood, left, and husband Mike Fisher pose on the red carpet for the CMT Artists of the Year event at The Factory in Franklin on Dec. 3, 2012.  Steven S. Harman / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood talks on the red carpet at the Nashville Grammy Nominees party on Jan. 22, 2013 at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood, left, wins Best Video of the Year with "Blown Away" as she gets congratulations from presenters Sheryl Crow and Kenny Rogers during the CMT Music Awards show at Bridgestone Arena on June 5, 2013.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood performs at LP Field on the final night of the CMA Music Festival on June 9, 2013.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood, left, and Brad Paisley perform at LP Field on the final night of the CMA Music Festival on June 9, 2013.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood smiles for the cameras on the red carpet of the 47th annual CMA Music Awards show at Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 6, 2013.  Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

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Co-hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, center, are on the stage with some of the cast of Duck Dynasty during the 47th annual CMA Music Awards show at the Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 6, 2013.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood, left, gives thanks after receiving the Humanitarian Award at the CRC Convention on Feb. 19, 2014 in Nashville.  John Partipilo / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood performs during the ACM Presents: An All-Star Salute to the Troops on April 7, 2014, in Las Vegas.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood, left, and Miranda Lambert sing "Something Bad" at the CMT Awards show at Bridgestone Arena on June 4, 2014.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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Miranda Lambert, left, performs with Carrie Underwood at the CMA Festival concert at LP Field on June 6, 2014.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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Carrie Underwood becomes emotional after winning the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award during the 8th annual Academy of Country Music Honors at the Ryman Auditorium on Sept. 9, 2014.  Shelley Mays / The Tennessean

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Co-hosts Brad Paisley, left, and Carrie Underwood, right, sing with Steven Tyler during the annual CMA Awards show on Nov. 5, 2014.  Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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“When we started putting it all together, it was intimidating, to be honest,” Underwood said. “You’re not just entertaining the people in front of you. You have to do 360 degrees of entertainment.”

The idea appealed to Underwood because it was an opportunity to get closer to more of her fans, which is something she’s consistently built elements into her show to accomplish. On the Play On Tour, Underwood dreamed up a flying truck to move her around the arena so she could see more faces. During The Blown Away Tour, she had a flying secondary stage. For this tour, she has the four stages completely surrounded by fans.

“It’s frustrating sometimes when I am on one end of the arena and I can only see the first few rows in front of me and the rest is this one entity,” she said.  “So we always tried to give me those moments where I could see other people and get to them and hear people singing and having fun. That’s just giving me energy. I feel like it just flies by because everything is put together so well.”

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Underwood doesn’t want to reveal too much of the show, but as is typical in her tours, Storyteller boasts elaborate staging along with stripped-down moments and multiple costume changes that provide an element of surprise at every date. Underwood starts planning her stage attire with a rack of clothes before the tour and starts conceptualizing. She picks out what she likes and then thinks, “If we shorten this and take the sleeve off that? Can we add rhinestones? Can we add chains? Can we turn this dress into a shirt?” For this tour, she worked with with Emmy-winning costume designer Marina Toybina.

“Everybody weighs in on ideas,” she explained. “It’s all things that make me feel good about myself and that I’m comfortable performing in. We do some things that are edgier, we do some things that are prettier. I always have different options depending on how I’m feeling. There’s different combinations.”

Billboard ranked The Storyteller Tour as the top country tour for the first half of 2016. In six months, Underwood performed for close to 600,000 people in 47 cities and seven countries. The success earned the singer her first nomination from the Country Music Association for Entertainer on the Year. It’s recognition many in the country music industry believe was a long time coming for Underwood, who has hosted the CMA Awards with Brad Paisley since 2008.

"Carrie has a consistency of excellence," said Beverly Keel, chair of the recording industry department at Middle Tennessee State University. "Carrie is elegant and classy and poised. She doesn't make one wrong move, ever. Her faith and her family guide her life. This is her time and it's so exciting to watch because you can see now she's enjoying it."

Make no mistake — Underwood wants to win Entertainer of the Year.

“I cannot tell a lie, and that one was just really important,” she said from a tour stop in the Pacific Northwest. The day, she described, was beautiful as she walked to a nearby park with Isaiah, who could be heard playing during the interview. She said she was with her toddler when she found out about her Entertainer of the Year nomination. She is also up for Album of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year and Musical Event of the Year for her collaboration with Keith Urban on his song The Fighter.

Underwood points out she hasn’t won a CMA Award in eight years.

“I don’t want to say that I got used to it, but a little bit,” she said. “It ended up being kind of a blessing so I could just realize what we do is all about and being out on the road and seeing people and having people sing your songs back to you and just seeing the crowds grow and grow and grow and feeling stronger in myself as a performer and as an entertainer. It’s really incredible to have that nomination, but I think it was kind of good for me to be able to focus on other things.”

Follow Cindy Watts on Twitter: @CindyNWatts

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Carrie Underwood is joined on stage for a surprise duet by fellow country music superstar Miranda Lambert during her headlining performance at the ACM Women of Country Night in Las Vegas. (April 3) AP

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