Carrie Underwood says she’s got “more than a good start” on her next studio album.
“We’re taking things in sections,” she told USA Today, backstage at Wednesday’s CMT Awards. “it’s like, with these three songs, we know we’re good, so let’s do those. We’ll do those, I’ll vocal them, then we’ll pick another group of songs. I’m figuring out the last few, I think.”
One song will likely be inspired by her son, Isaiah, who was born in February.
“I kind of tried to stay away from it,” Carrie said. “I didn’t want to force anything or have anything be cheesy or weird, like ‘Oh, she had a baby, so she’s singing about her baby.’ It just kind of happened one day.”
The American Idol winner is pretty sure the song about her son will make the album, but at this stage, the decisions aren’t set in stone.
“I’ll cut anything” from the album, she said. “I have no loyalties to any song, even if it’s one I wrote. But I think it’ll make it on there.”
As far as the rest of the album, Carrie says, “There are some things on there that are definitely familiar, but there’s a lot of growth that has happened, as well. It’s going to sound a little bit different — still the things that fans will obviously know is me. I’m not going crazy or anything , but it’s a little bit of a shift.”
Carrie made a triumphant return at the CMT’s, after taking time off to have her baby. She took home 3 awards–Collaborative Video of the Year for “Something Bad” (with Miranda Lambert), and Female Video of the Year and Video of the Year for “Something in the Water.”
She closed out the broadcast with a premiere of her current single, “Little Toy Guns.”
If you missed the event, click to read our live blog. Watch Carrie perform “Little Toy Guns” and check out photos of Carrie and other attendees, including Cassadee Pope, Nick Fradiani and more!
Also check out a list of likely cuts, known co-writes, and known songs on hold for Carrie’s next album! This is not a comprehensive list, just a peek as what’s to come. As always, songwriters are listed in alphabetical order.
Likely Cuts
“Church Bells” (Zac Crowell / Brett James / Hillary Lindsey) *added 8/19/2015
“Clock Don’t Stop” (Blair Daly / Chris DeStefano / Hillary Lindsey)
“Dirty Laundry” – (Zac Crowell / Ashley Gorley / Hillary Lindsey)
“Like I’ll Never Love You Again” – (Hillary Lindsey / Lori McKenna / Liz Rose) *added 8/19/2015 via someone else
“Renegade Runaway” (Chris DeStefano / Hillary Lindsey / Carrie Underwood) *added 8/24/2015 based on what appears to be a very short preview in the “Smoke Break” video
“Smoke Break” – (Chris DeStefano / Hillary Lindsey / Carrie Underwood) *added 7/30/2015
“The Girl You Think I Am” – (David Hodges / Hillary Lindsey / Carrie Underwood)
“What I Never Knew I Always Wanted” – (Brett James / Hillary Lindsey / Carrie Underwood) via @typo21
Known Cowrites
“Black And White” (Ross Copperman / Caitlyn Smith / Carrie Underwood) via mairy at Pulse
“Chaser” (Mike Elizondo / Hillary Lindsey / Carrie Underwood)
“Deja Vu” (Chris DeStefano / David Hodges / Carrie Underwood)
“Future Daughter” (Ashley Gorley / Claude Kelly / Carrie Underwood) – may have been for Carrie’s previous album.
“Get Even” (Luke Laird / Hillary Lindsey / Shane McAnally / Carrie Underwood) via @typo21
“Good Ole Days” (Chris Destefano / David Hodges / Hillary Lindsey / Carrie Underwood)
“Give It All” (Dave Haywood / Charles Kelley / Carrie Underwood) via @FrntPorchJunki
“Hallelujah Hometown” (Brandy Clark / Shane McAnally / Carrie Underwood) via @typo21
“Highway To Heaven” (Ross Copperman / Heather Morgan / Carrie Underwood)
“Is It Just Me?” (Ashley Gorley / Shane McAnally / Carrie Underwood) via @typo21
“Let The Wheels Roll” (Luke Laird / Hillary Lindsey / Carrie Underwood)
“Microphone” (Mike Elizondo / Hillary Lindsey/ Carrie Underwood)
“Million Dollar Bonfire” (Brandy Clark / Shane McAnally / Carrie Underwood) via @typo21
“Mother’s Day” (Ross Copperman / Will Hoge / Carrie Underwood) via @typo21
“Nothing Like Loving You” (Chris DeStefano / Hillary Lindsey / Carrie Underwood)
“Only An Ocean” (Ross Copperman / Heather Morgan / Carrie Underwood)
“Pawn Shop Diamond” (Steve McEwan / Maren Morris / Carrie Underwood
“Rhythm Of A Broken Heart” (Jack Antonoff / Ross Copperman / Carrie Underwood) via mairy at Pulse
“The Greatest Show On Earth” (Chris DeStefano / Jon Nite / Carrie Underwood)
“The Song Plays On” – (Luke Laird / Shane McAnally / Carrie Underwood) via @typo21
“Thunder” (Ross Copperman / Caitlyn Smith / Carrie Underwood) via mairy at Pulse
“Tomorrow” (Luke Laird / Shane McAnally / Carrie Underwood) via @typo21
“Waiting For” (Dave Haywood / Charles Kelley / Carrie Underwood) via @FrntPorchJunki
“We’ve All Got One” (Luke Laird / Shane McAnally / Carrie Underwood) via @typo21
“Wildfire” (Chris DeStefano / Jon Nite / Carrie Underwood)
“Wishing Well” (Ross Copperman / Will Hoge / Carrie Underwood) via mairy at Pulse
Songs On Hold (all via Oneal at Pulse)
“Black Gold” (Chris DeStefano / Josh Kear)
“Fighter” (Johan Fransson / Tim Larson / Tobias Lundgren / Audra Mae)
“Homewrecker Red” (Josh Kear / Hillary Lindsey / Shane McAnally)
“House Without Any Doors” (Ashley Gorley / Josh Kear / Hillary Lindsey)
“Junk Yard” (Chris DeStefano / Josh Kear)
“Lighthouse” (Felicia Barton / Meghan Kabir)
“Poison Apple” (Josh Kear / Hillary Lindsey / Shane McAnally)
“Red Roses Black” (Chris DeStefano / Josh Kear)
