Carrie Underwood recently spoke with us about how much she enjoys doing “cover songs,” or singing songs that have been hits for other artists — and while she talked about it in the context of her concerts and how she came to record the Randy Travis classic, “I Told You So,” Carrie has now recorded Mötley Crüe‘s “Home Sweet Home” as this season’s contestant farewell song for American Idol. It’s the music that will be played each time one of the hopefuls leaves the show, and it made its debut on Idol just this week. Although it’s not on either of Carrie’s albums, “Home Sweet Home” is available now as a digital single exclusively at iTunes and will be available at online music stores everywhere on March 17th. (AUDIO INFO BELOW)

• Carrie reflected on her own Idol experience in a recent issue of US, where she said, “I wasn’t planning on being in music at all! … When I went through it, I wanted to be Kelly Clarkson. I wanted to be Fantasia. It’s just so amazing to think, Oh, my gosh, somebody actually wants me to be me.”
• A portion of the proceeds from the sale of “Home Sweet Home” are being donated by Carrie and her record company to the Humane Society of the United States, with funds earmarked to help find homes for homeless animals.
• Congratulations to Carrie on her recently announced ACM Award nomination for Album of the Year! Carrie’s Carnival Ride disc has launched four consecutive number-one hits — and the most recent single, “I Told You So,” is on its way!
• Watch for Carrie as the cover feature on the March 23rd issue of Country Weekly, on sale Monday!

  Carrie Underwood talks about her love for cover songs. (:13)
“I love doin’ cover songs. Everybody that’s been to any of my shows know I love doin’ cover songs. I jump at the opportunity to do other people’s great songs…and wish that they were mine. (laughs)”