Even though Carrie Underwood has racked up a big string of number-one hits from her albums, she loves to sing “cover” songs — songs that were hits for other artists. “I jump at the opportunity to do other people’s great songs…and wish that they were mine,” Carrie laughs, and it’s her fondness for singing some of these favorites that led to her decision to record her version of Randy Travis‘ 1988 chart-topper, “I Told You So.” Carrie was searching through her music collection to find just the right cover to include on her Carnival Ride album, and when she hit upon “I Told You So,” it felt right. “I grew up listening to Randy Travis,” she says, adding that he’s “a staple of country music for me.” (AUDIO INFO BELOW)

• “I Told You So” is becoming a huge hit all over again, and it’s the fifth big single from Carrie’s Carnival Ride disc, which includes her four most recent number-ones: “All-American Girl,” “Last Name,” “So Small,” and “Just a Dream.”
• It was none other than Randy Travis who stepped on stage at the Grand Ole Opry last year to officially invite Carrie to become an Opry member. You can revisit Carrie’s reactions to that incredible night, and her comments about Randy, right here:  http://prep.hearsomethingcountry.com/2008/05/09/carrie-underwood-membership-has-its-privileges/. 

  Carrie Underwood describes how she came to record Randy Travis’ classic hit, “I Told You So.” (:37)
“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) But we were looking for cover songs to do, ’cause I wanted to throw one in on the album, and nothing fit at all. So I started going through my iPod and my playlist and everything and started lookin’ through all my songs that I had on my computer, and I thought maybe this would work. And you know, I grew up listening to Randy Travis. Randy Travis is, you know, kind of a staple of country music for me.”