When you think of songwriting as poetry set to music, you get an appreciation for the challenge of balancing what you want to say with presenting it in a way that’s pleasing to hear, and Carrie Underwood — who’s co-written eight of her 17 number-one singles — knows that it can be a juggling act sometimes to make it all sound good! (AUDIO INFO BELOW)

• Carrie also co-wrote her newest smash, “See You Again” — the latest single following three number-one hits from Carrie’s Platinum-certified album, Blown Away.
• Available Now!! Carrie’s first-ever concert DVD is out now! Just released this week, The Blown Away Tour: LIVE includes concert footage, loads of hits, behind-the-scenes bonus features, and more! Look for it everywhere, including here, on iTunes.
• On Monday, it was announced that Nicole by OPI will introduce 14 new nail lacquers inspired by Carrie Underwood! The collection is said to feature a colorful mosaic of hues ranging from soft pastels to dark sultry shades to playful glitters, in addition to a signature gold textured shade called Carrie’d Away, created exclusively for Carrie. The salon-quality formulas will be part of a limited-edition promotion available at mass retailers beginning in January.

  Carrie Underwood talks about finding a balance in songwriting. (:27)
“It’s important to write good lyrics, but it’s also important to write them in a song that people would want to listen to and would want to sing along with. It’s so helpful when you can write a song that has kind of something a little more hooky in it that people can just catch on to and start singing immediately, because when I’m on stage, even if they haven’t heard it, I mean, by the time the song’s over, they know half the song. (laughs) It’s hard sometimes trying to find that balance.”