Photo: John van der Schilden.

It’s pouring rain and grey outside here in Toronto today. So what better day to relive the hot, humid and hilarious time we spent in Nashville in April while shooting the incomparable Carrie Underwood for our July cover? And I have to say: I’m so excited for this one to hit newsstands next week. We arrived in Nashville and were greeted by an airport full of rockers (or wannabe rockers, perhaps) toting well-worn guitar cases and dreams of country music stardom. But when we set up in the Craft Studio the next day (with one of our favourite photographers John van der Schilden and Carrie’s new album
Blow Away blasting courtesy of Bob from Sony Music’s Nashville office, who drove their office copy all the way over), we got to hang with one of country music’s biggest stars. And what a pleasure it was. Carrie, having just jetted back from performing in Las Vegas at the Academy of Country Music Awards, was a true Southern belle—but was happy to channel a little Cali girl styling for our cover shoot. The highlight of the day for me, though? Getting to hear Carrie sing along to Jason Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem” when it came onto the radio. I’m quite sure her goose bump-creating vocals could make a country music fan out of anyone. I’m actually pretty sure they already have. So crank up
Blown Away—her single “Good Girl” is already a smash hit—and enjoy our July issue. I hope you guys have as good a time reading it as we did producing it!