Denim & Rhinestones is Underwood’s first country album in four years. Though she’s kept busy with some singles and collaborations — including “If I Didn’t Love You” with Jason Aldean, “Stretchy Pants” and “Only Us,” a duet with Dan + Shay for the Dear Evan Hansen soundtrack — Underwood hasn’t released a full-length country project since Cry Pretty in 2018. She released her holiday album, My Gift, in 2020 with a special edition in 2021, and My Savior, her debut gospel album last year. For Denim & Rhinestones, Underwood teamed up again with producer David Garcia. The pair also worked with one another on Cry Pretty and My Savior, and Underwood told iHeartRadio that “when we started writing, it was just a lot of magic.”

Underwood expertly blends genres of music into the songs on Denim & Rhinestones, all while staying true to her country core. When her album released, Underwood described “’throwback’ type songs,” though they still “sound so super fresh.” Speaking with iHeartRadio, Underwood said “the great thing about music right now is, it's so accessible and people just have so many favorites of all types, all genres.

“It's easier than ever now to just consume that music, whatever you're feeling for the day,” Underwood continued. “For me as an artist, being influenced by so many different kinds of artists and genres of music — they work their way in anyway, and I feel like it's just getting easier not to fight it — I love country music obviously. But I feel like every once in a while, if there's some other flavors that get in there, it just kind of expands on my brand of country music. …I mean that's all different parts of me. I feel like with this album, I was able to kind of explore more sides of myself — musically and as a writer — all in one album. …It's all random, but it all works together.”

Underwood — who promised an overall fun and “happy” feeling, in addition to the signature drama and good old-fashioned “cheatin’ songs” — showcased her undeniable brand of country music with powerful performances of “Hate My Heart,” “Velvet Heartbreak” — among the most cleverly-written lyrics on the project — “Ghost Story,” “Burn,” “Pink Champagne,” “Crazy Angels” and much more. Other songs in her setlist spanned her nearly two-decades-long career (earlier this year, she marked the 17th anniversary of her American Idol victory in 2005).

Bob Delmont