Last night was a very special night in the history of Carrie's home state of Oklahoma. Carrie was there to help thousands celebrate at the Centennial Spectacular in Oklahoma City.



Fox23 reports...

VIDEO: Clip of Carrie performing I Ain't In Checotah Anymore

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NewsOK.com reports...

The excitement of the crowd of more than 12,200 was apparent as people screamed for their favorite performers and waved iridescent pompoms. Some of the loudest cheers went to “American Idol” Carrie Underwood, who belted her song “I Ain’t in Checotah Anymore.”

“This is like one of the first really big things that I’ve been a part of since all the goodness has come into my life and I’m glad to be with all the wonderful people that are here,” she said at the press conference.

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Tulsaworld.com reports...

Members of the media had 30 minutes before the “Centennial Spectacular” to ask questions from the show’s slate of superstar performers. That’s just not enough time when in a room with Vince Gill, Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood,Willard Scott, Shirley Jones, Patti Page, five Miss Americas, Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips, Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci, Blake Shelton, Barry Switzer, Argus Hamilton, Amy Grant, Rance Howard, Johnny Bench and others. We tried. But it was hard not to be a little star-struck.That’s quite the “Happy Birthday” committee, Oklahoma.

Carrie Underwood caused a stir in the interview room when she sneaked in quietly in a sparkly cocktail dress.

“This is one of the first really big things I’ve been a part of,” she said. She was asked about Oklahoma’s grand tradition of country music legends.

“Something in the water,” she laughed. “I’m blessed that so many wonderful people have paved the way for me.”

She misses lots of things about Oklahoma now that she’s traveling and has a home in Nashville, but most of all, she misses the people, she said.

“I love going home and feeling that sense of warmth,” she said.

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...country superstar Carrie Underwood sang an emotional "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma," segueing into "I Ain't in Checotah Anymore."

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KOCO.com TV5 reports...

Before the concert began, Underwood and a star-studded list of performers and celebrities assembled to talk about their connections to Oklahoma.

The 2005 "American Idol" winner appeared star-struck as Garth Brooks walked into the room.

"I haven't seen Garth since I was 10 years old, so I'm sort of freaking out right now," she said.

Brooks responded: "You haven't changed a bit."

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