Tulsa World: Slide Show: Singer's surprise

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Slide Show: Singer's surprise
Underwood unveils $117,000 gift in Checotah

Taylor O'Brien (left) and Brooke Butler, both 12 and from Eufaula, pose for a self-portrait with Carrie Underwood in downtown Checotah on Friday. Underwood made a surprise appearance Friday to donate musical instruments to Checotah Public Schools. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World

By JENNIFER CHANCELLOR World Scene Writer
Published: 8/29/2009 2:24 AM
Last Modified: 8/29/2009 8:05 AM

CHECOTAH — Carrie Underwood's hometown sang the country music superstar's praises Friday morning.

More accurately, they screeched them.

Hundreds of young Checotah Public Schools music students screamed with glee as Underwood shocked them with $117,000 worth of instruments for the band and vocal music programs.

"I love my job," said intermediate music teacher Kathy Cooper from the auditorium stage in the small high school from which the singer graduated. Underwood's fifth-grade music teacher joined her and the youngsters to make a surprise announcement.

"I've had most of you sitting out there. ... You never know, we might have some more stars out here," Cooper teased with a smile. The jam-packed arena hushed. "It's my greatest pleasure to introduce ..."

A collective gasp swept across the assembly. From those gasps erupted deafening howls of joy as the kids realized who had joined Cooper onstage.

"To the teachers, I'm sorry I completely disrupted your classes," Underwood said. "To the students, you're welcome!" she finished, then laughed.

The 26-year-old singer and Academy of Country Music's Entertainer of the Year, along with ACM Lifting Lives director Erin Spahn, pulled back the blue velvet curtain behind them, revealing 31 shiny new band instruments.

"Mrs. Cooper gave me my first chance to perform on stage," said Underwood. "The music program is so important. ... My career has given me this opportunity to give back."

Underwood and her recently founded nonprofit —Checotah Animal, Town and Schools, or CATS — joined ACM's Lifting Lives program to make the donation possible. Underwood's charity name is a spinoff of her school mascot, the Wildcats, she said.

Fifth-grader Kenedee Rittenhouse, 11, captivated students before the assembly when, on a whim, she stood on a chair to the side of the auditorium and sang Underwood's hit "So Small." Underwood, backstage at the time, took note.

The superstar called Rittenhouse to the stage for an impromptu duet while Underwood's keyboardist "broke in" the new electric piano.

As they sang, Rittenhouse shook. Then Underwood shook.

Rittenhouse cried. Underwood's eyes brimmed with tears as she placed her hand over her heart. Applause filled the auditorium.

"Take this stuff. Do what you love and love what you do," Underwood later said. A group of girls in the back yelled, "We love you Carrie!"

Rittenhouse returned to her seat and wept with joy. "Oh. My. Gosh," she said. "All I knew this morning was that we were having an assembly. We didn't know she would be here."

She wiped her eyes and smiled. "Singing with her was a one in a million opportunity and it was so awesome. ... She hugged me after and said 'Great job.'

"Yeah, I was a little bit nervous," the girl admitted.

She wasn't the only one.

"Carrie told me backstage that she's never been so nervous," said Brian Terry, Checotah High School principal, after the presentation. "She said that she can perform in front of thousands of people, but this program is very important to her.

"Our band program is both very good and very competitive. This gift has been in the works for months," said Terry.

All instruments were purchased through Yamaha Corporate Artist Affairs at a special philanthropic rate, said Brook Primero, senior director of publicity and marketing for the Academy of Country Music.

Instruments included tubas, saxophones, woodwinds, horns, a guitar and more.

Afterward, Underwood said hello to her former teachers and stood for pictures — lots of pictures.

"I think it's great for kids to see that they can do anything," said Underwood. "I want to help teach them to be responsible for their futures, to be great and to follow their dreams."

She reminisced about her favorite music teacher.

"Last night I was looking at old videos of me singing on stage. I was yay high, 6 or 7 years old," she said, then smiled. "Mrs. Cooper thought it was a good idea to sing all by myself.

"Mrs. Cooper's always been such a positive influence," said Underwood.

Nearly a decade after Underwood last performed on that very stage, the busy singer also talked about her upcoming album release, due this fall. "It'll be my third album — that's hard to believe," said the multiplatinum-selling musician.

"Then next year comes another big tour. I'll be back home for that. I love coming home.

"Every show stop gets louder the closer I get to home. After, I can sit on my porch with my dog and cat and just be home.

Slide Show

To see all of the Tulsa World slide shows, go to tulsaworld.com/photos.

Tickets on sale for Hall of Fame concert

Carrie Underwood will be inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame on Sept. 17, along with Oklahoma artists and performers Rocky Frisco and Ramona Reed. All three will perform. Tickets are now on sale.

Underwood is the Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year, an “American Idol” winner, four-time Grammy winner and an Oklahoma music icon. The class of 2009 inductees will join the roster of former inductees, including Vince Gill, Toby Keith, Merle Haggard, Wanda Jackson, the All-American Rejects and more.

C.H. Parker, longtime music instructor and director at Northeastern State University, will be honored with the Governor’s Award.

The induction and concert is 7 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Muskogee Civic Center, 405 Boston St. in downtown Muskogee.

Reserved seat tickets to the concert and induction ceremony are available at tulsaworld.com/OMHoF or call (918) 687-0800 for information. Tickets are $39.95 to $175, plus fees.

The gift

On Friday, Carrie Underwood’s Checotah Animal, Town and Schools foundation and the Academy of Country Music’s Lifting Lives charity donated 31 instruments to the Checotah Public Schools’ music program:

4 cornets

2 sousaphones

2 concert tubas

2 marching baritones

2 concert baritones

2 French horns

2 tenor saxophones

2 alto saxophones

2 bass clarinets

2 flugelhorns

1 baritone saxophone

1 oboe

1 set of concert bells

1 xylophone

1 marimba

1 vibraphone

1 electric guitar

1 guitar amp

1 clavinova (electric piano)

On TV

Country crooners Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley did so well their first time hosting the Country Music Association Awards in 2008, they got the gig again. The pair will host the awards 7 p.m. Nov. 11 on ABC, live from Nashville’s Sommet Center.

Nominations for the 2009 awards will be announced in September.

The pair has plenty of CMA wins. Paisley has 11 CMA trophies; Underwood has five.

Jennifer Chancellor 581-8346
jennifer.chancellor@tulsaworld.com By JENNIFER CHANCELLOR World Scene Writer

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Carrie Underwood shocks Checotah students with visit, donation of instruments," which was published on 8/28/2009.

	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (8/28/2009 9:21:26 AM) This is nice of Carrie. I am pleased that she is giving back.
	Report Comment jrbinstl, Saint Louis (8/28/2009 9:29:15 AM) Carrie is simply an Amazing Woman! Oklahoma can be very proud of her.
	Report Comment Proud Liberal, Weatherford (8/28/2009 9:29:45 AM) This is awesome. Thank you, Carrie!
	Report Comment cowboytimothy, (8/28/2009 9:32:44 AM) I got to know Carrie from her time working at Sam and Ella's Pizza parlor in Tahlequah. She was a gregarious and friendy waitress then, and little did I know the girl had a wicked set of pipes and a song writers' ear.
	Report Comment MamaMia, Jenks (8/28/2009 9:33:47 AM) Love her! She seems like such a nice girl.
	Report Comment Daniel Day Simpson, Edmond (8/28/2009 9:47:34 AM) Thanks and it really shows a high degree of character to do this. From the beginning to now she has never faltered or slowed down giving back to her state and town. Yamaha is also a great organization who gives lot to schools because the would not exist if it were not for the school music programs. I like going into a school and seeing that logo with the three tuning forks. I also think they make a superior piano to the Steinway. As for the name CATS, that's a hoot. I know it will serve the community much better than KATS. That's Stipe's cash cow for his supporters.
	Report Comment DelawareSooner, Newark, DE (8/28/2009 10:14:09 AM) She's good lookin and a philanthropist. Good for her!
	Report Comment Scooterman, (8/28/2009 10:17:41 AM) Very nice and shows that she is still in touch with the reality of life. She is also the best looking vegetarian that I have ever seen.
	Report Comment TK1, (8/28/2009 10:21:22 AM) Class act.
	Report Comment desert fox, (8/28/2009 10:22:10 AM) Hip, Hip, Hooray. Way to go Carrie !
	Report Comment Lethal Webbin, (8/28/2009 10:26:06 AM) Good on you, Carrie.
	Report Comment Ol City Boy, (8/28/2009 10:27:42 AM) It is so fun to see such a talented woman enjoy a successful career, but is also a real class act. Young people are fortunate to have such a wonderful role model.
	Report Comment Non-BUBBA, Tulsa (8/28/2009 10:28:09 AM) Good job Girl!!! What a breath of fresh air!
	Report Comment Ric, Broken Arrow (8/28/2009 10:32:47 AM) OK, that's just flat out spectacular of her!
	Report Comment Master Spy, Broken Arrow (8/28/2009 10:38:25 AM) Just goes to show what kind of a lady she has been and turining in too. Most forget where they came from not Carrie. Thank you
	Report Comment HitAnyKey, Tulsa (8/28/2009 10:55:01 AM) The gift of music is one of the greatest things you can do for a child. Thank you Carrie!
	Report Comment DowntownNow, (8/28/2009 10:55:09 AM) Nice to see a music megastar remain humbled and true to her roots. No doubt she will continue to lead a very spectacular life and continue to do good things like she did today. Philanthropy for philanthropy's sake...nothing more true than giving without wanting anything in return but a smile and a fond heartfelt 'thank you'. Oklahoma is lucky to have a daughter like her. May she continue to encourage others to do the same.
	Report Comment Ryanoceros, Tulsa (8/28/2009 10:58:34 AM) Very cool. Now we just need to take a fresh look at music in elementary schools. You love music, but did you like music class in elementary school?...not likely. That position seems to often be held by old maidens with multiple cats and busts of classical composers. Apparently that hasn't changed since I was in school because my kids have the same problem. They love music, want to learn music, but hate music class.
	Report Comment brit01, (8/28/2009 11:02:04 AM) Billiant, yes a class act
	Report Comment brit01, (8/28/2009 11:02:26 AM) Eh Brilliant
	Report Comment ikesdad, Tahlequah (8/28/2009 11:13:16 AM) That's just great! Glad to see she truly remembers where she came from.
	Report Comment Mar, Tulsa (8/28/2009 11:41:56 AM) How generous and thoughtful of Carrie. She is definitely a class act, very talented and beautiful young woman. Oklahoma is proud. Brittany Spears, Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan and others as such, please take note.
	Report Comment laz, (8/28/2009 11:42:06 AM) classy gesture from a classy lady
	Report Comment MaintenanceMan, Tulsa (8/28/2009 12:02:24 PM) This is so much better than having the government do it for her.
	Report Comment Travis, Tahlequah (8/28/2009 12:40:55 PM) Way to go Carrie, you rock!

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