ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

"I hate saying pop-country--I hate using that," Carrie Underwood says during a recent interview while talking about some of her favorite artists.

Underwood, who has sold more than 10 million albums since her 2005 debut with hits that have appealed to both the MTV and CMT set, prefers to describe such music as "contemporary." But she acknowledges the sonic shift between some of her childhood idols and today's country stars.

"I loved Alan Jackson and Brooks & Dunn. Those were the people that really first made me love country music. Then there were people like Bryan White who were like coming on the scene," the 26-year-old Oklahoma native says.

"And it's wonderful that we all kind of have our place in country music and we all pull listeners in for different reasons, and because of that we can hear everything."

HIGH EXPECTATIONS

Her third album, "Play On," in stores for a week, stretches country boundaries further. She re-teamed with "American Idol" judge and pop hitmaker Kara DioGuardi, who worked with her on her multiplatinum sophomore album, "Carnival Ride." And she also worked with producers known for making smashes for the likes of Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson and Katy Perry.

"I love all kinds of music, and I think it's all kinds of fun when you take a slightly different element and you bring it to you and incorporate that into your music," she says.

There are high expectations for "Play On." Underwood's debut CD "Some Hearts" sold about 6 million copies, and her second album sold nearly 3 million.

SHE'S LOYAL TO COUNTRY

"Play On" is still very much country--there's banjo, pedal steel and mandolin--but Underwood has added different musical textures, which points to her maturation as an artist.

"I'm not trying to move anywhere away from country music," she declares. "Growing up I never liked it when people would have a country song and then change it for a different format."