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Four months after I had a child, I was still a milky mess bumbling around in indoor pants. Carrie Underwood, on the other hand – who played her second big show tonight on the Marcus Amphitheater after delivering her son, Isaiah, at the end of February – was focused, relaxed and radiant.

But Underwood doesn’t get accolades just for being on stage as a new mom. She delivered a 21-song, 90-minute performance that kept the audience on their feet, singing along and completely engaged.

I went into this concert with an open mind, but I admit, pop country is not usually my brand of jam. Although I adore old-school country music like Johnny Cash, and alternative country singers like Lucinda Williams, I’m not usually attracted to the country radio sweethearts.

But I really liked Carrie.

Not only does she have an incredible voice – she is able to hold notes for very extended periods of time and has a crazy-controlled vibrato – she also seems down-to-earth and even though she has an "All-American Girl" look, her personality isn't an over-chipper stereotype.

Tonight was Underwood's third visit to Milwaukee and although she didn’t make small talk specifically about our city or the venue, it wvas evident she was enjoying herself. Before tonight, she played the Big Barrel Country Music Festival in Dover, Del. on June 28. Tonight’s setlist was the exactly the same.

She shared the stage with nine other musicians, eight men and one woman. High points of her set included a sing-along of "Little Toy Guns," the current number one song on country radio, and a powerhouse remix of "See You Again," Wiz Khalifa’s and Charlie Puth’s anthem of the same name. 

"I’ve had a great week," she said.

She also covered 80's alt-pop artist Marshall Crenshaw's "Some Hearts," which I found to be a surprising but well-executed tribute. 

Underwood, who has sold more than 65 million records worldwide in less than 10 years, rose to fame in 2005 when she won the top spot in "American Idol." She went on to win seven Grammy awards, 17 Billboard Music Awards, 11 Academy of Country Music Awards and eight American Music Awards.

Her early singles include "Jesus, Take The Wheel" and "Before He Cheats." Later hits include "Cowboy Casanova" and "Something In the Water." She performed all of these songs tonight.

In 2008, she was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry and in 2009 into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. Time Magazine listed her as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
She is the only solo country artist in the 2000s to have a No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the first and only country artist to ever debut at No. 1 on the Hot 100. She is also the female artist with the most No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart with 14 hits total (and 21 number one hits on the country charts).

Underwood was dressed in a long, white fringe vest, brown cowgirl boots and black leather pants – a potential foreshadowing choice of fashion considering she has already described her upcoming new album, which is almost finished and does not yet have a release date, as a collection with a "rock twang." Although she is enamored with her new son, she has made it clear she is not going to release songs primarily about motherhood. She has, however, joked it will be "the most awesome album of all time."

She also recorded a new theme song for Sunday Night Football and has been promoting her new women’s workout clothing line, "Calia by Carrie Underwood," which is available exclusively at Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Underwood's gratitude also shined through tonight, as she often waved and acknowledged the audience. She made numerous positive comments, like "I have been blessed and I am extremely grateful," as well as, "I have been lucky enough to do what I love."

Set list from tonight's performance:

1. Blown Away
2. Two Black Cadillacs
3. Wasted
4. Undo It
5. I Told You So
6. Good Girl
7. Little Toy Guns
8. Cowboy Casanova
9. Don't Forget to Remember Me 
10. Leave Love Alone
11. I Know You Won't
12. Flat on the Floor
13. See You Again / See You Again 
(Wiz Khalifa cover)
14. So Small
15. Jesus, Take the Wheel
16. Some Hearts 
(Marshall Crenshaw cover)
17. All-American Girl
18. Cupid's Got a Shotgun
19. Last Name
20. Something in the Water
21. Before He Cheats