Live Review and Photo Gallery: Carrie Underwood at Allstate Arena • Rosemont

Brassneck | October 23, 2022

Carrie Underwood

Saturday, October 22

Allstate Arena

Rosemont, IL

Review and photos by Andy Argyrakis

The title behind Carrie Underwood’s newest album and tour of the same name, Denim & Rhinestones, couldn’t be more fitting for the country and pop megastar, representing both a rougher side that’s never afraid to rock but also one evoking the glamour and downright glorious vocals worthy of crowning her an American Idol in 2005. Both were on display in equal doses at an unsurprisingly packed Allstate Arena where the A-lister thrilled, dazzled, and delivered for two hours, stuffed with previous smashes that cumulatively sold 66 million copies and current cuts reclaiming her place atop multiple charts.

As a slick band let loose with the assertive introduction to “Good Girl,” Underwood popped up from below on a hydraulic lift, flashing a million-dollar smile, trendsetting fashions, and most importantly, priceless pipes. Come “Church Bells,” she got a bit closer to fans, who outstretched their arms and phones, a frequent trend that only escalated every moment she strutted further down the runway.

Underwood was a force of nature throughout “Cowboy Casanova,” but kept right on climbing and conquering the challenging “Wasted,” “Blown Away,” “Burn” (complete with a string of actual flames), and “Cry Pretty” as a jumbo screen broadcasted all the glitzy presentations to the upper bowls. However, no seat seemed far when she rode a swing above the audience to the back for the monster ballad, “Ghost Story,” soaring through each towering crescendo and tapping into the essence of Halloween as it creeps up around the corner.

She soon explored the spirituality of the heavenly kind with not only her own calling card, “Jesus, Take The Wheel,” but subsequently dusted off the traditional hymn, “How Great Thou Art,” to truly divine results. Carrie resumed kicking up some serious dust with “Crazy Angels” as she flew to the front with giant wings guiding the way and picked up additional steam via the danceable title track with opener Jimmie Allen, accented by no less than six sparkling disco balls.

Yet it arguably peaked with the double-decker finale of Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome To The Jungle,” destined to earn a stamp of approval from occasional collaborator Axl Rose, plus “Before He Cheats,” a modern classic on its own accord. No official encore was needed as the unparalleled entertainer constantly sang her guts out to a series of heartfelt, relatable, and uplifting messages that helped propel the more than 100 major award-winner to possibly become the paramount voice of this century so far.