Carrie Underwood has been living a fantasy since winning American Idol, but the Oklahoma native found time during her hectic tour to fill us in about her upcoming Denver performance and her life spent chasing cows.

It seems as if it’s just one thing after another in this little cow town of ours. We’re still reeling from the second coming of the Democrats — if we listen closely, we can still hear the roar from the Pepsi Center in our fourth-floor offices on Wynkoop. From professional All-Star games and the World Series to international performing-arts conventions and the Mile High Music Festival, everyone wants a piece of our city. (Heck, we’d probably score a Super Bowl if Invesco could keep the
snow out.)

To add to the list of major-league events headed to Denver, the 2008 convention of the Medal of Honor Society is scheduled to take place this month over the week of the 16th. More than 3,000 active military personnel from around the state have been invited to attend this prestigious five-day event put on by recipients of the Medal of Honor.

One convention highlight is the Patriot Award Gala at the Sheraton Hotel downtown, where award-winning actor and director Clint Eastwood will be receiving the Bob Hope Award for Excellence in Entertainment, an award presented to an American who has favorably portrayed the U.S. military in the media.

Among the other award recipients will be Colorado cable magnate Bill Daniels, who will posthumously be given the Distinguished Citizenship Award for his donations to the University of Denver and his establishment of the Young American’s Bank. NBC news anchor Brian Williams will be the master of ceremonies for the event.

The week opens with a “Celebration of Valor” tribute performance at the Pepsi Center by American Idol winner and two-time Grammy award–winning country music star Carrie Underwood. Denver Magazine took this opportunity to catch up with the beautiful 25-year-old Oklahoma native on her way to Indianapolis to get a closer look at the life of America’s top-selling female country star.

Denver Magazine: Tell us how you got involved with the Medal of Honor convention?
Carrie Underwood: AEG Live, who handles all my tour stuff, asked us if we’d like to be involved, and it sounded like a really good thing to be a part of. They’re people who deserve to be honored, and we’re just going to have a good time with it.

DM: You seem to be involved a lot with the military; what was your experience like when you went to Iraq and Kuwait in 2006 with the United Service Organization?
CU: It was awesome. They originally had a big USO tour planned, but it fizzled out. We had already blocked off the time, so we asked if we could go anyway. It was around Christmas, and it was really neat to see an effort made to make people feel more at home with decorations, a couple of makeshift Santas and a parade. They were really trying to keep moral up, and it was really neat to be a part of that.

DM: There are hundreds of country songs about the military. Why do you think your genre of music resonates with the military crowd?
CU: Well, they are very respectful people. Country music teaches people to pay a lot of respect to people who work hard. Everything is true and honest, and military people tend to respect that.

DM: Speaking of the military, your new single, “Just a Dream,” focuses on a woman whose fiancé has died during service. The video’s director, Roman White, has praised your powerful acting performance. Do you have any future acting aspirations?
CU: If something came up and was little and sounded like fun, I’d do it just to say I did. You see people who are actors and actresses, and they cross into music. Usually, nine times out of 10, the other one isn’t very good. You should stick to what you do best.

DM: Your first album has a song about leaving your hometown called “I Ain’t in Checotah Anymore.” You grew up on a farm in Checotah, Oklahoma, right?
CU: Yep. My parents had cattle. It’s all we ever had, no chickens, no pigs. But I’ve never milked a cow in my life. I did not milk cows. I really didn’t help out a whole lot; my parents never considered me an unpaid worker, working on the ranch. The cows would get out every time my dad would go hunting, and I’d have to go find them and put them back in. They’re just so darned smart.

DM: And you’re a vegetarian, right? Do they kick you out of Oklahoma for that?
CU: [Laughs] I am. When I started going out to pasture a little bit more, I began to realize that [cows are] just so beautiful. I know they’re stinky and all that stuff, but the thought of eating them just really freaked me out. So I stopped eating beef at around age 12 or 13. I haven’t had a hamburger in over a decade. I just felt so guilty.

DM: So your dad was a rancher, and your mom was a teacher. Where did your passion to perform come from?
CU: I was always in my own little world. I liked stuff that no one really could relate to. I just loved music, but I don’t know where that came from because no one in my family is musical.

DM: When did you start to perform?
CU: I was in the band in seventh grade; I played the flute. My teacher hated me, or I hated my teacher; I can’t remember which way that was. When I was 13-ish, a local businessman wanted to help out with my vocal career. He caused more problems than anything. I certainly didn’t know what I was doing at that age. I’m glad it worked out this way. I got to finish high school and go to college. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I didn’t get to do those things.

DM: I’ve read that when you were in college you studied broadcast journalism. What would Carrie Underwood the journalist ask Carrie Underwood the country music superstar?
CU: Oh my gosh. People ask such dumb questions. Not that you have, by the way. I would ask myself, “What have I learned?”

DM: Well Carrie Underwood, what have you learned from these past two crazy years?
CU: I’ve learned that I’m definitely one of the luckiest people on the face of the planet. I went to school preparing for a totally different life. The way that everything was shoved in my face, all these doors opened up, and people kept pushing me through them. Everything worked out this way, and now I’m on stage performing in front of tons of people. I get to go to award shows and dress up and do all these amazing things. It was all about destiny. It was the way that things were supposed to happen, and I can’t wait to see what’s next. I’m in love with it.