Track review: Carrie's "I Told You So" (ft. Randy Travis)

Carrie Underwood took a gamble when she recorded her own version of Randy Travis’ 1988 country classic “I Told You So” for her sophomore album ‘Carnival Ride,’ but she took an even bigger risk when she released it as the album’s fifth single. Now, Underwood is joined by Travis on a duet of the song, signaling that the risks paid off tenfold.

The new version of the track sounds fresh despite featuring artists that have already done solo versions of the song, and Underwood’s soft, angelic vocals complement Travis’ rustic, gritty vocals perfectly. There are moments where “Told You” comes off sounding a little too much like a cut-and-paste job, but overall Underwood’s harmonies take the song places it has never been.

Even though Underwood is as commercially-friendly as country singers come, her ability to connect with the country style of yesteryear is undeniable, and proves that she could have been just as bright a star had she been around as an artist twenty years ago.

As if Carrie Underwood even needed additional “authentic country cred,” her duet with Randy Travis on “I Told You So” should keep the dissenters quiet once and for all.

Buy on iTunes.