Carrie Underwood on Getting Ready to Go Live for The Sound of Music and Her 'Incredible' Broadway Co-Stars

Carrie Underwood has a long history of melding music with her strong television presence. She has racked up six Grammys, five Country Music Association Awards and hosted the CMAs five times—a sixth to come on November 6 in Nashville. Aside from watching the American Idol winner belting out the Sunday Night Football theme song, audiences will soon see her in another light when she takes on Maria Von Trapp in NBC's upcoming television broadcast of The Sound of Music. Underwood opened up to Billboard.com about why the live show will be a challenge for her.

Underwood told the music magazine that she's never done anything quite like The Sound of Music before. "None of us have. This is a live show on TV. So this is definitely a challenge for all of us," she revealed. However, the rest of the cast does have strong experience on Broadway with Tony Awards to prove it. Laura Benanti will play Elsa, Audra McDonald will take on the Mother Abbess role and Christian Borle will play Max, Captain Von Trapp's (True Blood's Stephen Moyer) friend and music producer.

Underwood did not give many more details on the show other than prepping incredibly early for the leading role. "I wanted to be here and have all my lines memorized and everything and be ready for it," Underwood said. She also raved about the cast: "Audra and Laura are incredible. Stephen's great. It's nice to be surrounded by that much talent." The Sound of Music airs December 5 on NBC.