Carrie Underwood to headline Stadium of Fire in July

PROVO — Carrie Underwood will be taking the wheel and heading to Provo on July 3 to headline this year's Stadium of Fire.

Underwood's performance was announced to the 22,644 in attendance during the second half of Saturday's Mountain West Conference basketball showdown between No. 13 BYU and No. 10 New Mexico at the Marriott Center.

Images of Underwood flashed on the JumboTron, followed by two quick clips of her performing the popular songs "Jesus, Take the Wheel" and "Last Name" at previous concerts. Those in attendance cheered loudly when her name flashed on the big screen, but their attention quickly turned back to the tense basketball game.

A five-time Grammy Award winner, Underwood has amassed more than 11 million in U.S. album sales since her debut CD in 2005, more than any other "American Idol" winner.

Another "Idol" alum was considered for the headlining role in an online poll organized by America's Freedom Festival at Provo. The poll asked the public whom they wanted to see perform. David Archuleta, an "Idol" runner-up, was in the top five, along with Underwood, Bon Jovi, Taylor Swift and Eric Dodge.

Although organizers of the Freedom Festival did not reveal the final numbers in the poll, they were more than pleased to announce Underwood's participation.

"Can you ask for anything better than Carrie Underwood?" asked Carl Bacon, America's Freedom Foundation at Provo trustee and senior executive producer of the event. "Carrie is our number one choice."

"I am really excited about being invited to Stadium of Fire's 30th anniversary celebration," Underwood said in a statement. "Our country has a lot to celebrate this Independence Day, and I want to do my part to make it unforgettable."

Bacon said the event, which reaches far beyond the Utah borders, still has many surprises in the works that will be announced as the event nears.

"We will be recording to every military installation and ships at sea," Bacon said, announcing that this will be the eighth year straight streaming the evening live.

"We're sure that this year's Stadium of Fire will be seen by the biggest audience in our history, so we're working hard to make it the most memorable," Bacon said. "Carrie is a big part of that."

In recognition of the 30th anniversary of Stadium of Fire in 2010, tickets will be available this year for as low as $30. Traditional elements of Stadium of Fire will continue and expand, including the spectacle of the Stadium of Fire dancers, a military flyover and the largest stadium fireworks show in America.