See Carrie Underwood’s Fiery ‘Dirty Laundry’ at the CMA Awards

Carrie Underwood ripped into a no-boys-allowed version of “Dirty Laundry” during the CMA Awards, backed by blasts of pyro and the powerful punch of an all-female, supergroup-caliber backup band.

In classic Underwood form, the Storyteller track skewers a no-good man who can’t keep his hands to himself, with a chorus that pitches its tent far closer to Heart’s Eighties-era arena-rock hits than country music’s traditional twang.

The biggest surprise, though, was the company Underwood kept onstage, including guitarist Lindsay Ell, singer-songwriter Lindi Ortega and the three members of Runaway June. Dominating the mix was six-string shredder Orianthi, the Aussie solo artist and in-demand sidewoman who’s been working on an album of country-influenced duets with boyfriend Richie Sambora. With Orianthi dishing out plenty of slash and burn, “Dirty Laundry” took on a welcome edge, giving Underwood – usually the most spotlight-stealing person onstage, with a voice as large as the Bridgestone Arena itself – a reason to push her pipes close to the breaking point.