Ya gotta give it up for Carrie Underwood and her Super Bowl national anthem performance. (Can you believe more than 100 million people probably watched her sing??)

Afterward, Carrie’s publicist said, “She felt really really great.”

Carrie stuck around for most of the game, sharing a suite and hanging out with Queen Latifah, who sang America the Beautiful before the game.

Ya might recall beforehand that Carrie said she was “51%” for the Saints because head coach Sean Payton – a big Kenny Chesney bud — came to one of Carrie’s shows and met Carrie afterward.

Carrie didn’t get the chance to congratulate Coach Payton after his Super Bowl win, though.

It’s certainly not too early to think about Valentine’s Day — for next year.

The Schermerhorn Symphony Center already has Motown legend Gladys Knight locked up for Valentine’s weekend 2011. (What, no Pips?)

In case you hopeless romantics out there plan far ahead, the dates are Feb. 11 and 12, 2011.

And you know how some music veterans never play their biggest hits? The Schermerhorn already is promising that she’ll do some of her signature songs, including Midnight Train to Georgia and You’re the Best Thing (That Ever Happened to Me).

If you’re a Nashville Symphony season ticket holder, I’m told you can buy tix now by going to the symphony Web site or calling 687-6401.

You might recall that last season, Kenny Chesney got drafted by now Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints. He went to spring training and was cut when they couldn’t come to terms.

“I wanted (team owner) Mr. Benson’s boat and he wouldn’t let me have it. The price wasn’t right,” Kenny said.

So no surprise that the man who’s sold over a million concert tickets each of the past eight summers was in Miami for the Saints victory over the Colts.

Not only did Kenny, his college buddies and father hit the locker room with the team and coaching staffs, but Chesney and his band took the stage at Miami’s Intercontinental Hotel a little before 2 a.m. to rock the players.

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Kimberly Williams-Paisley (Father of the Bride, According to Jim) has partnered with the local public TV folks to help promote a series of reports on children’s health issues in Tennessee.

I mention this because it’s cool to see Brad Paisley’s wife getting involved with local issues — and I also mention it because don’t we always love a reason to gaze upon the fantastic Kimberly Williams-Paisley?

You can go to NPT’s Web site to find out more about the documentaries.

Hank Williams Jr. is going back on the road with his “Rowdy Friends” tour.

Last time, he toured with Lynyrd Skynyrd, so they actually called it the Rowdy Frynds” tour.

Good stuff, huh?

This time, Bocephus is bringing along Jamey Johnson (In Color) and bluegrass band The Grascals.

Tix range from $25 to $59.50. They go on sale Feb. 13.

Carrie Underwood tells People Country that she got a 5-carat yellow diamond from her fiance, hockey player Mike Fisher, a couple of months ago.

“I would never have guessed yellow, but now that I have it, I absolutely would not want it any other way,” Carrie tells the mag.

Carrie says she’s considering an outdoor wedding for later this year.

“I’m Southern,” she says, “and I want my wedding day to be me – so I’ll probably be rocking some big hair and some eyeliner.”

The honeymoon? “We don’t care where, as long as we’re together.”

Ya know, I’m starting to wonder if I don’t have a shot of dating Carrie anymore. I mean, the more I read about this alleged engagement, the more I think this could be serious….

I’ve always contended that Vince Gill plays 50 charity gigs for every one paid gig in Nashville.

Here comes another.

Vince Gill & Friends — and he always books from pretty incredible friends — are playing the annual Jammin’ to Beat the Blues show, to benefit the Mental Health Association of Middle Tennessee.

The show is April 19 at the Ryman.

Tix are $39.50 & $29.50, and they go on sale at 10 a.m. Fri., Feb. 12.

OK, so let’s make that two country superstars who are pulling for the Saints over the Colts in the Super Bowl. (Check out the Carrie Underwood piece below.)

Kenny Chesney tells the New Orleans newspaper that — despite his longtime close friendship with Colts QB Peyton Manning – he’s going for the Saints.

Kenny also has a longtime close friendship with Saints Head Coach Sean Payton.

“I would love to see the Saints win the Super Bowl, because they’ve never won it, and what it would mean to the city of New Orleans,” Kenny told The Times-Picayune.

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It’s the Saints versus the Colts Sunday in the big game — but Carrie Underwood may among the more nervous on the field.

She’s singing the national anthem, ya know.

“For me, my biggest fear is words. Of course you sing these songs a million times, and everybody knows the words,” she told ABC News.

“But if you’re gonna mess up, that would be the one time to do it.”

Carrie says she’s supporting the New Orleans Saints “51%.”

“I love (Saints Coach) Sean Payton. He came to a concert, so that’s where that extra one percent (comes from),” she said.

So there.

I’ve been used — and I loved it!

Carrie Underwood and the CMA came up with a sweet way to announce that Carrie would be playing the CMA Music Fest this summer.

Turns out a Carrie super fan — 15-year-old Riley Ahlstrand of Brentwood — had e-mailed the CMA to ask if Carrie would be playing the CMA Music Fest. So Carrie called the teenager today and told her herself.

I was the go-between. I went down to Riley’s house to interview her about her love of country music and suddenly and mysteriously, my cell phone rang, and it was Carrie!

Young Riley got teary and a bit speechless, and it was all fantastic. Click here to check out the video.

This all was made cooler by the fact that Carrie is in Miami doing tons of press and preps for her Super Bowl national anthem performance this weekend.

FYI, this year’s CMA festival will be June 10-13. To purchase tickets, call 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378); visit www.CMAfest.com; or www.ticketmaster.com to buy online or charge-by-phone at (800) 745-3000.