Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher had to race to phone friends and family with the news of their engagement before it leaked out to the general public, Underwood said Saturday. Ottawa Sun file photo

Once Mike Fisher placed the ring on her finger, the race began to tell family and friends themselves before they read about it on the Internet, said Carrie Underwood on the weekly fitness radio show Grecosize with Steve Warne broadcast Saturday morning on Team 1200.

“The night it happened we had to call everybody quickly because we knew the news would get out pretty quick and within two hours someone had texted Mike and it was like, ‘Yeah, your little secret is out’ so it was like ‘Keep calling, baby, keep calling!’”

With Underwood about to begin a tour and the second half of the NHL season beginning for Fisher, the country star was asked if seeing each other, much less being a married couple, would be a challenge.

“The first few years are going to be difficult with his job,” she said. “You know, he’s stationed here and it seems that this past year when I’ve had time off they’ve had away games, so I’ve been really lucky over the holidays that they’ve been at home.”

Interview co-host Tony Greco remarked that Underwood is a devoted pupil in the gym, who watches what she eats (she’s a vegetarian) and works out as hard as she’s pushed. Underwood said she and Fisher will pass good health on to their kids.

“Mike and I will work out together. It’s just kind of fun and I just know that no matter what we’ll both be around for a long time and we’ll teach our kids good, healthy habits.”

She laughed at reports stating she wants five children.

“Kids are great. I don’t want them now. I couldn’t imagine. We have friends with four kids and I think ‘I admire you, but I don’t think so.’”

However, she didn’t rule out the possibility of adopting or fostering once their kids have grown up a bit and are able to help.

As for the wedding proposal itself, Underwood said it was romantic and special, but private.

“He went to a lot of effort and just made me feel like the most special person in the whole world and that’s what it’s all about.

“There’s little things about our relationship that don’t belong to anybody else. They belong to us.”

Asked about Ottawa’s winter weather, she was direct.

“Oh, my gosh! Today was cold. The car was cold and it was trash day so we had to take the trash out down a long driveway. It just wasn’t fun.”

scott.taylor@sunmedia.ca