WINNIPEG - Even if you're not a new-country fan -- or worse, an American Idol addict -- we can probably all still agree Carrie Underwood deserves points just for being here.

Because let's face it: The years have not been kind to her fellow Idol contenders.

Sure, Kelly Clarkson had one of the biggest pop songs of this century, but she's since had to trade in her rock mama aspirations for playing second fiddle to Reba McIntire. And let's face it: Clay Aiken, Jordin Sparks and Chris Daughtry haven't exactly been burning up the charts recently, either.

But not only has Underwood -- the fresh-faced Oklahoma native with the platinum tresses and perky smile -- managed to transition smoothly from the Idol stage to the Nashville scene, she's also become a bona fide star in the process.

She's got two multi-platinum albums under her belt, a handful of Grammys to her name, and she recently became the youngest performer ever to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.

So of course we had high hopes for her much-anticipated local show last night, which drew some 10,500 fans to the MTS Centre. And seasoned overachiever that she is, Underwood did not disappoint -- even if she could still stand to shake loose a few more of those too-polished pop mannerisms.

Kicking off with the feisty barn-burner Flat on the Floor (from her sophomore disc Carnival Ride), Underwood, 25, quickly proved her Idol win was no fluke.

The young lady is in possession of some serious pipes, and she put them to good use hitting the high notes on that tune, follow-up Some Hearts, and especially the rousing empowerment anthem Wasted.

But while Underwood's performance left little to complain about, the show itself was not without its ups and downs.

Hauling a seven-year-old local kid onstage to sing All-American Girl with her? Priceless.

The self-serving video reel of Underwood's career highlights and award show wins? Not so much.

The one-two punch of the devastating torch song I Know You Won't, followed by Underwood's breakout hit Jesus Take the Wheel?

Spine-tingling.

Underwood complaining about her unlucky in love status? Oh. Come. On.

But of course these are minor details, and of course they pale in comparison to Underwood's prodigious vocal talents. And by the time she comes back to town -- a few more Grammy wins, a few more platinum albums to her name -- we're confident she'll have worked out all the kinks.

Nashville quartet Little Big Town -- last here to open for belter Martina McBride in March -- opened the show with an hour's worth of foot-stompers and four-part guys-and-girls harmonies.

As with last time, the highlights of their set were the road anthem I'm With the Band and the winsome ballad Stay, though this time out, the foursome swapped their Fleetwood Mac cover (which they instead sang as part of Underwood's set) for a countrified take on Dream Academy's Life in a Northern Town.