On the October 24th cover of Billboard magazine you'll notice a familiar face – Season 4 Idol Carrie Underwood. In her interview with Billboard, Carrie opened up about her new album, Play On.

After the success of Carrie's first two albums, Some Hearts and Carnival Ride, Carrie is feeling confident about Play On. She said that her second album was the most stressful because she had the pressure of proving that she has staying power in the industry. But after amazing sales on her first two albums, she said she feels like she's home on Play On. If the first single off the album is any indication, Carrie has nothing to worry about. Read more about the massive first week sales of "Cowboy Casanova," here.

Joe Galante, Sony Music Nashville chairman, told Billboard that Play On "already has scored a victory because it represents growth for her sonically, vocally and from a lyrical standpoint. We had more fun on the last album with some of the things that she was writing. With this, there is a balance between the fun Carrie and also one that is revealing more about herself, her views about life."

Of the 13 Play On tracks, seven were co-written by Carrie who admits "I'm not an easy person to get to know, and I feel like I keep a lot of myself closed off to the world. It's really nice to be able to scratch the surface and to be able to open myself up a little more." Fans can get an early listen of the tracks at iTunes and Billboard.com.

To record Play On, Carrie teamed up with Mark Bright, who produced Carnival Ride and seven tracks on Some Hearts. Mark told Billboard, "Over the summer, we spent more time with arrangements, and Carrie experimented more than ever with vocal textures," Bright says. "What came out on the other side is extraordinary. I think we got it right."

American Idol creator Simon Fuller is just as confident.  "I think we'll exceed the success of the last album with this album," he stated. "It's stronger in depth and there's more variety. The first single is just a complete smash."

In addition to Play On, Carrie gets to look forward to co-hosting the CMA Awards, her All-Star Holiday Special, and planning her Play On tour for 2010. Returning to American Idol for guest performances isn't out of the question. In regards to American Idol, Carrie said, "I do credit the show for every single thing that I have, and as long as they want me to come back year to year and perform, I am so there."