Christmas with Carrie Underwood

�Idol� star Underwood hosts �All-Star� lineup for holiday special

Christmas variety shows never played much of a role in Carrie Underwood�s Oklahoma home as she was growing up.

Yet the fourth-season �American Idol� winner embraces them whole-heartedly in �Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special� (tonight at 8 on WFXT, Ch. 25).

The multiplatinum-selling artist will be joined by such guests as Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, Kristin Chenoweth, Christina Applegate and fellow �Idol� winner David Cook for two hours of songs and skits.

But don�t expect the young country superstar to tip her hat to the likes of format forerunners Andy Williams, Bing Crosby or even the Rockettes.

�I think I kind of just missed some of the variety stuff,� she said during a recent conference call with reporters. �I�ve seen the Mandrell Sisters before, but it wasn�t something we all gathered around to watch. I missed that era, and I�m glad to see that there�s other people doing their stuff, too, and I think it�s really great family programming.�

Meanwhile, the 26-year-old said she does have a few Christmas traditionsshe likes to keep alive.

�Of course, Santa would come on Christmas morning,� she said. �But we had records. It was just like a choir or something. We had these old records that I would always play for Christmas. I have them now - thank God my mom didn�t throw them away. I have them now and I still like to play them.�

Underwood said spending time with country legend Dolly Parton was a �dream come true.� The two perform a duet on the show - she�d go no further than to say it�s a Parton classic - and interact in a few funny moments.

�I�d never met her before this,� she said. �So I was excited to be able to get to talk to her and obviously get to sing with her. It felt like such a special moment for me in the show to be able to perform with her.�

When Parton arrived on the set, Underwood realized it was time to take a back seat.

�When Dolly�s there, you just step out of the spotlight and let her do her thing, because no matter how hard you try, she�s going to steal the spotlight,� Underwood said. �It�s great. It�s the way it should be.�

The special marks the second time Underwood has worked with Paisley in recent weeks. The two co-hosted the Country Music Awards last month.

�Brad and I have a bit of a history together,� she said. �I got to co-headline a tour with him not too long ago. I feel like the more we�re around each other, the more we get comfortable with each other and things just get better and better.�

The two do perform together on the show, but not in the traditional sense. Paisley could not be in Los Angeles for the taping, so Underwood said the producers �did something kind of cool to bring two locations together.�

Viewers can expect to hear Underwood�s latest chart-topper, �Cowboy Casanova,� as well as a collection of more traditional holiday standards.

�It�s a big mish-mash of awesome music,� she said.