Carrie Underwood bats for country music

London: Former `American Idol` winner Carrie Underwood says she wants to make country music more appealing to audiences outside the US.

The 29-year-old singer, who has sold over 14 million copies of her albums since winning the singing reality show in 2005, said she thinks it is sad the genre is not popular in other countries, reported Comtactmusic. "It`s always fun to expand your resume. Country music isn`t too popular outside the US and that`s something I`d like to change. It`s a shame other people aren`t exposed on a daily basis to such a wonderful form of music," she said. Underwood said she was told she would find appearing on `American Idol` difficult because of her country roots. "From the beginning I was told, `It`s going to be rough for you, it`s a pop TV show`. But everything I did just came out country. And Simon Cowell (former judge) encouraged me to stick at what I do well." PTI