In her first headlining Pittsburgh concert, Carrie Underwood wasn't "pitchy," she was "just awwiight" or any of those other euphemisms for mediocrity you hear on "American Idol."

Underwood brought pure star power and those golden pipes to the Petersen Events Center in Oakland last night before a packed house of adoring fans. She had some rock-star trappings working for her, like a digital countdown on the giant screen to pump up the crowd and a trap door that allowed her to rise from beneath the stage for the opener, "Flat on the Floor."

At first, it seemed like the eight-piece band might overwhelm the young singer. It certainly wasn't assembled with the Grand Ole Opry in mind. They looked and sounded like a rock band, equipped with pedal steel, fiddle and electric banjo when needed on songs like "Get Out of this Town" or "Last Name," the pop-metal-country tune that's more like a night out with Britney than Carrie.

It wasn't a down-home sound and, in fact, during one of Underwood's wardrobe changes, they toyed with "Foreplay" from the first Boston album.

Underwood's costumes went from a jet-black Benatar look to blue ruffled bridesmaid dress to pink tank and jeans. She was like a Barbie for all occasions.

The voice, it didn't disappoint. It shone through brightest in a trilogy of power ballads in the middle of the show -- "Just a Dream," a tragedy of a widowed bride; "Jesus, Take the Wheel," a near-tragedy and religious epiphany; and "I Know You Won't," a little slice of heartache. As Randy J. would say, she killed it on all of them, belting out the low ones and soaring with the high notes.

She sounded as good or better than the record and her voice only came through when she was actually singing into the mike, so no faking here. She capped the show by donning a glittery silver jacket for a double-shot of Guns 'N Roses and a finale of the Grammy-winning "Before He Cheats."

Simon Cowell was right all along that Underwood has it, and now that she has the stardom, Nashville is going to keep on supplying the songs.

Whether you love her or think she's a manufactured star, prepare to see a lot of Carrie Underwood in the future.

Country stud Josh Turner, who probably would have won "Idol" too, made it look easy and natural as the opener -- an easy thing to do when you have a voice as deep as a cavern and as soft as butter.