There s nothing small about Carrie Underwood these days. No longer a newcomer, the 24-year-old Oklahoman staked her claim with the big girls Wednesday at the 41st Annual Country Music Association Awards, beating out veterans Reba McEntire, Alison Krauss and Martina McBride in notching her second straight win for Female Vocalist of the Year.

If anyone had informed Underwood a few years ago that she d be beating out her idols for CMA honors, I would have called you absolutely insane, the American Idol winner turned full-fledged country star said. And although she performed So Small from her sophomore album Carnival Ride , it was the feisty Before He Cheats from her multiplatinum-selling debut Some Hearts that continued to intimidate the competition, snagging Single of the Year honors.

Then it was d j vu all over again when Underwood, last year s Horizon Award winner, got to pass the title along to fellow bright-eyed blonde Taylor Swift. This is definitely the highlight of my senior year, the teary-eyed 17-year-old said. And perhaps 2008 will be the year for top female vocalist nominee and Nashville Star finalist Miranda Lambert, who turns 24 on Saturday.

Same goes for Horizon Award nominee and avowed foie gras hater Kellie Pickler, whose emotions were on full display during her performance of I Wonder, which is about the Idol finalist s estranged mother. George Strait also continued to make it look easy, collecting two more CMA Awards, including his sixth for Album of the Year for the fittingly titled It Just Comes Natural , to bring his grand total to bagillion. When we made this album it was incredible, Strait said backstage.