Carrie Underwood to lend voice to tornado relief on CMTs

Carrie Underwood will pay tribute to the victims of the recent deadly tornadoes in Oklahoma when she appears at the CMT Music Awards.

Underwood will perform her new single "See You Again," recasting it as a somber memorial with the aid of two dozen choir members from Nashville's Christ Church.

"The choir, I've never done that before and they just kind of take it to a whole ethereal place," Underwood said Monday night following rehearsal.

Tornadoes have killed dozens in Oklahoma in the last two weeks, leading to an outpouring of support from country music stars. Blake Shelton hosted a televised telethon and Toby Keith, Ronnie Dunn and others are planning a benefit concert for later this summer. Underwood recently gave a $1 million check to the Red Cross from concert proceeds as well.

Underwood grew up in tiny Checotah, about 115 miles east of Oklahoma City, and is familiar with the terror of tornado season.

"The people in Oklahoma are really great," the former "American Idol" winner said. "Tornado season is something that we're all used to but you can never fully prepare for it. It takes what it wants and it knocks down what it wants and there's nothing you can do about it except just try to be prepared. They're just wonderful people and they're going to rebuild and they're going to bounce back stronger than ever."

Viewers will be directed how to donate to the Red Cross during Underwood's performance at Wednesday's awards show, airing live on CTM at 8 p.m. ET from Nashville.