Carrie Underwood was in Singapore last week visiting with Asian media, performing and promoting her upcoming album release, PLAY ON . Photo Credit: ION, Richard Kang, October 16, 2009

Country music has expanded its mission in recent years to include conquering international fans. Usually, that means potential music buyers in the United Kingdom, continental Europe and Australia. But several country acts — Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood and Carrie Underwood — have put Asia on their personal calendars of late.

Last week, Carrie visited Singapore to spend time with Asian media in advance of her forthcoming album, Play On. While there, she played at the opening of the ION Orchard shopping mall, a sheltered, open-air venue.

Garth and Trisha, meanwhile, plan to join former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, in a six-day trip to Asia on behalf of Habitat For Humanity. The Carters will visit five nations — Thailand, Vietnam, China, Cambodia and Laos — while leading a team of some 3,000 volunteers who will build and/or repair 166 homes. It was unclear whether Garth and Trisha will visit all five nations during the trip, Nov. 15-20.

While country artists don’t hit Asia often, a few have certainly visited before. Neal McCoy once attended the inauguration of the president in the Philippines; the Dixie Chicks have played Japan; Roy Acuff, Diamond Rio and Chely Wright are among the acts who’ve performed in Korea; and Sawyer Brown, Ricochet and Crystal Gayle have all given shows in China.

ShareThis