Carrie Underwood will use CMT Music Awards to pay tribute to Oklahomans

Carrie Underwood is dedicating her performance at the CMT Music Awards on Wednesday (05Jun13) to the victims of the tornadoes which ripped through her native Oklahoma last month (May13).

The singer, who was raised in Checotah, Oklahoma, will be joined by a 24-member church choir as she performs See You Again in memory of those affected by the twisters that devastated large parts of the state and killed dozens of locals.

A giant screen onstage behind Carrie Underwood will show viewers how they can make donations to the Red Cross' relief efforts.

After a rehearsal on Monday (03Jun13), Carrie Underwood told the Associated Press, "The choir, I've never done that before, and they just kind of take it to a whole ethereal place."

The former American Idol winner, who recently donated $1 million to the Red Cross, also praised residents for their strength and determination, adding, "The people in Oklahoma are really great. 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."

The CMT Music Awards will air live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.