Since her debut album, Carrie says she's taken a bigger role in writing the hits on her records. "If I'm singing something, I can mean every single word I'm saying," she says.

Carrie says she loves the challenge of crafting a song. "How do you talk about love in a new way? How many different ways can you explain this emotion?" she asks during a recent songwriting session. "We're going to write a number one smash today—no pressure."