Carrie Underwood is nearing completion of her new, yet-to-be-titled fourth album (due out in 2012), and she says the songs she's chosen were influenced by time spent in studio with Tony Bennett, Steven Tyler and Brad Paisley. The 28-year-old also tells Entertainment Weekly that the album's songs will include darker storylines.

MJsBigBlog reports that the Underwood is the lead story in this week's 2012 album preview inside Entertainment Weekly. In the article, she talks about how Bennett's method of recording his vocals in an open room with the musicians was a new experience for her. Working with Tyler and Paisley also helped shape how she approached the new project.

Additionally, she teases that the music still carries the playful attitude found on 'Play On' and 'Carnival Ride,' but she'll tackle darker themes as well. To date, 'Just a Dream' is probably the one time 'American Idol' winner's most haunting storyline.

Underwood worked with Paisley on their chart-topping duet 'Remind Me,' and Bennett on his recently released 'Duets II' album.