@carrieunderwood performing “Just a Dream” during the 42 Annual CMA Awards At the 2008 CMA Awards, Carrie Underwood’s performance of “Just a Dream” was preceded by an especially moving introduction from Leslie Ponder, the wife of a U.S. veteran who gave his life for our country in Afghanistan in 2005. Her brief but powerful words shared her personal loss and helped frame the song’s emotional narrative about a young widow confronting the death of her husband in military service. Ponder’s introduc