2 country queens. 1 explosive duet. And it all started with a single performance that left Miranda Lambert stunned. After hearing Carrie Underwood sing “How Great Thou Art,” Miranda knew she wanted to collaborate with her. Years later, “Somethin’ Bad” finally brought two of country music’s biggest voices together—and Carrie’s answer to the invitation was simply yes. But behind their powerhouse chemistry was an even better message: no rivalry, no competition. As Miranda put it, “There’s not that many of us, so I feel like we have to stick together.”

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Miranda Lambert Reveals Inspiration for Carrie Underwood Duet

“Somethin’ Bad” collaboration was a bit of divine intervention
Miranda Lambert Carrie Underwood perform
Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood perform in Las Vegas.Kevin Winter/Billboard Awards 2014/Getty Images for DCP

Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood‘s show-closing duet of new single “Somethin’ Bad” elevated an otherwise lackluster CMT Music Awards earlier this week. To hear Lambert recall how she came to the idea of singing with Underwood hints at some divine intervention.

“It was at the Girls’ Night Out performance in Vegas after the ACMs a couple years ago, when I heard her sing ‘How Great Thou Art’ and I was yet again blown away on another level by her vocal abilities,” Lambert tells Rolling Stone Country. “I thought, ‘It’d be great if her and I can ever collaborate.’”

Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert Duet on 'Before He Cheats' and 'Gunpowder and Lead'

When the sultry “Somethin’ Bad” came to Lambert’s attention while putting together her latest album, Platinum, she knew she had found the perfect song to pitch to Underwood.

“‘Somethin’ Bad’ came across and it just felt like the rock and roll edge that she and I have in some of our songs put it all into perspective. Our styles could maybe mesh together,” she says. “I sent it to her and she said yes. It was that easy. The fun parts are now beginning because we’re getting to do it live together.”

Despite what Vince Gill recently called the “unfair” role of women in country music, Lambert and Underwood don’t view themselves as rivals, competing for scarce space on country radio.

Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert Don't Hold Back Singing 'Something Bad' at 2014 Billboard Music

“I’ve always respected Carrie so much as an artist and a female country artist,” Lambert says. “There’s not that many of us, so I feel like we have to stick together.”

Lambert will perform Friday night in Nashville, as part of CMA Music Festival. No word yet if Underwood will make a return to LP Field to join her.