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Carrie Underwood released her fifth album, “Storyteller,” on Friday. (AP Photo)

But when it comes to country music and females, there are two sure-fire hit-makers: Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood.

Carrie’s fifth album, “Storyteller,” became available at midnight.

Is anyone surprised by this news?

As of 1 a.m. EST, it was already number one on the iTunes’ country albums chart. It was number four on the overall albums chart.

By 9 a.m., it had moved up to number three on the albums chart. And the only albums ahead of it were pre-orders for the new albums from Adele and Justin Bieber.

Fans would buy the album regardless of what critics say, but “Storyteller” is also wracking up some pretty impressive reviews to go along with what are likely to be very impressive sales figures.

Here’s a sampling:

Entertainment Weekly: Gives the album an A-, saying “Story(teller) may not tell listeners much about Underwood’s inner life, but she’s never owed or offered that. She makes good songs sound great, and that’s enough.”

Newsday: Gives the album a B+, writing “The top-selling ‘American Idol'” winner has always had a great voice, certainly one of the most potent in country music so far this century. And when she wraps that voice around a great song, as she often does on her fifth studio album “Storyteller,” she is basically unstoppable.

AllMusic.com: Gives the album 4 stars out of 5, writing “there are no greys in Carrie’s music, only blazing primary colors. Appropriately enough, Storyteller gleams with steely assurance, perhaps the toughest and boldest record yet but one that hardly soft-pedals her softer side.”

The New York Times: Gives the album a mixed review, writing ““even though a decade has passed since her debut, Ms. Underwood is still preoccupied with power, not texture or finesse. She largely picks songs that serve as launch platforms for her ballistic-missile voice, but they don’t cohere into a whole identity.”

The Boston Globe: Calls “Storyteller” Carrie’s strongest album yet, writing “there’s plenty on “Storyteller” that will sound familiar to Underwood fans, and a few filler tracks. But a little stretching goes a long way, and this might be her most interesting album yet.”

Obviously, you’ll find the full review it you follow the links.

Meanwhile, don’t forget, Carrie will be performing live on “Today” later this morning.