Fast-rising country star Lauren Alaina returned to the stage of 'American Idol' on Thursday (May 9), performing her new single 'Barefoot and Buck Wild' from her forthcoming second album.

The song is a fun, up-tempo track perfect for a summer release, and she performed it with a rockin', aggressive edge to her voice. The track features a little more edge than previous efforts, moving her a step away from younger themes and a step toward more mature fare, but with a sassy attitude that ought to really connect with her fans.

From a commercial perspective it's a great fit for the same demographic that Carrie Underwood has mined so successfully over the years, with a guitar-driven rock-meets-pop-country vibe that should work well at contemporary country radio.

Host Ryan Seacrest joked with the singer afterward, mentioning that she is just shy of graduating high school. "Are you old enough to get buckwild?" he asked.

"You should ask my dad!" she quipped.

The newly-released single is the first taste of Alaina's forthcoming sophomore album, which she is rumored to release later this year.

Watch Lauren Alaina Perform 'Barefoot and Buckwild' on 'American Idol'

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