Carrie Marie Underwood (born March 10, 1983 in Muskogee, Oklahoma) is an American country singer-songwriter. She rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, and has become a multi-platinum selling recording artist and a multiple Grammy Award winner. Her debut album, Some Hearts, was certified seven times platinum and is the fastest selling debut country album in Nielsen SoundScan history.[1] Some Hearts yielded three number one hits on the Billboard Country charts in the United States and Canada: "Jesus, Take the Wheel","Wasted," and her biggest hit to date, "Before He Cheats". Additionally "Don't Forget to Remember Me" topped the charts in Canada. Underwood scored another Top 10 Billboard hit with her charity single, "I'll Stand by You". Some Hearts sold a total of 7 million RIAA-certified copies as of February 2008. In addition to being the best selling album by an American Idol contestant in the United States to date, it is also the best-selling solo female debut album in country music history.[2]
Her second album, Carnival Ride, was released on October 23, 2007. It has so far sold about 3 million copies[3] and has produced three number one country hits, "So Small", "All-American Girl", and "Last Name". Underwood's Christmas single, "Do You Hear What I Hear?" peaked at #2 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts. Aside from her vocals, Underwood's success is attributed to what many fans recognize as her wholesome image.[4] To date, Underwood has sold over 11 million records in the Usa. She is the first country artist in music history to have her first 7 singles top the Mediabase Country Airplay chart.[citation needed] Underwood was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry on May 10, 2008.
Her second album, Carnival Ride, was released on October 23, 2007. It has so far sold about 3 million copies[3] and has produced three number one country hits, "So Small", "All-American Girl", and "Last Name". Underwood's Christmas single, "Do You Hear What I Hear?" peaked at #2 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts. Aside from her vocals, Underwood's success is attributed to what many fans recognize as her wholesome image.[4] To date, Underwood has sold over 11 million records in the Usa. She is the first country artist in music history to have her first 7 singles top the Mediabase Country Airplay chart.[citation needed] Underwood was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry on May 10, 2008.
Biography
Early life
Carrie Marie Underwood was born to Stephen and Carolyn Underwood in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and was raised on her parents' farm in rural town of Checotah, Oklahoma.[5] She has two older sisters, Shanna Underwood Means and Stephanie Underwood Shelton. Her father, Stephen, worked in a paper mill worker and her mother was an elementary school teacher.[6] During her childhood, Underwood had performed at Robbins Memorial Talent Show while also singing at the Free Will Baptist Church and later on for local events in Checotah, including Old Settler's Day and Lion's Club.[7] In 1996, she was in the process of getting a contract with Capitol Records, but the deal was canceled when the recording company's management changed.[8]
Underwood graduated from Checotah High School in 2001 as salutatorian.[7] After high school, she attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, graduating magna cum laude in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in mass communication and an emphasis in journalism.[9] Underwood is a member of the Alpha Iota chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority.[10] For two years during the summer, she performed in Northeastern's Downtown Country show in Tahlequah. She also competed in numerous beauty pageants at the university and was selected as Miss NSU runner-up in 2004.[11]
American Idol
Main article: American Idol (season 4)
In the summer of 2004, Underwood auditioned for American Idol in St. Louis. During the top eleven finalists' performance on the March 22, 2005 Idol episode, Underwood sang a rendition of the number one 80's rock hit "Alone" by Heart and judge Simon Cowell predicted that Underwood would not only win the competition, but would outsell all previous Idol winners.[12] Underwood was the second winner never to have been voted in the bottom three (the first being Kelly Clarkson); one of the show's producers later said that Underwood dominated the voting, winning each week handily.[13] While on the show, Underwood gained a loyal fan base known as "Carrie's Care Bears". Coincidentally, she was in the same sorority (Sigma Sigma Sigma) as Linda Denham, the creator of the original Care Bears franchise. On May 25, 2005, Underwood was crowned the winner of the fourth season of American Idol having never been in the bottom three.
Underwood appeared on the sixth season of American Idol. She sang her single "Wasted" on March 8, marking her fourth time performing on the show since winning the competition in 2005.[14] Underwood also performed at the Idol Gives Back concert singing her new song, "I'll Stand By You", (a cover of the Pretenders hit) along with Kelly Clarkson, Rascal Flatts, and others. Underwood sang the same song at American Idol's season finale on May 23, 2007. Underwood sang "Praying For Time", a former number one for George Michael, during the seventh season American Idol Gives Back mini-marathon. She also came back to perform "Last Name" on May 21, 2008 for the American Idol (season 7) Finale.
Early lifeCarrie Marie Underwood was born to Stephen and Carolyn Underwood in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and was raised on her parents' farm in rural town of Checotah, Oklahoma.[5] She has two older sisters, Shanna Underwood Means and Stephanie Underwood Shelton. Her father, Stephen, worked in a paper mill worker and her mother was an elementary school teacher.[6] During her childhood, Underwood had performed at Robbins Memorial Talent Show while also singing at the Free Will Baptist Church and later on for local events in Checotah, including Old Settler's Day and Lion's Club.[7] In 1996, she was in the process of getting a contract with Capitol Records, but the deal was canceled when the recording company's management changed.[8]
Underwood graduated from Checotah High School in 2001 as salutatorian.[7] After high school, she attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, graduating magna cum laude in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in mass communication and an emphasis in journalism.[9] Underwood is a member of the Alpha Iota chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority.[10] For two years during the summer, she performed in Northeastern's Downtown Country show in Tahlequah. She also competed in numerous beauty pageants at the university and was selected as Miss NSU runner-up in 2004.[11]
American Idol
Main article: American Idol (season 4)
In the summer of 2004, Underwood auditioned for American Idol in St. Louis. During the top eleven finalists' performance on the March 22, 2005 Idol episode, Underwood sang a rendition of the number one 80's rock hit "Alone" by Heart and judge Simon Cowell predicted that Underwood would not only win the competition, but would outsell all previous Idol winners.[12] Underwood was the second winner never to have been voted in the bottom three (the first being Kelly Clarkson); one of the show's producers later said that Underwood dominated the voting, winning each week handily.[13] While on the show, Underwood gained a loyal fan base known as "Carrie's Care Bears". Coincidentally, she was in the same sorority (Sigma Sigma Sigma) as Linda Denham, the creator of the original Care Bears franchise. On May 25, 2005, Underwood was crowned the winner of the fourth season of American Idol having never been in the bottom three.
Underwood appeared on the sixth season of American Idol. She sang her single "Wasted" on March 8, marking her fourth time performing on the show since winning the competition in 2005.[14] Underwood also performed at the Idol Gives Back concert singing her new song, "I'll Stand By You", (a cover of the Pretenders hit) along with Kelly Clarkson, Rascal Flatts, and others. Underwood sang the same song at American Idol's season finale on May 23, 2007. Underwood sang "Praying For Time", a former number one for George Michael, during the seventh season American Idol Gives Back mini-marathon. She also came back to perform "Last Name" on May 21, 2008 for the American Idol (season 7) Finale.
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