Carrie Underwood

The fourth American idol-born Carrie Marie Underwood - born on March 10, 1983, is an American pop country music singer. Since then she has earned a multi-platinum status. Her debut album, Some Hearts, was certified quintuple platinum and turned out to be the fastest selling debut country album in Nielsen SoundScan history. Also adding to that, is has been the top selling debut album of any Idol winner or contestant. Underwood is the first American Idol winner to take away awards at the three major music awards in the same awards show season (06-07), including one American Music Award, five Billboard Music Awards, and two Grammy Awards which also Best New Artist.

Underwood was born at Muskogee Regional Medical Center, and grew up in Checotah, Oklahoma. Daughter of Stephan and Carole Underwood, she is the third and the youngest among her siblings; she has two older sisters, Shanna Underwood Means and Stephanie Underwood Shelton. Her present residence is in Franklin - a suburb of Nashville, Tennessee.

She had first performed at Robbins Memorial Talent Show in her childhood. A true catholic, she's also a member of Free Will Baptist Church. As a child, she sang in church, and also at Old Settler's Day and Lion's Club, and other local events in Checotah. At 13, her manager at the time tried to get her a recording contract at Capitol Records. But, due to management changes at Capitol, it never occurred.

Underwood graduated from Checotah High School in 2001. She then moved to Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, where she graduated magna cum laude in 2006, getting a bachelor's degree in mass communication. Also a member of the Alpha Iota chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority and a tribal member of Muscogee Creek Nation of Oklahoma, for two years, she performed in Northeastern's Downtown Country show in Tahlequah. Interestingly, she also participated in various beauty pageants at the university and was selected as Miss NSU runner-up in 2004.

In the summer of 2004, Underwood auditioned for American Idol in St. Louis. When her initial audition aired in January 2005, many people predicted she would win the competition. On March 22, 2005, Underwood sang a powerful rendition of the number one 80's rock hit Alone by Heart and the notoriously hard-to-please judge Simon Cowell predicted that Underwood would win the competition and outsell all previous Idol winners. Underwood was the second winner never to have been voted in the bottom three. While on the show, Underwood gained a loyal fan base known as "Carrie's Care Bears".

Underwood won the American Idol (Season 4), on may 25 2005, beating out Bo Bice. And also appeared on American Idol (season 6) and sang her current hit, "Wasted" on March 8th. She also Carrie performed at the Idol Gives Back Concert along with Kelly Clarkson, Rascal Flatts, and others.

Underwood's debut album - Some Hearts became a super-duper hit, making its way in Billboard 200 chart with 315,000 copies sold. In the very first week, Some Hearts made it #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and the biggest debut of any country artist since the advent of the SoundScan system (1991). Some Hearts has since been certified Quintuple (five times) Platinum by the RIAA, and is the fastest-selling debut country album in the history of the SoundScan era. The album's second single, "Jesus, Take The Wheel" reached at #39 on the Billboard Country Chart in its first week, setting a record, but ultimately reached #1 for 6 consecutive weeks.

"Some Hearts" was also released to Pop, Adult Contemporary and Hot Adult Contemporary stations in October 2005 and stayed in the top 30 on the Pop and Hot AC formats, while it made the top 15 on the AC Charts.

"Don't Forget To Remember Me," peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Chart, as well as #49 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, it did reach #1 for a week on the Radio & Records Country Singles Chart.Both "Jesus, Take The Wheel" and "Don't Forget To Remember Me" have earned number one spots in Christian radio countdowns. "Jesus, Take the Wheel" also won the Gospel Music Association's award for best country single of the year.

Underwood received a standing ovation at the ACM Awards for her song "Jesus, Take the Wheel" (march 23 2006) and ended up winning Best New Female Vocalist and Single of the year for the song. Also she was nominated for Song of the Year and Female Vocalist of the year.

Underwood performed her #1 hit, "Before He Cheats", at the 40th Annual Country Music Association Awards on November 6, 2006, and later won both the Horizon Award for new country artists and Female Vocalist. Underwood's double win is the first time since 1995 that an artist won both the female vocalist and Horizon award.

The album "Some Hearts" received 4 Grammy nominations (2006), alongwith that she received two Grammy awards for "Best New Artist", "Best Female Country Vocal Performance" for "Jesus, Take the Wheel," while "Jesus, Take the Wheel" received nominations for "Best Country Song" and "Song of the Year".

On March 24, 2007, Underwood was featured as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live with host Peyton Manning. Underwood performed her hit singles "Before He Cheats" and "Wasted".

Underwood is also a skilled guitar player, and has accompanied herself on guitar during performing at some of her live concerts.Underwood is a big animal-lover. Being a real vegetarian since 13, she was voted "World's Sexiest Vegetarian" alongside Coldplay's Chris Martin in 2005 by animal-rights organization PETA.

Underwood is a devotee of the Humane Society and has done several public service announcements for the organization