Carrie Underwood

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Carrie Underwood
Image:CroppedCarrieUnderwoodAtTheWorldArena.jpg
Carrie Underwood performing at the World Arena (2006)
Background information
Birth name Carrie Marie Underwood
Born March 10 1983 (1983-03-10) (age 26)
Origin Checotah, Oklahoma, United States
Genre(s) Country pop
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s) vocals, guitar, piano
Years active 2005-present
Label(s) Arista Nashville

Carrie Marie Underwood (born March 10, 1983) is an American pop country music singer who won the fourth season of American Idol. She has since become a multi-platinum selling recording artist. Her debut album, Some Hearts, was certified 6x platinum and is the fastest selling debut country album in Nielsen SoundScan history [1]. Underwood is the first American Idol winner to sweep up honors at all three major music awards in the same awards show season (06-07), including a grand total of four American Music Awards, thirteen Billboard Music Awards, and two Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist.

Her debut album, Some Hearts, has yielded five #1 hits to date on various charts in the United States and Canada: "Inside Your Heaven," "Jesus, Take the Wheel", "Don't Forget to Remember Me", "Wasted," and her biggest hit to date, "Before He Cheats." In addition, Underwood scored another Top 10 Billboard hit with her charity single, "I'll Stand by You."

Her second album, Carnival Ride (which is certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA) was released on October 23, 2007. It became Underwood's first #1 album and has so far sold over 2 million copies in the US alone[2] and has already produced a #1 country hit, "So Small." The second single from the album, "All-American Girl", is already steadily climbing the charts, and actually charted even before its official release due to its popularity.[3] The single is currently sitting at #17 on the Billboard Country chart. Carrie'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] In general, many of her songs also present inspirational and uplifting themes and messages.[5] To date, Underwood has sold over 13 million copies worldwide in the last two years.


Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Carrie Marie Underwood was born to Stephen and Carole Underwood in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and was raised on her parents' farm in rural Checotah, Oklahoma. She has two older sisters, Shanna Underwood Means (born 1970) and Stephanie Underwood Shelton (born 1973); both are elementary school teachers in Oklahoma. Underwood had performed at Robbins Memorial Talent Show in her childhood. She is a member of the First Free Will Baptist Church.[citation needed] As a young child, she sang in church, and for Old Settler's Day and Lion's Club, local events in Checotah. At the age of 13 in 1996, her manager at the time tried to get her a recording contract at Capitol Records. However, due to management changes at Capitol, it never materialized.[citation needed]

Underwood graduated from Checotah High School in 2001 as salutatorian.[citation needed] After high school, she attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah. She graduated magna cum laude in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in mass communication and an emphasis in journalism [6] Underwood is a member of the Alpha Iota chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority,[7]. 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 [8].

[edit] American Idol

Main article: American Idol (Season 4)

In the summer of 2004, Underwood auditioned for American Idol in St. Louis. On March 22, 2005, 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.[9] 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." Coincidently, 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, beating out Bo Bice.[9]

Underwood appeared on the sixth season of American Idol, where she sang her single "Wasted" on March 8. This was her fourth time performing on the show since winning the competition in 2005.[10] 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, receiving a standing ovation.

[edit] American Idol songs

Week Song Original Artist Result
Semi-Finals 1 "Could've Been" Tiffany Safe
Semi-Finals 2 "Piece of My Heart" Janis Joplin, Faith Hill Safe
Semi-Finals 3 "Because You Love Me" Jo Dee Messina Safe
Top 12 "When Will I Be Loved" Linda Ronstadt Safe
Top 11 "Alone" Heart Safe
Top 10 "Independence Day" Martina McBride Safe
Top 9 "Hello Young Lovers" Deborah Kerr Safe
Top 8 "Love Is a Battlefield" Pat Benatar Safe
Top 7 "MacArthur Park" Donna Summer Safe
Top 6 "When God-Fearin' Women Get The Blues" Martina McBride Safe
Top 5 "Trouble"
"Bless the Broken Road" 		Elvis Presley
Rascal Flatts 		Safe
Top 4 "If You Don't Know Me By Now"
"Sin Wagon" 		Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
Dixie Chicks 		Safe
Top 3 "Crying"
"Man! I Feel Like a Woman!"
"Making Love out of Nothing at All" 		Roy Orbison
Shania Twain
Air Supply 		Safe
Top 2 "Inside Your Heaven"
"Independence Day"
"Angels Brought Me Here" 		Carrie Underwood/Bo Bice
Martina McBride
Guy Sebastian 		Safe
Finale "Inside Your Heaven" Carrie Underwood/Bo Bice Winner

[edit] 2005-2007: Some Hearts

Underwood's debut album, entitled Some Hearts, was released to store shelves on November 15, 2005, entering the Billboard 200 chart with 315,000 copies sold. The large first week sales of 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 in 1991. Some Hearts has since been certified sextuple Platinum by the RIAA, and is the fastest-selling debut country album in the history of the SoundScan era.[11]

The album's second single, "Jesus, Take the Wheel" was released to radio on October 18, 2005. It received so much airplay that it debuted at #39 on the Billboard Country Chart in its first week. It eventually reached #1 for six consecutive weeks, two weeks shy of Connie Smith's record for a solo female performer, set in 1964-1965 when "Once a Day" topped the chart for eight weeks.

Underwood's third single, "Some Hearts" was only released to Pop, Adult Contemporary and Hot Adult Contemporary stations in October 2005 and peaked in the top 25 on the Hot AC format, while it made the top 15 on the AC Charts. "Don't Forget to Remember Me", the second of Underwood's singles to be released to country radio, her fourth single overall, 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" won the Gospel Music Association's award for best country single of the year.

Underwood performed "Jesus, Take the Wheel" on May 23, 2006, and received a standing ovation at the ACM Awards. She ended up winning Best New Female Vocalist and Single of the year for the song. She was also nominated for Song of the Year and Female Vocalist of the year, but did not win.

Later that autumn, Underwood's third country single, "Before He Cheats", hit number one on Billboard's Hot Country Songs, staying there for 5 consecutive weeks, marking Underwood's third country number one hit and her fourth number one hit all together. The song peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, achieving the slowest climb ever to the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, breaking the record that was previously held by Creed from July 2000. After a year of release, the single still remains in the Billboard charts.

To promote "Before He Cheats", Underwood performed it 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.

On November 21, 2006, Underwood went into the American Music Awards with 2 nominations, that night she left the building winning the Breakthrough Artist of the Year award. She was also nominated for Best Female Country Artist, but did not win in that category. She also attended the "2006 Billboard Music Awards" On December 4, 2006, and took home 5 awards. She won the coveted Album of the Year, Top 200 Female Artist of the Year, Female Country Artist, New Country Artist, and Country Album of the Year.

Underwood was nominated for five Academy of Country Music awards in 2007. She was nominated for Best Female Vocalist, Song of the Year, Video of the Year, Album of the Year and Single Record of the Year. She won three of her nominated catergories; Album of the Year, Video of the Year, and Female Vocalist of the Year.

On April 11, 2007, Underwood continued her success of top 2 Country singles with the release of "Wasted". The song peaked at number 1 on the Hot Country Songs Chart, and number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100. The music video for Wasted debuted at number 2 on the GACTV Top 20 Countdown.

At the 2007 CMT Awards in Nashville, Tennessee on April 16, Underwood was nominated for three awards, including Video of the Year, Female Video of the Year, and Video Director of the Year, all for "Before He Cheats." She won in all of the three categories. She also performed there, singing "Before He Cheats".

In early April, Underwood took a break from working on her second album to take a trip to South Africa for American Idol's "Idol Gives Back" charity special. A music video package from her trip aired on the show April 25. Underwood recorded an acoustic version of The Pretenders' classic "I'll Stand By You," which served as the music bed for this American Idol video package. The charity single of the song released exclusively on iTunes reached the #2 spot.

Underwood also appeared in Brad Paisley's latest album, 5th Gear, on a song entitled "Oh Love". Aside from those activities, she also performed "Before He Cheats" and "Wasted" at the CMA Music Festival.

[edit] 2007 Grammy Awards

On December 7, 2006, Underwood's album Some Hearts received four Grammy nominations. Underwood received two Grammy awards for "Best New Artist", and "Best Female Country Vocal Performance" while "Jesus, Take the Wheel" received nominations for "Best Country Song" and "Song of the Year".

Underwood's nomination marked the first time that an American Idol winner or contestant had been nominated in the "Best New Artist" category. The award ceremony was held on February 11, 2007 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. She also sang alongside Grammy nominees Rascal Flatts. 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", helping bring the show's highest ratings in the last 10 months. She became only the eleventh country music star to perform on the show

[edit] 2007-present: Carnival Ride

Underwood's second album, Carnival Ride,[12] was released on October 23, 2007.[13] "So Small", the first single from the album, was released on July 31.[14] On Carnival Ride, Underwood was more involved in the songwriting process than on the debut; she set up a writers retreat at Nashville's famed Ryman Auditorium to collaborate with such Music Row tunesmiths as Hillary Lindsey, Craig Wiseman, Rivers Rutherford, Tom Wehrle and Gordie Sampson.[15]

"Carnival Ride" was certified double platinum as of December 14, 2007.[16]

Underwood appeared on the soundtrack to the movie Enchanted, performing a song entitled "Ever Ever After". In the music video for the song she appears as both animated and normal, much like the characters in the movie. She appeared on Christmas at Rockefeller Center on November 28, 2007. She also appeared on the holiday CD Hear Something Country Christmas 2007 that featured many other country artists, with a rendition of Do You Hear What I Hear?. Since then, the song has reached #2 on the AC Chart, and held it for 3 consecutive weeks, making her best AC hit to date. [17]

Underwood was named as Billboard's best country artist of the Billboard year 2007[18], and in December 2007 over 1,000,000 People magazine readers named Before He Cheats as the song of the year

Underwood performed "Flat on the Floor", "All-American Girl", and "Before He Cheats" on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2008. [19]

It has been announced that between January and April 2008, Underwood will embark on a joint tour with Keith Urban named the Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Carnival Ride Tour, with dates fixed nationwide.[20]

[edit] Personal interests

Image:Carrie Underwood in Iraq.jpg
Underwood receiving a gift from the 25th Infantry Division (Task Force Lightning) after performing in Tikrit, Iraq in December of 2006.

At her American Idol audition, Underwood revealed to the judges that her favorite singer is contemporary country recording artist Martina McBride. Throughout her time on American Idol, home videos were shown in which she sang "Independence Day", one of McBride's best known songs. Underwood also released her version of "Independence Day" as the B-side to her first #1 single, "Inside Your Heaven".

In addition to being a singer, Underwood is also a skilled guitar player, and has accompanied herself on guitar during performances of certain songs like "Don't Forget to Remember Me" and "Inside Your Heaven" during some of her live concerts, as well as on the albums. She use a MacPherson guitar, with an off-set sound hole.

Underwood is a vegetarian and stopped consuming beef at the age of 13 as she couldn't stand the thought of eating one of her own animals. She was voted "World's Sexiest Vegetarian" by PETA[21] in 2007 for the second time, the first being in 2005 alongside Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. In a 2007 interview with Peta, Underwood stated, "Ever since I was little I loved animals... If you told me I could never sing again, I'd say that was horrible, but it's not my life. If you told me I could never be around animals again, I would just die."[22]

Underwood is a supporter of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and has done several public service announcements for the organization.[23]

A native of eastern Oklahoma, she co-wrote a song dedicated to her hometown, "I Ain't in Checotah Anymore". In December 2005, Underwood was named Oklahoman of the Year by Oklahoma Today.[24]

Underwood performed with the USO Christmas Tour in Iraq during the 2006 Holiday season, to spread holiday cheer to the troops overseas.[25] She follows a celebrity entertainment tradition started by Bob Hope that continues to this day. Several Internet sites have photos and video clips of Underwood's performances in Iraq, including photos of Underwood in military garb.[26]

Victoria's Secret recently named Underwood the "Sexiest Female Musician". She took the top honors along with Justin Timberlake, who was named the "Sexiest Male Musician". She was also placed on the 2007 list of the "Most Beautiful People" by People. She will be featured in the magazine's upcoming issue. Most recently, Underwood was honored as one of three of the most influential entertainers in America at this point in time and was named sexiest female country artist by Country Weekly.

[edit] Personal life

Underwood performed at halftime of the 2006 Thanksgiving Day football game at the Texas Stadium and was subsequently romantically linked to Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.[27] Underwood attended Romo's birthday party in April 2007, and on May 15, 2007, Romo escorted Underwood to the Academy of Country Music Awards.[28]

Underwood is currently linked to Gossip Girl actor Chace Crawford. In October 2007, People magazine reported that the two were seen holding hands in New York City.[29]

[edit] Discography

Further information: Carrie Underwood discography

[edit] Awards

Further information: List of Carrie Underwood awards

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "Chart success continues for Carrie Underwood", Country Standard Time News, 2006-02-15. Retrieved on 2007-08-06. 
  2. ^ Hasty, Katie. "Underwood Leads Three Country Debuts Onto Chart", Billboard Magazine, 2007-10-31. Retrieved on 2007-10-31. 
  3. ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=357&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+Country+Songs&ci=3089841&cdi=9583270&cid=12%2F22%2F2007
  4. ^ Karger, Dave. "The Confessions of Carrie Underwood", Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2007-12-19. (English) 
  5. ^ "Carrie Underwood still shocked by success", The Associated Press, 2007-10-29. Retrieved on 2007-12-19. (English) 
  6. ^ "Country singer Carrie Underwood graduates", The Associated Press, 2006-05-07. Retrieved on 2007-08-06. 
  7. ^ Shining Sigmas.
  8. ^ "It's My Life", PBS Kids. Retrieved on 2007-08-06. "I was also a hospice volunteer and I got that through the sorority. You go and take care of people that are really sick. They don’t want to be in the hospital anymore. It’s just kind of about making them comfortable." 
  9. ^ a b "Carrie Underwood Is America's 'Idol'", Fox News, 2005-05-26. Retrieved on 2007-12-15. 
  10. ^ "American Idol Calls McBride, Underwood, Pickler", CMT, 2007-02-23. Retrieved on 2007-08-06. 
  11. ^ "Carrie Underwood's Album Is Quintuple Platinum", CMT, 2007-01-10. Retrieved on 2007-08-06. 
  12. ^ Arista Nashville. Retrieved on 2007-08-30.
  13. ^ "Carrie Underwood plans fall CD release", MSNBC, 2007-07-17. Retrieved on 2007-08-06. 
  14. ^ "Carrie Underwood's New Single Arrives", CMT, 2007-07-31. Retrieved on 2007-08-06. 
  15. ^ Country star Underwood enjoys fast-moving 'Ride'. AOL Music Canada It has moved over 527,000 copies in its first week, becoming Underwood's first #1 reaching album.. Retrieved on 2007-09-08.
  16. ^ Arista Nashville (2007-12-14). "Carrie Underwood’s Carnival Ride Certified Double Platinum, as 2007 Marks Another Milestone Year!". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-12-16.
  17. ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/chart_beat/bonus.jsp
  18. ^ The Year In Charts 2007: An Early Peek.
  19. ^ http://www.carrieunderwoodofficial.com/news/carrie-underwood-to-perform-live-from-times-square-on-d-clarks-new-years-rockin-eve-2008-dec-31
  20. ^ http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/1004122
  21. ^ Past 'Sexiest Vegetarian Alive' Winners. PETA. Retrieved on 2007-08-06.
  22. ^ Carrie Underwood: A Vegetarian Success Story. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Retrieved on 2007-12-06.
  23. ^ Star Power: Hollywood's Response to Help Pets Hurt by Katrina. The Humane Society of the United States. Retrieved on 2007-08-06.
  24. ^ "'Idol 4' winner Carrie Underwood named Oklahoman of the Year", UPI, 2005-12-26. Retrieved on 2007-08-06. 
  25. ^ Carrie Underwood Visits Troops in the Persian Gulf. USO. Retrieved on 2007-08-06.
  26. ^ Perry, Dustin. "Country Music Star Carrie Underwood Performs at LSA Adder", GX: The Guard Experience, 2006-12-18. Retrieved on 2007-08-06. 
  27. ^ Lone Star Fun. People (2007-04-25). Retrieved on 2007-08-06.
  28. ^ "Carrie Underwood, Tony Romo Hit the Red Carpet", ExtraTV, 2007-05-16. Retrieved on 2007-08-06. 
  29. ^ http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20152766,00.html

21.Carrie's Gift: From American Idol to Music Row

[edit] References

  • Tracey, Kathleen. Carrie Underwood: American Idol IV. September 2005. Blue Banner Biography series (Juvenile) ISBN 1-58415-425-X

[edit] External links

Preceded by
John Legend 		Grammy Award for Best New Artist
2007 		Succeeded by
incumbent
Preceded by
Dierks Bentley 		Country Music Association Award for Horizon Award
2006 		Succeeded by
Taylor Swift
Preceded by
Gretchen Wilson 		Country Music Association Award for Female Vocalist of the Year
2006-2007 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Sara Evans 		Academy of Country Music Award for Female Vocalist of the Year
2007 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
v • d • e
Carrie Underwood
AlbumsSome Hearts · Carnival Ride
Singles"Inside Your Heaven" · "Jesus, Take the Wheel" · "Some Hearts" · "Don't Forget to Remember Me" · "Before He Cheats" · "Wasted" · "I'll Stand by You" · "So Small" · "All-American Girl"
Related articlesDiscography · Awards · American Idol (season 4) · Arista Records
v • d • e
American Idol season 4
Carrie Underwood · Bo Bice · Vonzell Solomon · Anthony Fedorov · Scott Savol · Constantine Maroulis · Anwar Robinson · Nadia Turner · Nikko Smith · Jessica Sierra · Mikalah Gordon · Lindsey Cardinale
v • d • e
American Idol
Seasons1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7
HostsRyan Seacrest · Brian Dunkleman
JudgesRandy Jackson · Paula Abdul · Simon Cowell
WinnersKelly Clarkson · Ruben Studdard · Fantasia Barrino · Carrie Underwood · Taylor Hicks · Jordin Sparks
Winner's Singles"A Moment like This" · "Flying Without Wings" · "I Believe" · "Inside Your Heaven" · "Do I Make You Proud" · "This Is My Now"
Runners-upJustin Guarini · Clay Aiken · Diana DeGarmo · Bo Bice · Katharine McPhee · Blake Lewis
Other alumniTamyra Gray · Kimberley Locke · William Hung · Jennifer Hudson · Kellie Pickler · Chris Daughtry · Elliott Yamin
Spin-offsFrom Justin to Kelly · Juniors · Christmas · Extra · Rewind
OtherUnderground · Compilation Series · Controversy · Discography · Episodes · Font · Idol series · Magazine · Video game


Persondata
NAME Underwood, Carrie Marie
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION American country music singer; American Idol winner
DATE OF BIRTH March 10 1983
PLACE OF BIRTH Muskogee, Oklahoma
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
ar:كيري أندروود

cs:Carrie Underwood da:Carrie Underwood de:Carrie Underwood es:Carrie Underwood fr:Carrie Underwood id:Carrie Underwood it:Carrie Underwood he:קארי אנדרווד ms:Carrie Underwood nl:Carrie Underwood ja:キャリー・アンダーウッド no:Carrie Underwood pl:Carrie Underwood pt:Carrie Underwood ru:Андервуд, Кэрри simple:Carrie Underwood sd:ڪيِري اَنڊَروُڊ fi:Carrie Underwood sv:Carrie Underwood tr:Carrie Underwood zh:卡麗·安德伍

Retrieved from "http://india.smashits.com/wikipedia/Carrie_Underwood"
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