Carrie+Underwood



Carrie Underwood Carrie Underwood was born March 10, 1983, she grew up in a small town of Checotah, OK. At the age of three Carrie started singing in her church. Throughout her childhood, she also performed at functions for the Lion’s Club and Old Settlers Day, eventually grading to festival gigs in several states. Underwood also learned to play the piano and guitar. When Carrie graduated from high school as her class salutatorian. She went to Northeastern State College and majored in mass communication. She wanted her career in broadcast journalism, but she continued her singing career throughout her studies (star pulse). As a senior just a few credits short of her degree, Underwood heard about the auditions for the 2005 season of American Idol. She tried out for the show in St. Louis, MO. Her amazing voice got her to the top 12 finalists, but got her the title of 2005’s American Idol. “I am so grateful that I have this opportunity, and I want more than anything for my family, friends and fans to be proud of me and the music I make.” Underwood was the first country singer to win American Idol (star pulse). Carrie has three major albums out today, Play On, Carnival Ride, and Some Hearts. Carnival Ride and Some Hearts are rated with four stars and Play On has two and a half. Some Hearts was released later that fall and became a smash hit, sold over 300,000 copies in its first week. Eventually going platinum seven times! The lead single for Some Hearts is “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” was also a big success. Topping the Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart for six weeks (star pulse). Meanwhile, “Jesus, Take the Wheel” won Single Record of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards (where she won Top Female Vocalist); a Female Video at the CMT Awards, making her the only double winner at the event. Still thinking about her college degree putting her singing to the side a little Carrie finished her degree and became a spokesperson for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (who was named her 2005’s World’s Sexiest Vegetarian) (star pulse). “Before He Cheats” was released as Underwood’s third single late in 2006, and became her third country number one and her fourth total number one hit. In that December, she won five Billboard Music Awards: Album of the Year, Top 200 Female Artist of the Year, Female Country Artist, New Country Artist, and Country Album of the Year (star pulse). In the begging of 2007, Carrie began to work on her second album, while “Wasted” became fourth single taken from Some Hearts. Underwood performed it on an episode of American Idol that March. “Wasted” became the number one hit on the Hot Country Songs Chart. Underwood gathered more accolades by winning three awards at the 2007 CMT Awards, Video of the Year, Female Video of the Year, and Video for Some Hearts and Top Female Vocalist (star pulse). She made another trip back to American Idol late in the month for the sixth season finale, where she sang “I’ll Stand by You” to a standing ovation. During the show, Clive Davis recognized Underwood’s sextuple-platinum sales; Underwood was the first country artist to sell that many copies of a debut album since LeAnn Rimes’ Blue in 1996. She also appeared on Brad Paisley’s album 5th Gear, which was released in June 2006 (star pulse). Underwood has a songwriter that she felt a connection with. Her name is Hillary Lindsay. She was one of the writers of “ Jesus, Take the Wheel.” She also helped with songs such as “Wasted” and Starts with Goodbye.” “Writing songs was is always something that I have been interested in” (Underwood). Underwood has been dating Canadian hockey center Mike Fisher of the Ottawa Senators after meeting him at her November 2008 Ottawa concert. On December 20, 2009, Underwood and Fisher became engaged, with the hockey star confirming reports at the Senators morning skate the following day. Although Underwood and Fisher are engaged, there is no set wedding date at this time. They are aiming to get married in the summer of 2010 (star pulse). Aside from her singing voice already being heard in two theatrical films as well as appearing in a television special, Underwood made her dramatic acting debut in a recent episode of the How I Met Your Mother. She also made a voice-over performance as a parodied “worm” character in the children’s series Sesame Street. She is set to play the role in the The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants sequel with working title The Blue Summer of Sisterhood (answers). In addition to being a singer, Underwood is also a guitar and piano 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 uses a McPherson guitar with an off set sound hole (answers).