Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood (born 10.3.1983)

Carrie Underwood is an American country-pop songwriter and singer. She first came to public attention when she won the fourth series of American Idol. Since then, she has won multiple Grammy Awards and become a best-selling artist.

Carrie Underwood: Childhood

Carrie Underwood was raised on her parents' farm in Oklahoma. She has two elder sisters, named Stephanie and Shanna. As a child, Carrie performed at the local Robbins Memorial Talent Show at her local Baptist Church and went on to sing at a number of local social events. In 1996, Underwood was on the verge of signing a contract with Capitol Records, but the label management changed hands and the deal was rejected.

Carrie graduated from Checotah High School in 2001 and went to Northeastern State University in Tahlequah. She graduated with a degree in Mass Communication, with a strong emphasis on Journalism. She was the runner up in the Miss NSU beauty pageant in 2004.

Carrie Underwood: Music Career

In 2004, Carrie Underwood auditioned in St. Louis for American Idol. When they were down to 11 finalists, Underwood performed a cover of Heart's hit 'Alone'. Throughout the contest, she was never in the bottom three to be voted out and became the clear winner of the show's fourth series. Since the completion of the series, its producers have commented that Underwood dominated the voting every single week.

Carrie returned to the sixth series of the show, performing her single, 'Wasted'. She also performed at the 'Idol Gives Back' concert, performing the Pretenders' 'I'll Stand By You' with Kelly Clarkson and Rascal Flatts. On the seventh series of American Idol, Underwood performed George Michael's 'Praying For Time' and her own track 'Last Name'.

Carrie Underwood's debut album, released in November 2005, was entitled Some Hearts and was a mixture of country and pop music. It has been certified Platinum seven times over. The second single from the album 'Jesus, Take The Wheel' earned its songwriters Gordie Sampson, Brett James and Hillary Lindsay a Grammy award for Country Song of the Year.

In November 2006, Carrie Underwood won Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards. She also won five awards at the Billboard Music Awards that year: Album of the Year, Top 200 Female Artist of the Year, Female Country Artist, New Country Artist of the Year and Country Album of the Year.

Carrie's second studio album, Carnival Ride, was released in October 2007. She co-wrote the album with Craig Wiseman, Gordie Sampson, Rivers Rutherford and Hillary Lindsey. The track 'Ever Ever After' was featured on the soundtrack to the Disney movie Enchanted.

The start of 2008 saw Carrie Underwood embark on a tour with Keith Urban. Later that year, when she was onstage performing a cover of Randy Travis' 'I Told You So', Travis crept up behind her onstage to invite her to become a member of the Grande Ole Opry. Her induction was conducted by Garth Brooks. She is currently the Grand Ole Opry's youngest member.

In September 2008, a group of female singers joined forces to release a single campaigning for cancer treatment. Carrie Underwood joined Rihanna, Fergie, Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Leona Lewis and Ciara to perform 'Just Stand Up'.

In February 2009, Carrie Underwood was nominated for four awards at the Academy of Country Music Awards; Top Female Vocalist, Video of the Year for 'Just A Dream', Entertainer of the Year (alongside Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban) and Album of the Year for Carnival Ride.

Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe has confirmed that he will be collaborating with Carrie Underwood, after she recorded a cover of Mötley Crüe's 'Home Sweet Home' for American Idol as the elimination song for contestants that have been voted out.

Carrie Underwood: Personal Life

Carrie Underwood has been vegetarian since she was 13 and has acted as a spokesperson for the Humane Society of the United States.

In 2007, the press frequently speculated that Underwood was dating the Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. Romo confirmed on his website that the rumour was true. Carrie has also been romantically linked to Chace Crawford, star of Gossip Girl and Mike Fisher, the center player for Ottawa Senators.