Fresh-faced country singer Carrie Underwood was a typical 22-year-old college senior when she auditioned for the hugely popular television talent show, American Idol, in 2005. Less than a year later, she catapulted to national fame, as the winner of American’s most popular singing contest. Soon, she was cutting her first album, appearing in television ads, and performing at the 2005 Country Music Association’s Music Festival in Nashville.

Underwood had a typical childhood. Born in Muskogee, Oklahoma on March 10, 1983, she was the youngest of three girls. Her musical talent shined as a youngster, and she often won the lead role in her school musicals during her elementary years. Underwood’s music aspirations often took a backseat to academics in high school, but she still managed to perform for audiences at car shows, fairs, and at church.

She continued to focus on academics as a journalism major at Northeastern State. The summers, however, were a different story. She sang, danced, and acted in local stage shows, allowing her to build the confidence she needed to perform in front of large crowds.

Like thousands of other young people, Underwood auditioned for American Idol in 2005. She sailed through the audition rounds, garnering praise from the judges, even the hard-to-please Simon Cowell. She was pitted against rocker Bo Bice in the American Idol finale. Underwood won the majority of the 500 million viewer votes and was crowned the first country American Idol. Soon thereafter, she signed a contract with Arista Records.

Underwood’s first single “Inside Your Heaven,” released in June 2005, leaped to the top of the Billboard charts. Her first album “Some Hearts” hit stores in fall 2005 and quickly went triple platinum.

Still so young in her career, Underwood has already won a plethora of awards, including: Teen Choice Award for “Choice Reality Star-Female” (2005), “Oklahoman of the Year” (2005), PETA’s “The World Sexiest Vegetarian” (2005), “Rising Star Award” by the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, and was voted R&R Readers’ “Best New Artist.” She also won a GMA Award for Best Country Recorded Song of the Year, “Jesus, Take The Wheel.”

Today, Carrie Underwood concert tickets are in hot demand, and there’s little wonder why. In addition to the awards she’s already won – and the professional acclamations she’s received – Underwood is up for still more awards with three CMT nominations (Inspiring Video, Female Video, and Breakthrough Artist Video), and three ACMS (Single and Song of the Year, New Female Vocalist, and Female Vocalist).