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).
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