When Carrie Underwood's initial audition for American Idol Season 4 was shown on TV, many people predicted that she would win the competition. And after her rendition of "Alone," originally performed by the 80's rock group Heart, Simon Cowell also predicted that she would be the next American Idol. Not only that, he believed that she could outsell all three previous Idol winners. Such a daring prediction since Idols Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard and Fantasia Barrino have become forces to be reckoned with in the American music industry.
But all these predictions proved to be true. The homegrown Oklahoma talent is now the first female country artist with four consecutive #1 singles with the release of her fifth single, "Wasted." Carrie Underwood is the first Idol winner to receive honors from three major award giving bodies in a single season. Her tally includes two Grammys, five Billboard Music awards and one American Music award. She was also chosen as Female Vocalist of the Year by the Country Music Association.
Carrie Underwood was born in Checotah, Oklahoma. As a child, she showed immense interest in music and performed as a choral member of the Free Will Baptist Church. Then, she ventured into singing before huge crowds in the Robbins Memorial Talent Show. Local events such as the Old Settler's Day and the Lion's Club serve as her training ground for bigger things to come. At the age of thirteen, Underwood did her first studio recording. Apparently impressed, her manager maneuvered her into a recording contract at the Capitol Records which was then is in the midst of changing guards. The change of management however, proved not beneficial for the young singer and her contract never came into fruition. Frustrated she went back to school.
But Carrie Underwood is destined for greatness. She auditioned for American Idol in 2005 and that's when things began to heat up for her. In the Hollywood auditions, she performed Martina McBride's "Independence Day," impressively. So much so, that she performed the same song when she reached the Top 10 and in the finale showdown. Later, she released her own version together with her first single "Inside Your Heaven."
During her Idol stint, Underwood gained a solid fan base, particularly "Carrie's Care Bears." On the final night, she belted "Inside Your Heaven" and beat out Bo Bice. She is only the second winner to escape the nerve wracking inclusion in the bottom three.
Eight months after her victory, Carrie Underwood released her first album, Some Hearts, under Arista Records. The album received four Grammy nominations and is the fastest selling debut country album in the history of Nielsen SoundScan. It is the biggest selling album of any Idol contestant or winner.
Her first single was her winning Idol piece "Inside Your Heaven." It debuted at number one in the US Billboard Hot 100 and stayed on the same spot for a week. Despite the fact that the song was not sent to country radio, it made the country music charts list due to airplay alone. It became a gold record in physical sales and in digital sales.
"Jesus Take the Wheel," Carrie Underwood's second single, was even more successful that it stayed at the top of the Billboard Country Chart for six straight weeks. It bagged her the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. The song was also nominated for Best Country Song and Song of the Year. Underwood also won as Best New Artist, making her the first Idol alumnus to receive such distinction.
Her next singles, "Don't Forget to Remember Me" and "Before He Cheats" also reached the top of the Billboard Country Charts. "Wasted" has also reached phenomenal heights in the charts. In fact, the video that goes along with the single debuted at number 2 in the GACTV Top 20 countdown. The only reason why it did not debut at No. 1 was the vote split with her own video "Before He Cheats."
"Starts With Goodbye" and "I Just Can't Live a Lie" are also popularized by Underwood. Her biography, pictures, mp3 and the lyrics of her songs are popularly searched in the Internet. Even her Idol days hair have been widely imitated by young girls.
Success has brought Carrie Underwood to many places but she has never forgotten her roots. As a tribute to her hometown, she co-wrote the nostalgic song "I Ain't in Checotah Anymore." In 2005, the Oklahoma Today magazine voted her as Oklahoman of the Year. But she has one more roots to travel back to. Carrie Underwood will perform during the Idol Gives Back Concert with other music luminaries. And everyone is ready to welcome her home.
