carrie underwood

Biography

Early Years

Underwood was born at Muskogee Regional Medical Center in Muskogee, Oklahoma on March 10, 1983, and grew up on her parents' farm in rural Checotah. She is the third and youngest daughter of Stephen (retired from an industrial plant) and Carole Underwood (retired schoolteacher of Checotah Public Schools). She has two older sisters, Shanna Underwood Means and Stephanie Underwood Shelton, born in 1973 and 1970, both elementary school teachers in Oklahoma.

Underwood had performed at Robbins Memorial Talent Show in her childhood. She is a member of Free Will Baptist Church^[1]. As a young child, she sang in church, and for Old Settler's Day and Lion's Club, local events in Checotah. At the age of 13 in 1996, her manager at the time tried to get her a recording contract at Capitol Records. However, due to management changes at Capitol, it never materialized.

Underwood graduated from Checotah High School in 2001 as salutatorian and moved on to Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, where she graduated magna cum laude in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in mass communication and an emphasis in journalism. Underwood is a member of the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority. For two years during the summer, she performed in Northeastern's Downtown Country Show in Tahlequah. She also competed in numerous beauty pageants at the university and was selected as Miss NSU runner-up in 2004. Underwood finished with a smile on her face as she ended the pageant by falling down the stairs... ^[2]

Carrie Underwood currently resides in Franklin, Tennessee, a suburb of Nashville, Tennessee, where she owns a two-story home.^[3]

2004-2005: American Idol

See also: List of Carrie Underwood's performances on American Idol

Underwood's musical influences include pop, but are predominantly country; she stated during Idol auditions that her favorite singer is Martina McBride. Carrie auditionned in St-Louis, 8 hours-drive away from Oklahoma. On the April 20 elimination show, Underwood demonstrated her ability to play the guitar. She can also play piano and yodel, the latter of which was demonstrated on the Tonight Show the night after she won.

After her rendition of Tiffany's "Could've Been", Randy Jackson said he could not believe that she was not yet discovered by record producers and music industry executives. On the March 22 show, after a performance of Heart's "Alone", Simon Cowell said, "Carrie, you're not just the girl to beat, you're the person to beat. I will make a prediction, not only will you win this show, but you will sell more records than any other previous 'Idol' winner." Cowell went on to say on the March 30 show that she has the "it" factor that will make her a pop icon. On her last song of the night in the final two, Underwood's performance of "Angels Brought Me Here" had Cowell saying, "I think you've done enough to win the competition." Jackson gave Underwood his second and last standing ovation during the season (the first was given to Vonzell Solomon after she performed 'When You Tell Me that You Love Me'). On May 25, 2005, she became the fourth winner of American Idol, beating Southern rocker Bo Bice, and joining Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken as the only contestants who had never been one of the "bottom three" singers during any week's results^[4]. Carrie Underwood also won a blue 2005 Ford Mustang convertible and the use of a Marquis private jet for a year. On May 26 2005, U.S. Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, presented a resolution congratulating Underwood for winning American Idol and for being a positive role model. The resolution thanks her for representing the state of Oklahoma as "an intelligent, kind, considerate young woman" to millions of television viewers around the world. The resolution was submitted to the United States Senate, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. May 25, 2005 was declared Carrie Underwood Day in Oklahoma by Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry.

As part of her win, Underwood gained a recording contract with Arista Records; her first single, "Inside Your Heaven", was released on June 14, 2005. The single debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, with first-week sales of 170,000 copies, and briefly stopped Mariah Carey's run at #1 with "We Belong Together." It became the first song from a country artist to go number one on the Hot 100 since Lonestar's "Amazed" in 2000. Underwood's version was shunned by country radio reaching a peak of #59 on the country charts^[5]. The B-side is "Independence Day", a cover of the Martina McBride hit.

Less than a year after winning American Idol, Carrie returned to Northeastern University to complete her bachelor degree in mass communications. She graduated magna cum laude on May 5th 2006.

1. ^ Schmitt, Brad. Carrie Underwood makes leap from 'American Idol' to country's 'it' girl June 4th 2006. Accessed on July 8th 2006.
2. ^ It's My Life (English) (HTML). PBS Kids (2006). Retrieved on July 8, 2006.
   On Volunteering: "I was also a hospice volunteer and I got that through the sorority. You go and take care of people that are really sick. They don’t want to be in the hospital anymore. It’s just kind of about making them comfortable. So, I’d go and sit with them. I had one couple that I was a volunteer for and we’d just, you know, watch soap operas for a couple hours!"
   On Vegetarism: "I quit eating beef when I was about thirteen. I kind of phased everything out, so it took a few years actually. I do it because I really love animals and it just makes me sad. Like, I don’t like to watch commercials where they have meat. It weirds me out. But it’s not something I like to preach to anyone. I mean, my family, they all eat meat and I don’t ever try to sway their opinions, but it’s hard sometimes, especially because I live in the South and I did grow up in a farming community. I’ve had people approach my parents and they’ll say, 'I hear your daughter is a vegetarian. What’s she doing? That’s how we make a living.' My mom’s just, 'Well, that’s her decision.' She used to get mad though. She’d cook dinner and I wouldn’t eat it."
3. ^ Bryson, Jodi. Girl's Life Magazine. It's Fate That Would Have It. Accessed on July 8, 2006 via [http://www.carrieunderwoodonline.com carrieunderwoodonline.com]
4. ^ Dehnart, Andy (20). Idol’ season four: Country vs. rock 'n roll (English) (HTML). MSNBC. Retrieved on July 8, 2006.
5. ^ Mansfield, Brian (18). Radio less enamored of Idols than TV (English) (HTML). USA Today. Retrieved on July 8, 2006.

=== 2005-2006: Some Hearts ===

Underwood's debut album, entitled Some Hearts, hit store shelves on November 15, 2005, entering the Billboard 200 chart with 315,000 copies sold. The large first week sales of Some Hearts made it #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and the biggest debut of any country artist since the advent of the SoundScan system in 1991. Some Hearts has since been certified Triple Platinum by the RIAA, and is the fastest-selling debut country album in the history of the SoundScan era^[6] Carrie Underwood's first single, "Jesus, Take The Wheel" was released to radio on October 18, 2005. It received so much airplay that it debuted at #39 on the Billboard Country Chart in its first week, setting a record. It eventually reached #1 for 6 consecutive weeks, and was only two weeks shy of Connie Smith's record of an 8 week run back in 1964-1965. The single also debuted at #48 on the Billboard Hot 100 where it reached a peak of #20.

The album's title track, "Some Hearts" was released to pop music and adult contemporary radio. It received moderate airplay and made it to #12 on the Billboard and Adult Contemporary Top 40.

"Don't Forget To Remember Me," the third of Carrie Underwood's singles to be released to country radio, peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Chart, as well as #49 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, it did reach #1 for a week on the Radio & Records Country Singles Chart. On May 24, 2006, Underwood returned to guest-perform on the fifth season of American Idol for a second time. She opened the show with the top 12 finalists with "I Made It Through The Rain" and took the stage later on to perform her newest single "Don't Forget To Remember Me".

Carrie Underwood also incorporates Christianity in some of her songs. Her singles "Jesus, Take the Wheel" and "Don't Forget to Remember Me" have earned number one spots in Christian radio countdowns. "Jesus, Take the Wheel" won the Gospel Music Association's award for best country single of the year.

Her fourth single released to country radio was "Before He Cheats". It got to the top 10 of the Billboard Hot Country Songs and top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Personal interests

In 2005, Carrie Underwood starred in television advertisements for Hershey's Chocolate. The commercials have Underwood singing jingles for Hershey's products such as Kit Kat and Almond Joy. She is also wearing vintage Hershey T-shirts that feature Hershey's, Almond Joy, Kit Kat, Reeses and other chocolate brand logos as part of her endorsement deal. Underwood is also the latest spokesperson for Skechers shoes, following in the footsteps of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Underwood appeared in her second Skechers footwear advertisement campaign in fashion and lifestyle publications in June 2006. The new campaign, with was shot in early 2006 in a "behind-the-scenes" style, is reflective of Underwood's busy new life as a multi-platinum recording artist embarking on a summer cross-country tour. Carrie is also one of the celebrity faces of the "Got Milk" ad campaigns for the International Milk Foundation, joining such celebrities as Sheryl Crow, Britney Spears, and Kelly Preston.

In her official website, Carrie stated that she loves animals, horror movies, Dallas Cowboys football and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Her large CD Collection includes 3 favorite albums: Martina McBride's Greatest Hits, Randy Travis' Always and Forever and Foo Fighters' In your Honor, as well as Music by Green Day, Rascal Flatts and Garth Brooks.

Carrie Underwood is a vegetarian and stopped consuming beef when she was 13. She was voted "World's Sexiest Vegetarian" alongside Coldplay frontman Chris Martin in 2005 by animal-rights organization PETA.^[7]

Carrie Underwood is a supporter of the Humane Society and has done several public service announcements for the organization.^[8]

A native of eastern Oklahoma, she co-wrote a song dedicated to her hometown, "I Ain't in Checotah Anymore". In December 2005, Underwood was named Oklahoman of the Year by Oklahoma Today magazine.

Carrie Underwood also appeared as the featured cover girl for Self magazine, Girl's Life, Teen Vogue, Teen People, Sweet 16, OK!, and Reader's Digest.

Discography

Albums

• Notes:

1. Some Hearts has spent a total of 19 out of 44 weeks on the top 10 of the Billboard 200, meaning she holds the record for Idol winners' debut albums in the Billboard top 10 selling albums. On the other hand, the album has spent a total of 44 out of 44 weeks within the Top 5 Best-Selling Country Albums in the U.S. 15 of those weeks were spent at #1.
2. Some Hearts is now officially released in the UK, Canada, and Australia. It has been certified platinum in Canada.

Singles

• Notes:

1. Chart positions are for Billboard.
2. "Inside Your Heaven" debuted at #1 and spent one week in the top spot of the US Hot 100.
3. "Inside Your Heaven" was certified Gold twice, once with physical sales and once with digital sales.
4. "Independence Day" was a B-side to the "Inside Your Heaven" single. Due to its amount of airplay, "Independence Day" debuted at #84 on the US Pop 100.
5. "Jesus, Take The Wheel" spent six weeks at #1 on the US Country chart. This tied Faith Hill's "Breathe" as the runner-up of the longest-running female number one in the chart's history.
6. "Don't Forget To Remember Me" spent one week at #1 on the Radio & Records chart, but peaked at #2 on Billboard's US Country chart.
7. "Before He Cheats" charted for 20 weeks on the US Country chart before being confirmed as a single. It entered the Billboard Hot 100 at #92. And has then charted at #38. It has surpassed her previous single's Hot 100 position.

Trivia

On her 2006 Tour, Carrie is performing 2 songs by Guns N' Roses entitled "Patience" and "Sweet Child O' Mine"

She was an opening act on Kenny Chesney's spring / summer 2006 tour. On some dates, she has performed a duet with Kenny Chesney on a cover of "Drift Away" by Mentor Williams. She also is an opening act for Brad Paisley in the Fall for several dates in major cities that run through December 8th.

Carrie performed a duet of the hit song Alone with the band Heart on her 23rd birthday in Atlantic City on March 10, 2006. The concert was taped and shown on VH1 Classic Channel, coming out in DVD for sale this winter. Heart surprised Carrie with a huge birthday cake and had the whole audience at the sold out show sing Happy birthday to her.

Carrie was selected in the People Magazine top 100 Most Beautiful People in 2006. She was also selected as one of the top 25 Hottest People under 25 in Teen People magazine.

Carrie's Video Don't Forget To Remember Me made history on GACTV 9/15/06 for being the #1 video 10 weeks on the top 20 count down. Prior record was held by Trace Adkins 9 weeks for Honky Tonk Badonkadonk in 2005/2006

Carrie Underwood has performed several well-received renditions of the "The Star Spangled Banner" during major professional sporting events:

• Game 4 of the 2005 NBA Finals at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Michigan
• 2006 NFL NFC Championship at the Qwest Field in Seattle
• 2006 MLB All-Star Game at the PNC Park in Pittsburgh

Awards

There was another CMA Award Nomination for Jesus, Take The Wheel (song of the year), awarded to the songwriters

Notes

References

• Tracey, Kathleen. Carrie Underwood: American Idol IV. September 2005. Blue Banner Biography series (Juvenile) ISBN 158415425

External links

• Arista Records Official site of Carrie Underwood from Arista Records
• Carrie Underwood Fans
  Carrie Underwood Pictures*

• Arista Nashville Resumé of Carrie Underwood's autobiography, accomplishments, and personal interests
• 19 Entertainment Brief biography of Carrie Underwood
• Carrie Underwood at American Idol
• Carrie Underwood at the Internet Movie Database
• Carrie Underwood at All Music Guide
• Carrie Underwood at the Notable Names Database
• Carrie Underwood News
• #1 Fan Site
• A&R for Carrie Underwood on World Top 100 A&R Chart
• Carrie Underwood Videos