Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood exploded into the national spotlight during the 4th season of American Idol, FOX's popular music talent show. Notoriously difficult judge Simon Cowell predicted that Carrie would both win the competition and sell more records than any other American Idol alumni ever has - and he was right. The stunning blonde beauty wowed audiences with her enthusiasm, sincerity, and charisma, taking the first place title and jumpstarting a multi-platinum musical career that continues to this day.

A small town girl, Carrie grew up on her parents' farm in rural Checotah, Oklahoma, where she developed a lifelong love for animals. A vegetarian and prominent member of many animal rights groups, Carrie went on to discover another important passion during her childhood - one for music. Performing at local fairs and festivals, Carrie honed her musical talents from the early age of thirteen. Though a preteen recording contract with Capitol Records fell through in the late 1990's, Carrie continued singing after graduating second in her class during high school, eventually attending Northeastern State University. She graduated with a degree in mass communication in 2006, right in the middle of her recording career.

After winning American Idol in 2004, Carrie entered into a recording contract with Arista Nashville, a prominent country music label home to greats like Alan Jackson and Brad Paisley. She released her first album Some Hearts in 2005. Hugely successful, the chart-topping album sold over nine million units worldwide and has produced a number of hit singles, among them "Before He Cheats", "Don't Forget to Remember Me", and "Jesus, Take the Wheel". In the wake of Some Hearts Carrie won countless awards, among them three Academy of Country Music Awards, five Billboard Music Awards, and one American Music Award.

She followed up the success of Some Hearts by releasing Carnival Ride, her second album, in late 2007. The album sold a whopping 527,000 units in its first week, making it the most successful album to be released by a female solo country artist since Shania Twain released her Greatest Hits album in 2004. Underwood's wholesome image, uplifting lyrics, and throaty voice shines throughout the album, especially on standout tracks "So Small" and "All-American Girl".

From Discogs:

Winner of American Idol season 4 2005

From Lastfm:

Carrie Marie Underwood, born March 10, 1983, is an American country pop singer-songwriter from Checotah, Oklahoma. She rose to fame after winning the 4th season of American Idol in 2005. Underwood has since sold over 14 million albums and over 20 million singles worldwide, won several Grammy Awards, including the coveted Grammy for Best New Artist in 2007, multiple American Music Awards, including Artist of the Year in 2007, and several Billboard Music Awards, including the 2006 Album of the Year for Some Hearts.

Read more about Carrie Underwood on Last.fm.

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From Wikipedia:

Carrie Marie Underwood (born March 10, 1983) is an American country singer, songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005. Underwood has since become a multi-platinum selling recording artist, a winner of several Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards and American Music Awards, a Golden Globe Award nominee, a three-time Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association Female Vocalist winner, and a two-time ACM Entertainer of the Year. She is the first-ever female artist to win back-to-back Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards for Entertainer of the Year (2009/10). Underwood was inducted into and became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2008. She was also inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2009. Billboard named Underwood Country Music's reigning Queen in 2012.

Her debut album, Some Hearts, was certified seven times platinum and, since February 2006, is the fastest selling debut country album in Nielsen SoundScan history. It is also the best-selling solo female debut album in country music history, since February 2008, and, since March 2011, the best-selling country album of the last 10 years. Some Hearts yielded three number one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs. Her second album, Carnival Ride, was released on October 23, 2007. It has sold over 3 million copies as of January 2010, being certified 3 times Platinum, and produced four consecutive number one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs. Underwood released her third album, Play On, on November 3, 2009. It has been certified 2 times Platinum by the RIAA and has produced three consecutive number one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs. As of May 16, 2011, Underwood became the American Idol Top Earner in the United States, selling so far more than 13 million album copies and over 22.5 million digital tracks, along with amassing over $66 million in tour revenues, since...