Carrie Marie Underwood (born March 10, 1983) is an American country singer-songwriter who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol. Underwood has become a multi-platinum sales, a multiple Grammy winner, the Grand Ole Opry inductee, three times the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association Female Vocalist winner, and current ACM Entertainer of the Year. She is the first female artist to win again in a row at the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards Entertainer of the Year (2009/2010).
Their debut album, Some Hearts, was certified seven times platinum, and in February 2006, was the best selling debut country album in Nielsen SoundScan history. She was also the best-selling debut solo album in the history of country music female, February 2008. Some Hearts yielded three number one singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and hit # 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs. His second album, "Carnival Ride, was released on October 23, 2007. It has sold more than 3 million copies as of January 2010, and produced four number one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs. Underwood launched their third album, Play On, November 3, 2009. It has been certified Platinum by the RIAA and has produced three number one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs so far.
Carrie Marie Underwood was born to Stephen and Carole Underwood on March 10, 1983 in Muskogee, Oklahoma. She was raised on her parents' farm in the rural town of Checotah, Oklahoma. She has two older sisters, Shanna Means and Stephanie Shelton. Her father worked in a sawmill, while her mother taught elementary school. During her childhood, Underwood performed at Robbins Memorial Talent Show, and sang at the Free Will Baptist Church. She later sang for local events in Checotah, including Old Settler's Day and the Lion's Club. In 1996, Capitol Records was preparing a contract for Underwood but cancelled it when company management changed. She spent part of her summer as a page for Oklahoma State Representative Bobby Frame.
In the summer of 2004, Underwood auditioned for American Idol in St. Louis, Missouri. After she sang "Could've Been" by Tiffany on the top 12 girls night, judge Simon Cowell commented that she would be one of the favorites to win the competition. During the top 11 finalists' performance on the March 22, 2005, Idol episode, Underwood sang a rendition of the number one 1980s rock hit "Alone", made famous by Heart, and Cowell predicted that Underwood would not only win the competition, but she would also outsell all previous Idol winners. One of the show's producers later said she dominated the voting, winning each week handily. She gained a fan base known as "Carrie's Care Bears" during the course of the show, and became the fourth season winner on May 25, 2005.
On February 12, 2009, Underwood appeared with the other six American Idol winners at the inauguration of The American Idol Experience at Walt Disney World in Florida. Carrie and the other Idol winners received a microphone-shaped trophy honoring them for winning American Idol. Underwood also took the stage to sing her hit single "All-American Girl" as well as perform a duet of "Go Your Own Way" with fellow winner David Cook.
