Carrie Underwood Biography

Carrie Underwood was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and grew up with her parents on their farm in Checotah. She is the youngest of three daughters of Stephen and Carole Underwood, which are both retired. Her two older sisters are both elementary school teachers. Underwood had performed at Robbins Memorial Talent Show in her childhood. When Underwood was 13 her manager at the time tried getting her signed with Capitol Records. But the contract never materialized.

In 2001 Underwood graduated from Checotah High School and went on to graduate from Northeastern State University with a bachelor's in mass communication. Carrie would compete in the NSU beauty pageants and in 2004 was named the runner up of Miss NSU; and performed at the Northeastern Country Shows during the summers.

Eagerly, Carrie decided to audition for American Idol. This was a chance of a lifetime. She traveled to St. Louis and made it through to Hollywood. On May 25, 2005, small town girl Carrie Underwood was announced winner of American Idol Season four.

Carrie's debut album, Some Hearts, hit store shelves on November 15, 2005. It sold over 315,000 copies and hit the Billboard 200 chart. It was also #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums. The Album was certified a Quintuple Platinum by the RIAA, and is the fastest-selling debut country album in history. Carrie's single "Jesus, Take The Wheel" eventually reached #1 on the Billboard charts and stayed there consecutively for 6 weeks. And won the Gospel Music Association's award for best country single of the year.

Underwood won Best New Female Vocalist and Single of the Year (for Jesus, Take The Wheel) at the ACM Awards. She was nominated for, but did not win, Song of the Year and Female Vocalist of the year. Then Carrie went on to the American Music Awards and won Breakthrough Artist of the Year. She was also nominated for Best Female Country Artist, but she did not take home that award either. Moving On to the 2006 Billboard Music Awards Carrie won: Album of the Year, Top 200 Female Artist of the Year, Best Female Country Artist, Best New Country Artist, and Best Country Album of the Year. Then, in the Grammys took home the Best New Artist Award and Best Female Country Vocal Performance. While her single,"Jesus, Take The Wheel" won for Best Country Song.