Carrie Underwood: Entertainer Of The Year

Underwood was born in Oklahoma in 1983 and was raised on her parents' farm in Checotah, Oklahoma. During her childhood, Underwood performed at Robbins Memorial Talent Show, Free Will Baptist Church and for local events in Checotah. In 1996, she started the process of getting a recording contract with Capitol Records, but the deal was never completed due to management issues at the record company.

After graduating from Checotah High School Underwood attended and graduated from Northeaster State University in 2006 with a degree in journalism. During college Underwood performed and competed in many talent shows.

In the summer of 2004, Underwood auditioned for and landed a spot for the fourth season of the popular American singing competition show American Idol. During the top 11 finalists' performance on the March 22, 2005, American Idol episode, Underwood sang the 1980s rock hit "Alone" by female rock-duo Heart, which prompted American Idol judge Simon Cowell to predict that Underwood would not only win the competition, but she would also outsell all previous American Idol winners.

During the American Idol competition Underwood became one of five winners never to have been voted in the bottom three (Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks and David Cook are the others.) While on the show, Underwood gained a loyal fan base known as "Carrie's Care Bears." On May 25, 2005, Underwood was crowned the winner.

Her debut album, Some Hearts, was released in November 2005 entering Billboard magazine’s Billboard 200 charts; the album became took the No.1 spot on the Billboard magazine Top Country Albums chart during the first week of release and became the fast selling debut country album in music history.

Her second album, Carnival Ride, was released on October 23, 2007. It has sold more than 2.7 million copies and produced four number one country hits. As of 2009 Underwood released her fifth single from Carnival Ride; and to date has sold more than 9.3 million albums. In 2008 she was inducted into the prestigious Grand Ole Opry. Read more about Underwood’s album sales in music magazines like Rolling Stone, Paste magazine and Entertainment Weekly.

Underwood has also appeared in celebrity magazines like People, US Weekly and Star magazine for her personal life including coverage of the singer’s relationships with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, actor Chace Crawford and most recently Ottowa Senators hockey player Mike Fisher.

Underwood has also appeared in many women’s magazines and fashion magazines, usually on the magazines covers, including Allure, Instyle, Cosmo, Glamour, Seventeen, Shape and Elle magazine.

With her recent win as “Entertainer of the Year,” not only did Underwood make music history, she also stopped Kenny Chesney from joining the group Alabama as the only country stars to ever win 5 "Entertainer of the Year" awards in a row. She also took home "Female Vocalist of the Year," her third consecutive win in that category.

By: Jessica Vandelay

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