Carrie Underwood

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 68.44.16.135 (talk) at 03:14, 21 February 2007 (→Awards). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Jump to navigation Jump to search
Carrie Underwood

Carrie Marie Underwood (born March 10, 1983) is a two-time Grammy-award winning American country music singer and guitarist, who won the title of the fourth season of American Idol. She has since become a multi-platinum selling recording artist. Her debut album, Some Hearts, was certified quintuple platinum, and is the fastest selling debut country album of all time. It is also the top selling debut album of any Idol winner or contestant. Underwood is the first American Idol winner to sweep all three major music awards, including one American Music Award, eight Billboard Music Awards, and two Grammy Awards (including Best New Artist) in a single season.

Biography

Early years

File:Young Carrie Underwood.jpg
Underwood in a 1999 photo.

Underwood was born at Muskogee Regional Medical Center in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and grew up on her parents' farm in rural Checotah, Oklahoma. 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's 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 Alpha Iota chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, and a tribal member of Muscogee Creek Nation of Oklahoma. 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. [2]

She currently resides in Franklin, Tennessee, a suburb of Nashville, Tennessee.[3]

American Idol

Main article: American Idol (Season 4)

In the summer of 2004, Carrie auditioned for American Idol in St. Louis. When her initial audition aired in January 2005, many people predicted she would win the competition. On March 22, 2005, the notoriously hard-to-please judge Simon Cowell predicted that Carrie would win the competition and outsell all previous Idol winners. Carrie made history as one of only four contestants never to have been voted in the bottom three. While on the show, Carrie began a growing and loyal fan base known as "Carrie's Care Bears" - in fact, she is in the same sorority (Sigma Sigma Sigma) as Linda Denham, the creator of the original Care Bears franchise.

On May 25, 2005, she was crowned the winner of American Idol (Season 4) beating out Bo Bice.

2005-present: 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 Quintuple (five times) Platinum by the RIAA, and is the fastest-selling debut country album in the history of the SoundScan era.[4] 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 with her #1 hit "Once a Day".

File:Dontforget8kq.png
"Don't Forget to Remember Me" Music Video

"Don't Forget To Remember Me," the second 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.

Both 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.

On May 23, 2006, Underwood sang Jesus, Take the Wheel receiving a standing ovation at the ACM Awards and ended up winning Best New Female Vocalist and Single of the year for the song. Also she was nominated for Song of the Year and Female Vocalist of the year.

On November 6, 2006, Underwood performed her #1 hit, Before He Cheats, at the 40th Annual Country Music Association Awards and later won both the Horizon Award (similar to the "rookie of the year" award in sports) for new country artists and Female Vocalist. Carrie's double win is the first time since 1995 that an artist won both the female vocalist and Horizon award.

On November 21, 2006 Carrie went into the American Music Awards with 2 nominations, that night she left the building winning the Breakthrough Artist of the Year award beating out the Pussycat Dolls and Chamillionare. She was also nominated for Best Female Country Artist, but did not win in that category.

On December 4, 2006, Carrie attended the "2006 Billboard Music Awards", and eventually took home 5 awards. She won the coveted Album of the Year, Top 200 Female Artist of the Year, Female Country Artist, New Country Artist, and Country Album of the Year.

2006 CMA Awards controversy

Underwood receiveing a gift after performing in Tikrit, Iraq in December of 2006.

In November 2006, Faith Hill made entertainment news headlines when she appeared to react angrily to losing the Female Vocalist of the Year award to Carrie Underwood at the CMA Awards. [5] Hill, who was backstage at the time and pacing in anticipation, could be seen throwing both hands in the air, mouthing "What!?" and then stepping away from the camera after Underwood's name was called. Hill claimed that her reaction was a joke, saying in a statement, "The idea that I would act disrespectful towards a fellow musician is unimaginable to me. For this to become a focus of attention, given the talent gathered, is utterly ridiculous. Carrie is a talented and deserving female vocalist of the year." She later called Underwood to congratulate her and clear up any misconceptions between the two singers. Several other notable country singers have rallied to the defense of Faith Hill over the misunderstanding. [6] One of the country singers who came to Hill's defense was LeAnn Rimes, in a statement on her website (since removed) also criticized the Country Music Association for awarding Underwood both the Horizon Award and Female Vocalist award stating,

Okay, I usually keep quiet on topics like this but I feel I need to stand up for my friend, Faith. She was just being honest and emotional like every other person sitting at home with an opinion. These awards shows are SO political and we all get fed up with them. We all work very hard and have for many years so to see someone come in and win Female Vocalist that has been here for a VERY short time, is a little disheartening.

[7]

2007 Grammy Awards

On December 7, 2006, Carrie received four Grammy nominations for "Best New Artist", "Best Female Country Vocal Performance" for "Jesus, Take the Wheel," while "Jesus, Take the Wheel" itself received nominations for "Best Country Song" and "Song of the Year": award categories that recognize songwriters (in this case, Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson, and Brett James) rather than the performers themselves (if the performers of a song are not also its writers or co-writers), etc....

Underwood's nomination marked the first time that an American Idol winner or contestant had been nominated under the "Best New Artist" category. The award ceremony was held on February 11, 2007 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Underwood walked away triumphant, winning awards for Best New Artist, and Best Female Country Vocal Performance. Additionally, "Jesus, Take The Wheel," the song for which her vocal performance was recognized, took the award for Best Country Song.

Personal interests

At her 'American Idol' audition, Carrie revealed to the judges that her favorite singer is contemporary country recording artist Martina McBride. Throughout Carrie's time on American Idol, home videos were shown in which she sang "Independence Day," one of Martina's biggest hits. Carrie also released her version of "Independence Day" as the B-side to her first #1 single, "Inside Your Heaven."

In addition to being a singer, Carrie Underwood is also a skilled guitar player, and has accompanied herself on guitar during performances of certain songs like "Don't Forget To Remember Me" and "Inside Your Heaven" during some of her live concerts, as well as on the albums.

Another feature of Carrie's interests was expressed on Idol, her love for animals. Carrie Underwood is a vegetarian and stopped consuming meat at age 13. She was voted "World's Sexiest Vegetarian" alongside Coldplay frontman Chris Martin in 2005 by animal-rights organization PETA.[8]

Carrie Underwood is a supporter of the Humane Society and has done several public service announcements for the organization.[9]

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 performed with the USO Christmas Tour in Iraq during the 2006 Holiday season, to spread holiday cheer to the troops overseas. She follows a celebrity entertainment tradition started by Bob Hope that continues to this date. Several internet sites have photos and video clips of Carrie's performances in Iraq, including photos of Carrie in military garb.[10]

Discography

Albums

Album Statistics Singles
File:CUSomeHearts.JPG Some Hearts
  • Released: November 15 2005
  • Peak Chart Positions:
    • #2 US (2 weeks), #1 US Country (22 weeks)
    • #20 CAN, #1 CAN Country
  • US Sales: 4,860,105
  • RIAA Certification: 5x Platinum (January 2007) [1]
  • CRIA Certification: Platinum (April 2006)
 Singles Released
  • Notes:
  1. Some Hearts has spent a total of 24 out of 64 weeks on the top 10 of the Billboard 200, meaning she holds the record for Idol winner's debut albums in the Billboard top 10 selling albums. Some Hearts has also spent 64 out of 64 weeks in the top 6 of Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, in which 22 of those weeks at #1.
  2. Some Hearts was the most sold album of the 2006 Billboard Year (which ran from November 14, 2005-November 12, 2006), placing it on top of the year-end Billboard 200 chart, which is a first for any Idol winner. It was also the third best selling album of 2006, behind only Rascal Flatts' Me and My Gang, and the High School Musical Soundtrack.
  3. Carrie Underwood's debut album Some Hearts has become one of the best-selling debut albums in the U.S. since Evanescence's 2003 debut, Fallen, which was certified 6X Platinum by the RIAA. The album has also been named the fastest selling debut country album in U.S. SoundScan history.

Singles

Year Single Album U.S.
Hot 100 		U.S.
Country 		U.S.
AC 		U.S.
Pop 		U.S.
Digital 		CAN CAN
Country 		RIAA Certification
2005 "Inside Your Heaven" Some Hearts #1 52 12 #1 4 #1 - Platinum
2006 "Jesus, Take the Wheel" Some Hearts 20 #1 23 36 18 16 #1 Platinum
2006 "Some Hearts" Some Hearts - - 12 - - - - -
2006 "Don't Forget to Remember Me" Some Hearts 49 2 - 75 77 27 4 -
2006 "Before He Cheats" Some Hearts 16 #1 - 23 13 18 #1 Gold
2007 "Wasted" Some Hearts 82 11 - - - 45 - -
  • Notes:
  1. "Inside Your Heaven" debuted at #1 and spent twenty weeks in the top spot of the US Hot 100 and surfaced on the country charts due to airplay despite not being sent to country radio. The song was also certified Gold twice -- once with physical sales, and once with digital sales.
  2. "Jesus, Take The Wheel" spent six weeks at #1 on the US Country chart. This run tied Faith Hill's "Breathe" as the runner-up of the longest-running female number one in the chart's history.
  3. "Don't Forget To Remember Me" spent one week at #1 on the Radio & Records chart, and peaked at #2 on Billboard's US Country chart.
  4. "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. The song climbed eventually to reach #1 on the US Country chart on November 1, 2006. Its music video was the first video to debut on the GACTV charts at #1 on October 20, 2006.
  5. "Wasted" is currently active on the charts. It is currently #82 on the Billboard Hot 100 in its 2nd week.
  6. Carrie and her #1 single "Jesus, Take The Wheel" were nominated for a total of four Grammy Awards, including Song of The Year. The awards were held on February 11, 2007; Carrie won Best Female Country Vocal Performance, Best Country Song, and Best New Artist.

Trivia

  • 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.
  • Carrie received four detentions during her academic career. Her mother, substitute teaching her class, gave Carrie her first ever detention.

Awards

Year Award Category
2005 Teen Choice Awards Choice Reality Star - Female (Won)
Billboard Music Awards Top-Selling Hot 100 Song Of The Year: "Inside Your Heaven" (Won)
Top-Selling Country Single: "Inside Your Heaven" (Won)
Country Single Sales Artist Of The Year (Won)
2006 Gospel Music Association Awards Country Recorded Song Of The Year: "Jesus, Take the Wheel" (Won)
Country Music Television Awards Female Video Of The Year: "Jesus, Take the Wheel" (Won)
Breakthrough Video Of The Year: "Jesus, Take the Wheel" (Won)
Most Inspiring Video Of The Year: "Jesus, Take the Wheel" (Nominated)
Academy of Country Music Awards Top New Female Vocalist Of The Year (Won)
Single Record Of The Year: "Jesus, Take the Wheel" (Won)
Top Female Vocalist Of The Year (Nominated)
Song of the Year: "Jesus, Take the Wheel" (Nominated)
NARP organization of record retail merchants Breakthrough Country Artist (Won)
Music Row Critics Pick (Won)
Teen Choice Awards Best Female Artist (Nominated)
Breakout Female Artist (Nominated)
Country Music Association Awards Female Vocalist Of The Year (Won)
Horizon Award (Won)
Music Video Of The Year: "Jesus, Take the Wheel" (Nominated)
Single Of The Year: "Jesus, Take the Wheel" (Nominated)
12th Annual Inspirational Country Music Awards Mainstream Country Artist of the Year (Won)
Song Of The year: "Jesus Take the Wheel" (Nominated)
Video Of The year: "Jesus Take the Wheel" (Nominated)
American Music Awards Favorite New Breakthrough Artist (Won)
Favorite Country Female Artist (Nominated)
Billboard Music Awards Country Artist of the Year (Nominated)
Female Country Artist of the Year (Won)
Album Of The Year (Won)
Country Album Of The Year (Won)
Country New Artist Of The Year (Won)
Female Billboard 200 Album Artist of the Year (Won)
World Music Awards World's Best-Selling New Artist (Nominated)
2007 People's Choice Awards Favorite Country Song: "Before He Cheats" (Won)
Favorite Female Singer (Won)
Grammy Awards Best New Artist (Won)
Best Female Country Vocal Performance: "Jesus Take The Wheel" (Won)
Best Country Song: "Jesus, Take The Wheel" (Won)
Song of the Year: "Jesus, Take The Wheel" (Nominated)
Country Music Television Awards Video Of The Year "Before He Cheats" (Nominated)
Female Video Of The Year (Nominated)

Notes

  1. ^ Schmitt, Brad. Underwood is also a tribal member of Muscogee Creek Nation of Oklahoma. Carrie Underwood makes leap from 'American Idol' to country's 'it' girl June 4 2006. Accessed on July 8 2006.
  2. ^ "It's My Life" (HTML). PBS Kids. 2006. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help) 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."
  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. ^ "Carrie Underwood's Album Is 5x Platinum" (HTML). Country Music Association. January 10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year=, |date=, and |year= / |date= mismatch (help); Unknown parameter |accessday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  5. ^ Faith Hill says angry reaction to Carrie Underwood's CMA Awards win was a joke,AP on International Herald Tribune, retrieved on January 8, 2007.
  6. ^ Hill gets backup from fellow singers, USA Today, retrieved on January 8, 2007.
  7. ^ Leann Rimes: Carrie Underwood Hasn't Paid Her Dues, glitteratigossip.com, retrieved on January 8, 2007.
    Faith Hill Vs. Carrie Underwood: Leann Rimes Stirs The Pot, Blogcritics.org, retrieved on January 8, 2007.
  8. ^ People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Norfolk, Virginia. World's Sexiest Vegetarians, PETA website, retrieved on January 8, 2007.
  9. ^ Star Power: Hollywood's Response to Help Pets Hurt by Katrina, The Humane Society website, retrieved on January 8, 2007.
  10. ^ Country Music Star Carrie Underwood Performs at LSA Adder,GXonline.com, retrieved on January 8, 2007.

References

  • Tracey, Kathleen. Carrie Underwood: American Idol IV. September 2005. Blue Banner Biography series (Juvenile) ISBN 1-58415-425-X


Preceded by American Idol
Winner
Season 4 (2005) 		Succeeded by

Template:American Idol winners


Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Carrie_Underwood&oldid=109725269"