- Country singer, musician and songwriter born in 1983 in Muskogee Oklahoma.
- Underwood sang in church and at local events as a child. A family friend thought she sang well, and she was sent to Nashville to audition for a record company. At 14 years old, she was prepared to sign a contract, but the company restructured, and the opportunity ended. After high school, she gave up on aspirations of a singing career, and she went to college, performing locally and graduating with honors in 2004. In the summer of that year, she auditioned for season four of American Idol, and she was selected to compete. She won every week that she competed, and in May 2005 she was chosen as the winner. She was given a recording contract as part of her winnings.
- Three weeks after winning American Idol, her debut single was released. Inside Your Heaven debuted at #1 on the Hot 100 chart – the only country single by a solo artist to reach #1 on the chart for the entire decade of the 00s. Later that year, her debut album was released. Some Hearts debuted at #1 on the Country Albums chart and at #2 on the Billboard 200 album chart. It was the biggest selling album for all of 2006, and the best selling country album for all of 2006 and 2007. Eventually, it was certified 9x platinum. Three songs from the album topped the Hot Country Songs chart – Jesus, Take the Wheel, Before He Cheats and Wasted. Before He Cheats also became her second song to reach the top ten of the Hot 100, peaking at #8.
- This amazing debut led to numerous awards, including two Grammy awards in 2007 – Best New Artist (only the second country performer to win this award) and Best Female Country Vocal Performance for Jesus, Take the Wheel. In 2008, Before He Cheats won the Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.
- Her second studio album, Carnival Ride, was released in 2007. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and it was certified 2x platinum after just two months (it ultimately was certified 4x platinum). The singles All-American Girl, Last Name and Just a Dream all topped the Hot Country Songs chart, while I Told You So (featuring Randy Travis) reached #2, and also reached #9 on the Hot 100 chart. Both Last Name and I Told You So won Grammy awards. Her tour to support the album was the highest grossing tour for a country artist in 2008. Also that year, she became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, invited to join by Randy Travis.
- With her third studio album, 2009’s Play On, Underwood became a primary songwriter, co-writing eight of the 13 songs on the album. Three of the songs she co-wrote – Cowboy Casanova, Temporary Home and Undo It – topped the Hot Country Songs chart, while Mama’s Song peaked at #2. The album was 3x platinum, topping the Billboard 200 chart.
- During the 10’s decade, she released three studio albums – all were certified platinum, with 2012’s Blown Away album achieving 3x platinum status. Five singles reached #1 on country charts, while twelve songs reached the top 10 of the charts. Her most successful singles were Good Girl and Blown Away, both of which reached the top 20 of the Hot 100 chart, in addition to reaching #1 on the country charts. She also was the featured artist on country #1 singles by Brad Paisley (Remind Me) and Miranda Lambert (Somethin’ Bad), while Keith Urban’s The Fighter made it to #2.
- Underwood released a Christmas album in 2020 and a gospel album in 2021.
- She is the most awarded country artist of all time, winning over 170 awards including seven Grammy awards. She is easily the most successful American Idol winner. For both the 00s and 10s decades, Billboard named her the top female country artist. She has performed the opening theme song for NBC Sunday Night Football since 2013. She has endorsement deals with numerous companies, including beauty products and fashion.
- Underwood is on my Mount Rushmore of women country artists. She’s a great country-pop artist. Here’s the video to one of her many, many hits – Before He Cheats.