Carrie Underwood was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma at the Muskogee Regional Medical Center on March 10, 1983. She grew upon a farm in the nearby town of Checotah, Oklahoma. Carrie Underwood is the youngest of three girls born to Stephen and Carole Underwood. Her sisters are nine and twelve years older than Carrie, with her oldest sister moving out on her own when Carrie was only four. Her childhood was a very happy one growing up in the country, playing outside, climbing trees and developing a deep love for animals. This love for animals eventually led Carrie to become a vegetarian at the age of thirteen.
Although singing is not a family trait, Carrie’s musical interests were influenced by her family’s taste in music. Country music is her favorite and she also loved listening to her older sisters’ 1980’s pop music. Carrie did develop a love for singing at a young age. She started singing in her church at the age of three and then later began doing solo singing roles in school plays. By the time Carrie was in the seventh grade, her amazing voice began receiving recognition so she starting performing in local talent shows. She was involved in her high school music program and even began telling people she was going to be a famous singer one day. After she started attending college at Northeastern University, Carrie’s focus became more on her college major in Broadcast Journalism. She even produced a student television program and wrote for the college newspaper. Even with her tremendous singing voice, Carrie was not discovered until her friends convinced her that she should participate in the American Idol auditions.
Carrie Underwood did indeed go to the American Idol auditions after much hesitation. She dismissed the idea until she finally realized she might not ever have the chance again, and didn’t want to always wonder about a missed opportunity. Carrie, her mother and a friend drove all night to St. Louis for the American Idol auditions. They arrived at 6:00 a.m. without much time to spare. Carrie had to be at the audition location by 8:00 a.m. to receive a wristband to be eligible. She then had to wait another eight hours before auditioning. Carrie sang a song by her favorite country music singer, Martina McBride. The song Carrie first auditioned with is “Phones Are Ringing All Over Town.” She was surprised to receive another chance because she felt it was not her best singing. Carrie Underwood did get another chance, and many more to follow. Simon Cowell even made the prediction that Carrie would not only win, but she would sell more records than any previous winners of American Idol. Carrie Underwood walked away the winner in American Idol’s fourth season on May 25, 2005. She also walked away with a recording contract with Arista Records, a 2005 Ford Mustang and the use of a private jet for one year.
Carrie Underwood’s first single released on June 14, 2005 titled, “Inside Your Heaven.” It went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 List and sold 170,000 copies in the first week. Carrie Underwood is now a multi platinum selling recording artist, with her debut album “Some Hearts” becoming quadruple platinum. She has already won numerous awards including 3 Billboard Music Awards, 2 Country Music Association Awards ( Horizon Award and Female Vocalist of the Year) and an American Music Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year. Carrie has also won an Inspirational Country Award for Mainstream Country Artist of the Year.
United States Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma presented a resolution to the senate to thank her for being such a positive role model and to congratulate her. The resolution passed, resulting in the Governor Brad Henry of Oklahoma declaring May 25, 2005 as Carrie Underwood Day. One year after winning American Idol, Carrie returned to Northeastern State University to finish college and receive her bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications. She graduated magna cum laude on May 5, 2006.
Carrie Underwood got to sing a duet of the hit song “Alone” with the group Heart on her 23rd birthday in Atlantic City in 2006. The concert was taped and played on VH1 Classic Channel and will be released on DVD. Heart surprised Carrie with a large birthday cake and had the entire audience of the sold-out show to sing happy birthday to her.
People Magazine named Carrie Underwood in the list of Top 100 Most Beautiful People in 2006. She also made the Teen People Magazine’s list of the Top 25 Hottest People Under 25. She has also appeared as the cover girl for several magazines including Self, Girl’s Life, Parade, Teen Vogue, Teen People, Sweet 16, OK!, Reader’s Digest, and Cosmo Girl.
Carrie has performed the “Star Spangled Banner” during several professional sporting events. She was the featured performer at Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day half-time show on November 23, 2006 to officially start the Salvation Army 2006 Red Kettle Christmas Fundraiser.
Carrie was voted World’s Sexiest Vegetarian in 2005 by the animal-rights organization PETA. She is also a supporter of the Humane Society and does public service announcements for them.
Carrie is also doing television commercials. Photographs and a sampling of her music can be heard at the
Carrie Underwood Official Site.
