Carrie Underwood facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood at the 2019 American Music Awards
Background information
Birth name	Carrie Marie Underwood
Born	(1983-03-10) March 10, 1983 (age 42) Muskogee, Oklahoma, U.S.
Genres	Country country pop country rock gospel
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Years active	2005–present
Labels	19 Arista Arista Nashville Capitol Nashville

Carrie Marie Underwood (born March 10, 1983) is an American singer and songwriter. She became famous after winning the fourth season of American Idol in 2005. Her first single, "Inside Your Heaven" (2005), made her the first country artist to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Her first album, Some Hearts (2005), became the best-selling first album by a solo female country artist. It won her three Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist. She continued to release successful albums like Carnival Ride (2007) and Play On (2009).

Carrie Underwood is one of the best-selling music artists of all time. She has sold over 42 million singles and 18 million albums worldwide. Billboard magazine named her the top female country artist of the 2000s and 2010s. She has won many awards, including 17 American Music Awards and eight Grammy Awards. She also has five Guinness World Records for female country artists.

Outside of music, Carrie has her own fitness clothing line called Calia by Carrie. She also wrote a best-selling fitness and lifestyle book called Find Your Path.

Early Life and Education

Carrie Marie Underwood was born on March 10, 1983, in Muskogee, Oklahoma. She grew up on her parents' farm in Checotah. Her father worked at a paper mill, and her mother was an elementary school teacher.

As a child, Carrie sang at local events and her church. When she was 14, she auditioned for Capitol Records in Nashville. A contract was almost ready, but it was canceled when the company management changed. Carrie felt it was better that way, saying, "Everything has a way of working out."

In high school, she was an Honor Society member, a cheerleader, and played basketball and softball. She graduated as the second-best student in her class in 2001. After high school, she didn't plan to sing professionally. She thought she needed to prepare for a "real world" job.

Carrie attended Northeastern State University in Oklahoma. She graduated in 2006 with a degree in mass communication. During college, she worked at a pizzeria, a zoo, and a veterinary clinic. She also performed in the university's Downtown Country show.

Music Career Highlights

Starting with American Idol

In 2004, Carrie auditioned for American Idol in St. Louis, Missouri. Judge Simon Cowell predicted she would win the competition. On May 25, 2005, Carrie Underwood became the season four winner. She won a recording contract and other prizes.

First Album: Some Hearts

Carrie's first single, "Inside Your Heaven", came out in June 2005. It was the first time a country artist debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Her first album, Some Hearts, was released in November 2005. It sold over 315,000 copies in its first week. This made it the biggest debut for any country artist since 1991.

Underwood performing at the World Arena in December 2006

Some Hearts became the best-selling album of 2006 across all music types in the U.S. It was also the best-selling country album in 2006 and 2007. The album is certified nine times platinum, meaning it sold millions of copies.

Songs like "Jesus, Take the Wheel" and "Before He Cheats" became huge hits. "Jesus, Take the Wheel" was number one on the country charts for six weeks. "Before He Cheats" also reached number one and sold over four million copies. Carrie won many awards for this album, including two Grammy Awards in 2007.

Carnival Ride and More Success

Underwood at the American Idol Experience premiere in February 2009

Carrie's second album, Carnival Ride, was released in October 2007. She was more involved in writing the songs for this album. It sold over 527,000 copies in its first week, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 and country charts. The album is now certified four times Multi-Platinum.

Singles from Carnival Ride like "So Small", "All-American Girl", and "Last Name" all reached number one on the country charts. This made Carrie the first female artist since Shania Twain to have three number-one hits from two albums in a row. Her song "Just a Dream" also hit number one.

In 2008, Carrie started her own tour, the Carnival Ride Tour. She played for 1.2 million fans and was the top-selling female country touring artist that year. She won many awards, including Female Vocalist of the Year for the third year in a row at the Country Music Association Awards.

Play On and Collaborations

Underwood at the 2009 American Music Awards

Carrie released her third album, Play On, in November 2009. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and country charts. The first single, "Cowboy Casanova", was a big hit, selling over 2 million copies. Other successful singles included "Temporary Home" and "Undo It", both reaching number one on the country charts.

Her Play On Tour in 2010-2011 played to over 1 million fans. Carrie was honored with the "ACM Triple Crown Award" in 2010. This award recognized her for winning Top New Artist, Top Female Vocalist, and Entertainer of the Year during her career.

Carrie also collaborated with other artists. She sang "There's a Place for Us" for the movie The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. She also had a number-one duet with Brad Paisley called "Remind Me".

Blown Away and World Tour

Underwood performing at the 2013 CMA Music Festival

Carrie's fourth album, Blown Away, was released in May 2012. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The first single, "Good Girl", reached number one on the country charts. The song "Blown Away" was also a huge success, selling over 2 million copies.

The Blown Away album was the second best-selling country album of 2012. Carrie won a Grammy Award for "Blown Away" in 2013 for Best Country Solo Performance. She also won many CMT Music Awards, becoming the most awarded artist in CMT Music Awards history.

The Blown Away Tour took Carrie to three continents and six countries. She played for one million fans. Forbes magazine reported that she earned over $31 million between June 2012 and June 2013, making her the top-earning American Idol winner.

Greatest Hits: Decade #1

Underwood performing at the Grand Ole Opry in December 2014

In 2014, Carrie released her first greatest hits album, Greatest Hits: Decade #1. The main song from the album, "Something in the Water", became a huge hit. It reached number one on the country charts and the Christian songs chart. This song set new records for airplay on country radio.

Carrie was honored with the Milestone Award at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards. Time magazine also named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2014.

Storyteller and New Label

Carrie's fifth album, Storyteller, came out in October 2015. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. This made her the first country artist to have her first five studio albums debut in the top two spots. The album's singles, "Heartbeat" and "Church Bells", both reached number one on the country airplay chart.

The Storyteller Tour in 2016 played to over 1 million fans. In 2017, Carrie signed with Capitol Records Nashville, after being with Arista Nashville for many years.

Cry Pretty and More Records

Underwood performs on the Cry Pretty Tour, September 2019

In January 2018, Carrie released "The Champion", a song with Ludacris for the Super Bowl LII. Her sixth album, Cry Pretty, was released in September 2018. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Carrie became the first woman to have four country albums reach number one on this chart.

The Cry Pretty album had the biggest first week for any album by a woman and a country album in 2018. It was certified Platinum in February 2020. Carrie also started the Cry Pretty Tour 360 in May 2019.

Christmas and Gospel Albums

Carrie released her first Christmas album, My Gift, in September 2020. It was her eighth album in a row to debut at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. She also had a holiday special on HBO Max for the album.

In March 2021, Carrie released My Savior, a gospel cover album. It debuted at number one on both the Top Country Albums and Top Christian Albums charts. She won a Grammy Award for Best Roots Gospel Album for My Savior in 2022.

Carrie also started a Las Vegas residency called Reflection in December 2021. She collaborated with Jason Aldean on the duet "If I Didn't Love You", which became a number one hit.

Denim & Rhinestones and Recent Work

Carrie released her ninth album, Denim & Rhinestones, in June 2022. The lead single, "Ghost Story", reached the top ten on the country airplay chart. She went on the Denim & Rhinestones Tour with Jimmie Allen.

In June 2023, Carrie launched her own Sirius XM channel, Carrie's Country. It plays different types of music, including classic rock and new country. She also extended her Vegas residency, Reflection, through August 2024.

Singing Style

Carrie Underwood is known for her amazing voice. Critics have called her vocal range "enormous" and "versatile". She can hold notes for a long time and sing very powerfully. She has performed gospel songs like "How Great Thou Art" and rock songs like Guns N' Roses' "Paradise City".

Carrie has said that "music as a whole" has influenced her. She enjoys rock bands like Queen and Guns N' Roses. She also looks up to country artists like George Strait, Dolly Parton, and Martina McBride.

Legacy and Influence

Since her debut, Carrie Underwood has been praised by many artists and critics. Rolling Stone called her "the female vocalist of her generation of any genre." Billboard magazine has called her "Country Music's reigning Queen."

Brad Paisley said she is "the best singer in any format of music." Many other famous artists have also praised her. She was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018.

Carrie has influenced many younger singers, including Kelsea Ballerini and Lauren Alaina. She is the most awarded country artist of all time. She has won eight Grammy Awards, twelve Billboard Music Awards, and many more.

Carrie has sold 85 million records worldwide. She is the highest-certified female country artist in the U.S. She is also the best-selling artist from the American Idol show. Forbes magazine has called her the most successful American Idol winner ever.

Other Activities

Brand Deals

Carrie has worked with many brands throughout her career. She has had deals with Skechers, Target, Nintendo, Olay, and Almay. In 2015, she launched her own fitness clothing line, CALIA by Carrie Underwood, with Dick's Sporting Goods.

Helping Others

Carrie cares about her community and animals. In 2009, she started the Checotah Animal, Town, and School Foundation. This foundation helps her hometown of Checotah, Oklahoma, with various needs.

She has donated new instruments to music programs in Checotah schools. She also supports animal welfare and has worked with the Humane Society of the United States. In 2011, she opened the Happy Paws Animal Shelter in her hometown.

Carrie and her husband made a video to encourage young people to stop bullying. She also supports organizations that help children, like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Save the Children. She has donated money from her tours to the American Red Cross to help disaster victims.

Acting Roles

Carrie has also tried acting. In 2010, she appeared on the TV show How I Met Your Mother. She also had a voice role as "Carrie Underworm" on Sesame Street.

In 2011, she made her film debut in Soul Surfer. She played Sarah Hill, a church youth leader. In 2013, she played Maria von Trapp in NBC's live musical production of The Sound of Music Live!. She also appeared as herself in an episode of Cobra Kai.

Personal Life

Family

Carrie Underwood is married to former NHL player Mike Fisher. They met in late 2008 and got engaged in December 2009. They got married on July 10, 2010, in Georgia. They have two sons, born in 2015 and 2019.

Interests

Carrie is a vegetarian and has been since she was 13. She is also a practicing Evangelical Christian. She loves animals and has done public service announcements for animal welfare organizations.

Carrie is also a big sports fan. She has sung the "Star-Spangled Banner" at many major sporting events, including the Super Bowl XLIV in 2010. Since 2013, she has performed the opening theme song for NBC Sunday Night Football.

Discography

• Some Hearts (2005)
• Carnival Ride (2007)
• Play On (2009)
• Blown Away (2012)
• Storyteller (2015)
• Cry Pretty (2018)
• My Gift (2020)
• My Savior (2021)
• Denim & Rhinestones (2022)

Tours and Residencies

Underwood performing during the Blown Away World Tour in May 2013

Headlining Tours

• Carrie Underwood: Live in Concert (2006)
• Carnival Ride Tour (2008)
• Play On Tour (2010–2011)
• Blown Away Tour (2012–2013)
• Storyteller Tour: Stories in the Round (2016)
• Cry Pretty Tour 360 (2019)
• Denim & Rhinestones Tour (2022–2023)

Residencies

• Reflection (2021–2025)

Co-headlining Tours

• American Idols Live! Tour 2005 (2005)
• Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Carnival Ride Tour (2008) (with Keith Urban)
• C2C: Country to Country (2013, 2016)
• Ripcord World Tour – Oceania Leg (with Keith Urban) (2016)

Film and Television Appearances

Awards and Achievements

Underwood celebrating her ten-year anniversary of becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2018

Carrie Underwood is the most awarded country artist of all time. She has won eight Grammy Awards, twelve Billboard Music Awards, and seventeen American Music Awards. She is also a member of the Grand Ole Opry and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 2020, she won her third Entertainer of the Year award from the Academy of Country Music. This made her the first woman in history to win this award three times.

Carrie's debut album, Some Hearts, became the fastest-selling first country album ever. Her first single, "Inside Your Heaven", was the first country song to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. She holds the record for the most number-one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for a female artist.

She is the best-selling artist from the American Idol show. Forbes magazine has called her the most successful American Idol winner of all time.

Images for kids

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  Underwood performs at Super Bowl XLIV in February 2010

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  Underwood performing in Iraq in December 2006

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  Underwood performing at the United States Naval Academy in April 2011

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• List of artists who reached number one in the United States
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. country chart
• List of best-selling music artists in the United States
• List of Idols winners