Carrie Underwood

This 26 year old American country singer has rose to fame since her debut on the forth season of American Idol in 2004. After her American Idol win, Carrie Underwood has captured the hearts of all ages, with her girl-next-door personality and amazing vocal talent.

Carrie Underwood has released three multi-platinum albums. Carrie's hit songs from her first album, "Before He Cheats" and "Jesus Take The Wheel" remained on both Canada and the United States pop hits chart for weeks on end. This initial album, entitled, Some Hearts earned seven times platinum and was historically recognized as the fastest selling country music album of all time. Some Hearts also landed Underwood two advertising deals with both Hershey chocolate and Sketchers shoes.

In 2006 Carrie Underwood won her first CMT Country Music Award in the Horizon Female Vocalist category. This award led to a whirlwind of over ninety-three additional awards thereafter, notably, the World's Best-Selling New Artist in 2008 and CMT Female Vocalist of the year in 2008.

While touring and continuing to work on her second album, Carrie Underwood was inducted into the honorable, Grand Ole Opry. Underwood stated on the night of the induction, "I promise I'll do everything I can to not make you regret it". Since that night, Underwood has sold over 10.4 million albums in the United States alone; blatantly proving her statement as truth.

Carrie Underwood was born to Stephen and Carole Underwood in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and was raised on her parents' farm in the rural town of Checotah, Oklahoma. She has two older sisters, Shanna and Stephanie. Her father worked in a sawmill while her mother was an elementary school teacher. During her childhood, Underwood had performed at local talent shows and at her church. In 1996, she was in the process of getting a contract with Capitol Records, but the deal was canceled when the recording company's management changed.

Besides being a talented singer, Underwood was also a good student. Underwood graduated from Checotah High School in 2001 as salutatorian. After high school, she attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, graduating magna cum laude in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in mass communication and an emphasis in journalism. For two years during the summer, Underwood performed in Northeastern State University'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.

Carrie Underwood has also chosen to use her good fortune to give back. Whether it be visiting American Troops in the Middle East or traveling to the desserts of Africa for 'American Idol's Give Back', this starlet uses her extra time to assist. Underwood, as a vegetarian, has also chosen to work closely with the Humane Society of the United States; continually donating to causes for animals needing rescue. Underwood also lent her voice to benefit cancer research. She was featured on the 2008 song, Just Stand Up. The proceeds benefited Stand Up to Cancer. As a result of their fund raising efforts, the SU2C scientific advisory committee, overseen by the American Association for Cancer Research was able to award 73.6 million dollars towards new groundbreaking research.