Carrie Underwood Music

I can still vividly remember the week when Carrie Underwood, then yet an undiscovered country singer from Checotah, sang Heart’s “Alone” in American Idol 4. In her video, she said she wanted to veer away from the country image so she chose to sing this song. And it paid off!

After her performance, the usually acerbic judge Simon Cowell predicted that not only would Carrie Underwood win the contest, she would also sell far more records than any other Idol winners. Several weeks later, his first prophecy came true: Carrie was voted American Idol 2005.

The other prediction still has yet to come true.

Ever since her win, Carrie Underwood has proven that she is a superstar in her own right. After releasing her winning piece, “Inside Your Heaven,” she went on to release her first single “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” which did so well in the charts.

It was the start of a successful streak for Carrie Underwood music. Her debut album “Some Hearts” turned platinum seven times in the United States! She also did well in Canada where it turned platinum three times. At the Billboard Music Awards in 2006, it was named the number-one selling album in all genres.

“Some Hearts” was also the best selling debut album by a solo female country artist in history. How’s that for a first release? It was also the best selling album by an American Idol contestant in the US.

Carrie Underwood definitely is one of the most successful American Idol alumni. I rooted for her every single week, when she belted out and gave some of the best performances on the Idol stage. Even Simon was very impressed. Think about the disco week where she sang “McArthur Park,” the last note was unbelievable. She held it so long Paula said Simon turned fifty something.

She was clearly among the frontrunners. She was never in the bottom three. And what’s great about her is that you can see that she remained humble all throughout the contest, even now, after all the success she is having.

And it looks as though Simon’s other prophecy has just come true. According to Forbes magazine, Carrie Underwood is now the top earner among any other American Idol contestant. She earned an estimated $14 million last year, beating Kelly Clarkson, the most successful Idol winner, with an earning of $4.2 million.

Her endorsement deals, touring income, and recording royalties have propelled Carrie to the top of the hill. Following in her heels is Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson with an estimated $5 million, followed by Kelly Clarkson with $4.2 million. Kellie Pickler came in fifth, with $2.3 million.

After performing her new single “I Told You So” from her latest album Carnival Ride at the Academy of Music Awards in Las Vegas, the season four winner of American Idol, country superstar Carrie Underwood bagged the biggest award in her career yet—Entertainer of the Year.

She was the first woman to be honored in nearly ten years. She broke Kenny Chesney’s winning streak (he’s won four times already). The last time a woman took home the award was in 2000, when Dixie Chicks held the title.

Underwood is now in the same league as other country superstars like Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, Loretta Lynn, and Reba McEntire.

Of all the blessings she’s had in her four-year career, “this one takes the cake,” according to the former Idol champion. While fighting back tears in her acceptance speech, she states how she never thought she would be nominated, much more win the prestigious award.

She also won Top Female Vocalist of the Year for the third straight time. And just recently, she graced The Oprah Winfrey Show together with three other country music superstars. She sat on the couch of media mogul Winfrey with Kenny Chesney, Sugarland, and Darius Rucker.

In the show, she sang one of her single, Just a Dream from Carnival Ride, and allowed cameras inside her song-writing and workout session.

Now, fresh from her historic ACM win, Underwood received two nominations from the Country Music Television Awards for Video of the Year and Female Video of the Year. She’s also recognized by People Magazine as one of the most beautiful people on the planet. She’s found a spot in the 2009 World’s Most Beautiful People, together with Halle Berry, Michelle Obama, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Swift, and Zac Efron among others.