Carrie Underwood has always had an exceptional musical talent that ranges from singing to playing the guitar and piano. But after her she auditioned, and made it, to American Idol, she has fine tuned her talent and become a leading country and pop star.

On March 10, 1983, Carrie Underwood was born into a family of four living in the rural town of Checotah, Oklahoma. She grew up on a farm with her two older sisters, Shanna and Stephanie, and began singing in church and at local events as a young girl. She also performed in the Robbins Memorial Talent Show and, when she was thirteen, she was almost signed to Capitol Records. Unfortunatley, management changes at the company cancelled her recording contract.

Despite the setback, Carrie continued to love music and singing. She excelled at Checotah High School and graduated as salutatorian in 2001. From there, she attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and journalism. While attending, she was a member of the Sigma Sigma Sigma soroity and performed in the Northeastern Downtown Country Show in addition to several beauty pageants and it was during her time here, that Carrie audtioned for American Idol. She graduated magna cum laude in 2006.

In 2005, Carrie’s life as a small town, farm girl changed forever when she drove eight hours to St. Louis to audition for American Idol. She wowed the judges as well as the millions of people who watched and voted, and after Simon Cowell predicted that she would surely win the competition, she followed through. Her kindly, country personality also won the hearts of the American people and she became the fourth American Idol.

Not only did Carrie win the title but she also won a contract with Arista Records, a private jet for a year, and a 2005 blue Ford Mustang convertible. Being the talented fourth winner of American Idol and a positive role model, Carrie was honored when the governor of Oklahoma, Brad Henry, declared May 25, the day of her win, to be Carrie Underwood Day in Oklahoma.

June 14, 2005 marked the true beginning of Carrie’s career as her first single, “Inside Your Heaven,” was released and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song was the first song to reach the No. 1 spot since Lonestar’s “Amazed” five years before. The corresponding album, Some Hearts, was released on November 15, 2005 with the same success her single had. It reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and was certified Triple Patinum.

“Jesus Take the Wheel” continued her success when it first played on the radio in mid-October of 2005. The single stayed at the No. 1 spot for six weeks. Carrie’s third single, “Don’t Forget to Remember Me,” although not as popular as the other two, did make the No.2 spot on the Billboard Hot Country Chart and No.49 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Carrie returned to American Idol in May of 2006 to perform with the twelve finalists and perform the new single, “Don’t Forget to Remember Me.” She has also been honored with many awards like the Gospel Music Association Best Country Single of the Year Award, a Dove award, and the Academy of Country Music’s Top New Femal Vocalist of the Year Award. Carrie recently released her latest single, “Before He Cheats,” which made it to the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Top 50 on the Billboard Hot 100. This single may become the 100th No. 1 single on the Billboard charts from an American Idol winner.

Since her win on American Idol, Carrie has become the spokesperson for Sketchers shoes and she has sung jingles for Hershey’s candy bars like Kit Kat and Almond Joy on television commercials. In addition, Carrie has joined the “Got Milk” ad campaigns for the International Milk Foundation and done public service announcements for the Humane Society. Her positive outlook on life and wholesome attitude has made her an inspiration to young girls all over the nation and has appeared on the covers of several teen magazines since her debut.