Born on March 10, 1983, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, Carrie Underwood had put aside her singing dreams for a degree in broadcast journalism, but everything changed after she auditioned for American Idol during her senior year at Northeastern State University. She won the show's fourth season in 2005, and went on to win multiple Grammy, Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music awards. In 2008, at age 26,

QUOTES

"I had a very happy childhood full of the wonderful simple things that children love to do. Growing up in the country, I enjoyed things like playing on dirt roads, climbing trees, catching little woodland creatures and, of course, singing."

– Carrie Underwood

Underwood became the youngest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Her hit albums include Carnival Ride, Play On and Blown Away.

Early Life

Singer, actress and activist Carrie Marie Underwood was born on March 10, 1983, in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Since winning the famed musical talent showAmerican Idol in 2005, Underwood has emerged as one of the most popular female performers in country music today. She was born and raised on a farm. "I had a very happy childhood full of the wonderful simple things that children love to do," Underwood stated on her website. "Growing up in the country, I enjoyed things like playing on dirt roads, climbing trees, catching little woodland creatures and, of course, singing."

After graduating from high school, Underwood attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. There, she majored in broadcast journalism and put aside her dreams of becoming a singer. During her senior year, in 2004, Underwood decided to try out for American Idol. Not only did she pass that audition, but she went on to become the winner of the show's fourth season.

Commercial Success

Her debut album, Some Hearts (2005), was certified triple platinum, making it the fastest-selling female country album since the introduction of the Nielsen SoundScan in 1991. Her first single, "Inside Your Heaven," hit the top of the Billboard charts.

With "Jesus, Take the Wheel," Underwood hit the top of the country charts. The song proved to be a critical success as well, winning Underwood the Academy of Country Music Award for single of the year; the Country Music Association Award for single of the year; and two Grammy Awards, for best female country vocal performance and best new artist, in 2006.

In contrast to her softer-sounding material, Underwood also had great success with "Before He Cheats," a tale about a straying ex-boyfriend. The single won Underwood a Grammy for best female country vocal performance and a CMA Award for single of the year in 2007. That same year, Underwood released her follow-up album,Carnival Ride (2007). It reached the top of the album charts and scored several No. 1 country hits, including the singles "Last Name" and "All-American Girl.

Grand Ole Opty Inductee

On May 10, 2008, at the age of 26, Underwood was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry by country star Garth Brooks, becoming the youngest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Later that year, in September 2008, Underwood won the CMA Award for female vocalist of the year—for the third consecutive time—forCarnival Ride. She was nominated for album of the year, but lost the award to George Strait.

Underwood also hosted the CMA Awards with fellow country star Brad Paisley.

In Recent Years

In February 2009, Underwood won a Grammy Award (best female country vocal performance) for her song "Last Name"—her fourth Grammy in three years. In November 2009, she received two more CMA Award nominations, for female vocalist of the year and musical event of the year. She also hosted the event for the second time.

A few weeks before hosting the CMA Awards, Underwood released her third studio album, Play On, three songs from which went on to earn a No. 1 spot on the charts: "Cowboy Casanova," "Temporary Home" and "Undo It." The singer followed that success with Blown Away, released in May 2012, which had sold more than 1.4 million copies by the following year. The album's hits include "Blown Away," "Good Girl" and "Two Black Cadillacs." 

In May 2013, it was announced that Underwood would be performing the Sunday Night Football theme song, taking over the coveted role for fellow country star Faith Hill, who performed "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night" for the past six seasons of the weekly television broadcast. She continued her work on television as Maria in the re-telling of the classic musical known as The Sound of Music (1965). The television event, which is completely live, more closely follows the original 1959 musical than it does the cult classic film starring Julie Andrews. She stars opposite Stephen Moyer, who will play Captain Von Trapp.

Underwood has been described by music critics, such as Billboard's, as Country Music's reigning Queen and, as of early 2013, has sold more than 13 million album copies and over 27 million digital tracks in the United States. The Recording Industry Association of Americarecognizes Underwood as the 10th Top Artist (Digital Singles) of all time, being the highest-ranked American Idol alumni on the list, with 22.5 million certified units. Since May 2011, Underwood is the Biggest American Idol Earner, with, at the time of the press release, over $66 million in tour revenues, besides her records sales. She is also the fourth biggest album seller of the past 10 years. Worldwide, she has sold over 30 million singles and nearly 16 million albums. She is the female country artist with the most number one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, from 1991 to present, having 12 No. 1s and breaking her own Guinness Book record of ten, which was co-held with Reba McEntire. On February 22, 2013, Billboard ranked Underwood as the 16th money maker for the period from February 2012 to February 2013. She earned close to $12 million, being American Idol's Top Earner and second for female country artists. In June 2013, Forbes placed Underwood at number 46 on The Celebrity 100 list, reporting that she earned more than $31 million between June 2012 and June 2013, being, once again, the top-earning American Idol.

On January 21, 2013, "Can't Stop Lovin' You", a song by rock band Aerosmith with featured vocals by Underwood, was released as a single. On May 25, Underwood joined The Rolling Stones on stage during the stop of the band's 50 and Counting Tour in Toronto, Canada. They performed "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)". On September 22, 2013, at the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards, she was part of the Emmy Awards' special tribute honoring the 50th Anniversary of 1963 Television Milestones, which includes the assassination coverage of PresidentJohn F. Kennedy and The Beatles’ first U.S. appearance. She performed one of The Beatles' iconic songs, "Yesterday".

2014: Upcoming fifth studio album and tour

Underwood confirmed that she began planning a new album in August 2013 and would start prep work sometime in 2014. Underwood told Billboard, "After The Sound of Music, I feel like I can really buckle down and start working on the next album." Underwood also stated she has been planning another tour, which might me toned down form her earlier ones, stating, “I haven’t thought about it much because I don’t know what the next album is going to sound like, but I like just standing there and singing, too. I may take a different approach, a more simple approach on the next one. I loved the energy that rock concerts had,” Underwood told Billboard.

Underwood is featured on Miranda Lambert's upcoming album, Platinum, on a song called "Something Bad". In 2014, the Academy of Country Music awarded Underwood the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award, for her widespread exposure through NFL Sunday Night Football, the live NBC broadcast of The Sound of Music, her worldwide Blown Away Tour and her charity work with the American Red Cross and her C.A.T.S. Foundation.