By Tammy Tyler
Photo: Andrew Eccles

Imagine a life of international fame, platinum selling albums, booming wealth and millions of adoring fans echoing the words made famous by your vocals

    Your gifts: an incredible voice, genuine charm and looks that challenge any cover girl on the pages of today’s hottest magazines. As you rest in the back seat of the luxury car that is taking you to your next appearance, you take a deep breath and a question pops in your mind, “How did I get here?” For many women, this is just a fairy tale. For one, this is her reality. At the tender age of seven, with punch stained lips, blue jeans and pigtails, Carrie Underwood belted out the words to “Jesus Loves Me” at her local church festivals. This pint-sized singer commanded the attention of crowds with her bold, powerful, but yet serene voice. Through her childhood and teen years, Carrie competed in numerous talent shows, but surprisingly, never won. “I usually placed but I never won. I would get so excited when I got to bring home one of those plastic trophies or a savings bond.” Underwood had no idea that the experiences in acquiring those “little trophies” were preparing her for an inconceivable story of success. “My whole life, I knew that I wanted to be a country music singer more than anything, but I just didn’t see it happening. After high school, I pretty much gave up on my dream of singing and enrolled at Northeastern State University to pursue a career in journalism.” Carrie became a more confident singer after her sorority sisters encouraged her to sing at the Downtown Country Show. Gaining confidence, Underwood did something completely out of character. She set out to audition for the most demanding singing competition in the nation – American Idol. The thought of traveling many miles to St. Louis to stand before Randy, After five months of grueling competition and 500 million votes, Ms. Carrie Underwood experienced the “best night of her life” as she was announced the winner of American Idol, 2005. She went from being a small town country girl to a big-time country super star in about 2 minutes! Her debut album, Some Hearts, is not only the top selling Idol album, but the fastest selling debut album in country music history! “My music ranges from sentimental and spiritual to a little bratty, a little sassy and a little naughty.” Underwood has shut the door on the age-old idea that if country music isn’t about living a brokendown, alcohol-fueled, honky-tonk filled life, then it ain’t country. “This [country music] is where I want to be and for you doubters out there thinking I might make a pop album, it’s just not gonna happen. Country music accepted me as I was and I didn’t have to change to fit in.