Discuss the latest American idol Winner.

She appears on page 115 of People and five times in Teen People.

Carrie Underwood appears twice in Life & Style and once in this week's In Touch Weekly.

Carrie Underwood appears once in Life & Style and In Touch.

Carrie appears once in US Weekly, Life & Style, and People.

Check out her performance of Reba's hit "Does He Love You" with Jamie O'Neil on the CMT special, "Top 100 Duets". It kicks ass!

I've seen bits & pieces.

Carrie Underwood
Some Hearts
Record Label: Arista Records
Release Date: November 15, 2005
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Our Review:
Carrie Underwood is hoping to replicate fellow American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson's success by using Faith Hill's crossover country sound. Her first single, "Jesus, Take the Wheel," is already a hit in Nashville, and "Before He Cheats" should easily repeat the trick. But the album isn't all fiddles and fornication. The Oklahoma native now has an enormous pop fan base to please, and she travels an expected route in an to attempt to play to it: working with an army of top songwriters-for-hire who deliver drab middle-of-the-road fodder. It was with those tunes, such as "We're Young and Beautiful" and a reprise of her first post-Idol hit "Inside Your Heaven," where we lost the singer and saw the TV star sadly come into the forefront too much.

A Big Day For American Idol Winner Carrie Underwood
It's been nearly six months since Carrie Underwood took home the title of American Idol 4 Winner. Last night in an appearance on Larry King Live, Carrie Underwood described the moment when she won saying “It was amazing. It's one of those moments that you know everybody has…those moments you know when you get engaged or you have a baby or something like that. It's one of those moments that you're going to remember forever. And that moment I am going to remember forever.”
Today is likely to be another one of those moments for Carrie Underwood as not only is her long awaited album “Some Hearts” being officially released in stores but she is also set to perform on the 39th Annual CMA Awards. Many wondered initially if the country music establishment would accept a new singer brought to them via way of winning what is traditionally thought of as a pop show, but all indications are that Carrie has been embraced with open arms.
Since her American Idol win, Carrie has performed at the CMA Music Festival, the Grand Ole Opry, and numerous other country music venues. Carrie's appearance on Larry King Live was right alongside country music superstars like Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, Barbara Mandrell, & Jo Dee Messina.
In many ways, Carrie Underwood represents the future for country music. Carrie has the potential to expose a whole new group of fans to the country music genre. The success of Carrie's new album will not only be a good thing for Carrie Underwood, but it will also be a good thing for country music as a whole.
The 39th Annual CMA Awards hosted by Brooks & Dunn, will be broadcast live from Madison Square Garden in New York City, Tuesday, November 15, 2005 (8:00-11:00 PM/live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Carrie Underwood's CMA Awards Performance Kicked Off Album Launch Week
NASHVILLE, TN (Carrie Underwood Official Website) - Carrie Underwood debuted her new single, "Jesus, Take The Wheel" for television audiences during the CMA Awards this week, which was also the day her album SOME HEARTS hit record stores. To celebrate her release, Underwood and her mother stopped by the Virgin record store in Times Square on the way over to Madison Square.
Garden for the CMA's to purchase a copy. While mom and daughter waited in line the store, not knowing Underwood was present, played a cut from the album, "Don't Forget To Remember Me," which happens to be "their" song on the CD.
Underwood follows up her CMA performance with an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight and Grand Ole Opry Live Nov. 19. More television appearances not previously announced are the "Rockefeller Tree Lighting Special" on NBC Nov. 30 and the Billboard Music Awards on FOX Dec. 6.
Fans can read more about Underwood in current and upcoming features in Country Weekly, Life & Style, Seventeen, US Weekly, In Touch Weekly and more.

Carrie's big day
Carrie Underwood walked down the red carpet at Tuesday's Country Music Awards trying to get her mom to stop stepping on her gown. The reigning American Idol attended her first CMAs with her mother Carol just behind the train of her sleek red dress. It was a big day for Underwood, whose debut album, Some Hearts, was released Tuesday. "Instead of going through it all twice, this mashed everything together," she said. "I went to a record store this morning and bought my album. ... It's been surreal."

Carrie Underwood Article: http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/ent...ic/13222039.htm

How Carrie Underwood Made Country Music History
November 23, 2005
How Carrie Underwood Made Country Music History
American Idol winner Carrie Underwood's debut album "Some Hearts" sold 314,000 units in its first week of release, which makes her the highest debuting new artist in the country genre since the SoundScan music charts began. Carrie's CD is also the highest charting album for a debut artist in 2005. Not bad for a simple girl from Checotah, Oklahoma. (And in case you're keeping track, Carrie's CD sales beat the first week numbers of both Kelly Clarkson and Fantasia Barrino's debut discs.)
Carrie is keeping busy these days as she continues a hectic promotional tour. The singer, who has already appeared on shows including Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The View, is also scheduled to appear on Ellen, The Billboard Awards, Dr. Phil and Dateline NBC.
Despite her busy schedule, Carrie made time to purchase her first home this week. She also told the ladies of The View that she is still working on completing her college degree and she will graduate in May. You go, girl!

Carrie Underwood Pictures: http://realitytv.about.com/od/americanidol/ss/CarriePics.htm

CARRIE UNDERWOOD: Some Hearts
(Arista Nashville)
7.29512 out of 10
Goes Well With: Kelly Clarkson, Michael W. Smith, repentance
Finally, Church of the Rock parishioners bummed that Creed has strayed from the flock can find solace in this here hip music that all the kids are listening to. Playing the part of sweet to Kelly Clarkson's skank, Some Hearts is a perfect stocking stuffer for the post-pubescent Protestant male-wholesome, holy and when used as masturbatory inspiration, God doesn't kill a kitten.
Underwood's evengelical country is both album of the year for Wal-Mart single moms and just faux-rock enough to prove she could kick Clay Aiken's ass in a steel cage match.

CD reviews: Carrie Underwood, more
Carrie Underwood, "Some Hearts" (Arista)
Big, throbby voices and show-stopping climaxes inevitably prevail on "American Idol," and this year's winner brings them to country on her debut. Underwood sings power-ballad country in the mold of Faith Hill. The model is more Aerosmith's "Dream On" (plus pedal steel guitar) than anything from old Nashville. Sooner or later -- generally around the third verse -- the arrangements turn into anthems and Underwood moves into full belter mode. The songs come from Diane Warren (a power ballad supplier for Hill, Aerosmith and Celine Dion), Hillary Lindsey (who collaborated on the single "Jesus, Take the Wheel," about finding religion during a near-accident) and other songwriters. They have Underwood emoting through coming-of-age songs, reluctant farewells and premature reflections on life: She's 22. After a while, the tearjerking machinery grows oppressive. And Underwood is such a goody-goody throughout the album that it's a relief when, in "Before He Cheats," she defaces and smashes a cheating boyfriend's car.

Carrie Underwood's Debut CD Pounces Into Top Album Spot
CMA Awards Show, Johnny Cash Movie Reverberate Through Charts
Turn down the stove, Mama. The charts are boiling over.
The clamor surrounding the CMA Awards show in New York and the premiere of the Johnny Cash biopic, Walk the Line, is reflected throughout this week's Billboard country albums and singles charts.
The biggest news, though, is that Carrie Underwood's first CD, Some Hearts, sold 314,549 copies in its first week of release to knock Kenny Chesney's The Road and the Radio off the top of the album ranking. As further evidence of her musical strength, the 2005 American Idol winner also pranced in at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 all-genre list. Madonna's new project, Confessions on a Dance Floor, debuted at the top of the pop list.
On the singles side, Dierks Bentley's "Come a Little Closer" becomes his second No. 1 single. (His first was "What Was I Thinkin'" in September 2003). Bentley's Twittyesque come-on dislodges Keith Urban's "Better Life," which spent six straight weeks at the top.
Big & Rich's Comin' to Your City parades onto the charts at No. 3. The other Top 5 albums are Chesney's The Road and the Radio at No. 2; Martina McBride's Timelsss, which drops from No. 3 to No. 4; and Rascal Flatts' Feels Like Today, which slides from No. 3 to No. 5. (Both McBride's and Rascal Flatts' albums are former No. 1's.)

Among the albums apparently benefiting from their creators' appearances on the CMA Awards are Urban's Be Here, which bounds from No. 11 to No. 6; Brad Paisley's Time Well Wasted, from No. 17 to No. 12; Brooks & Dunn's Hillbilly Deluxe, from No. 25 to No. 15; Miranda Lambert's Kerosene, from No. 34 to No. 25; Lee Ann Womack's There's More Where That Came From, from No. 68 to No. 32; and Alison Krauss & Union Station's Lonely Runs Both Ways, from No. 55 to No. 44.
Womack's Greatest Hits returns to the chart at No. 67 and Brooks & Dunn's The Greatest Hits Collection II re-enters at No. 63. (For reasons having nothing at all to do with the CMA's, Delbert McClinton's long-absent Cost of Living also makes a comeback -- at No. 72.).
Probably boosted by Garth Brooks' Times Square performance of "Good Ride Cowboy" during the CMA Awards, Chris LeDoux's Anthology, Volume 1 ascends from No. 70 to No. 61. "Good Ride Cowboy" is Brooks' musical tribute to the late singer-songwriter-rodeo cowboy.
Cash-wise, the soundtrack album to Walk the Line makes its debut at a respectable No. 17, while Cash's own The Legend vaults from No. 69 to No. 48 and Walking the Line: The Legendary Sun Sessions enters at No. 66.
Finally, we have our first holiday-album charting of the season -- the various artists collection, Thomas Kinkade: Country Christmas, which skates in at No. 71.
Now, back to the singles. Chesney's "Who You'd Be Today" lingers at No. 2 for the third week. Joe Nichols' "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off" holds at No. 3 for its second week. Urban's seemingly unquenchable "Better Life" slumps to No. 4. And Brooks' "Good Ride Cowboy" rides into the No. 5 spot.
Among this week's notable movers are Underwood's "Jesus, Take the Wheel," which accelerates from No. 18 to No. 14; Sugarland's "Just Might (Make Me Believe)," from No. 22 to No. 19; Paisley and Dolly Parton's "When I Get Where I'm Going," from No. 23 to No. 20; Montgomery Gentry's "She Don't Tell Me To," from No. 28 to No. 24; Brooks & Dunn's "Believe," from No. 33 to No. 29; Sara Evans' "Cheatin'," from No. 36 to No. 32; Rockie Lynne's "Lipstick," from No. 45 to No. 39; Wynonna's "Attitude," from No. 44 to No. 40; and SHeDAISY's "I'm Takin' the Wheel," from No. 57 to No. 45.
The highest-charting new single this week is Urban's "Tonight I Wanna Cry," which makes its official bow at No. 42. Bon Jovi and Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles, who sang together on the CMA show, step onto the chart at No. 48 with "Who Says You Can't Go Home."
The remaining new entries are Jason Aldean's "Why," No. 49; Womack's "Twenty Years and Two Husbands Ago," No. 56; Jamie O'Neal's "I Love My Life," No. 58; and Carolina Rain's "Let's Get It On," No. 60.
May all your bells jingle.
http://www.cmt.com/artists/news/1514481/11...equestid=195213

Carrie Underwood Appearances
Underwood makes high-profile appearances next couple weeks.
By Neil Haislop
NEW YORK, NY Wednesday Nov.30.2005 /netmusiccountdown.com/ -- Carrie Underwood will be busy for the next couple of weeks with some high profile appearances.
Catch her November 30th on NBC's Rockefeller Tree Lighting event. The next day, December 1st, you can see her on "Ellen." She'll also be on the Billboard Music Awards on December 6th and "Dr. Phil" on December 14th.
ALSO, CARRIE & RASCAL FLATTS will appear on the TNT Christmas In Washington Special December 14th.

American Idol Carrie Underwood Follows Historic Chart Debut with Another Incredible Week
Nashville, TN (Carrie Underwood Official Website) - 2005 American Idol winner Carrie Underwood continues to prove she is indeed America's darling as she follows last week's record-setting chart entry of her debut 19 Recordings/Arista Records/Arista Nashville collection, Some Hearts, with another sensational chart week. After only two weeks in stores, Some Hearts now tops the 500,000 unit sales mark according to SoundScan, with the album second only to superstar Kenny Chesney this week on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart.
Carrie's first-week album entry (which placed her at No 1 on the country chart and No 2 on the Billboard 200 all-genre chart, with more than 314,000 units sold) made SoundScan history as the biggest-selling debut album ever by a new country artist.
More remarkable still, Carrie has joined extraordinary company with the release of Some Hearts, as no female country artist in SoundScan history, with the exception of superstars Faith Hill and Shania Twain, has ever achieved higher first-week numbers on any album.
Radio continues to embrace Carrie in a big way, as well, with the disc's powerful lead single, 'Jesus, Take the Wheel,' climbing the country airplay charts at an amazing clip, already soaring to No 11 Billboard and No 12 R&R after only six weeks.

Current "American Idol" winner Carrie Underwood is aiming for both pop and country success with her debut album, "Some Hearts," which was released on Nov. 15. The project is being worked to radio and retail via the combined forces of Arista Nashville and J Records.
Underwood has already scored with "Inside Your Heaven," the year's best-selling retail single. The song, which has sold 434,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan, topped the Billboard Hot 100 in July.
Her latest offering, "Jesus, Take the Wheel," recently entered Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart at No. 39. It marked the first time a newcomer has debuted within the top 40 of that tally with a song from a debut album since Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems' monitored airplay information was adopted as the basis for the radio charts in 1990.

E! True Hollywood Story
Just a reminder that Carrie will be on the E! True Hollywood Story "Women of American Idol" on the E! Channel on December 11, at 8pm. BE SURE to tune in guys!! There may(be) "maybe" a quick little suprise for you at the end of the show regarding carrieunderwoodonline.com so be sure to set your vcrs and watch it! (MAYBE not but we'll see - fingers crossed hehe) The E! channel has been very gracious and so very kind- be sure not to miss the show!
Site Updates
I updated the gallery with HQ caps of Carrie @ the Rockefella Center during the Christmas show and you can check out those photos by clicking here . I have various media to add but there are just to many visitors right now to update multimedia- so I am waiting to do that. I have scans to post, but this week I have a lot on me with work and things, so be patient with me this week as things will soon calm down for me. Also, I am thinking of making the photogallery for registered users only, for various personal reasons and I'll be working on that over the next few weeks.
'Idol' star boasts crossover move (Source: Indystar.com)
"Some Hearts," Arista Records. Reviewed by Helen Huntley, St. Petersburg Times.
Fans of the show already know that "American Idol" winner Carrie Underwood has great pipes. In "Some Hearts," she's come up with some great songs to go with them, skillfully bridging the pop-country divide to appeal to fans of both genres. Current single "Jesus Take the Wheel" is the standout track, a classic country story of loss and redemption that soars into a chorus of "Jesus take the wheel, take it from my hands, 'cause I can't do this on my own." Don't let that fool you into thinking this is a Sunday school production, however.
Underwood also delivers "Before He Cheats" with a real edge. As the woman wronged, she sings about taking out her wrath on her boyfriend's four-wheel-drive, keying the paint, slashing the tires, smashing the headlights with a baseball bat and carving her name into the leather seats. "Maybe next time he'll think before he cheats," she sings. We guess so.
Country fans also will like "I Ain't in Checotah Anymore," in which Underwood sings about the transition to the big time from the small Oklahoma town where she grew up. It's the only track on the album she had a hand in writing. Lest there be any misunderstanding, Underwood's version of country is Faith Hill, not Tammy Wynette. Some of the songs have crossover hit written all over them, starting with the upbeat title track and a powerful ballad, "I Just Can't Live a Lie." The really good news for Underwood fans is that most of the songs on the album are better than the final track, "Inside Your Heaven," which was a top-selling single this summer.

People Magazine - Letter to the Editor (December 5 issue)
Some Carrie Underwood fans wrote letters to the editor of People Magazine and they made the cut!
I 've been a huge fan of Carrie Underwood's since I saw her American Idol audition. Not only is she an amazingly talented singer, but she's sweet and devoted to her family, friends and, of course, her hometown of Checotah, Okla. Carrie has a great career ahead of her. Kristen Friedland Silver Spring, Md.
Carrie Underwood is the American dream incarnate with her small-town-girl-conquers-Hollywood story. It certainly doesn't hurt that she has the voice and face of an angel. Bravo, People, for sharing her rags-to-riches story. Ann Phillips Oklahoma City, Okla.

Carrie Wins The Hearts Of States (The Mirror)
The Mirror (London, England); 12/1/2005
AMERICAN Idol winner Carrie Underwood made history last week when her debut album, Some Hearts, moved 314,549 units in its first week of release, making her the highest debuting new artist in the Country genre since SoundScan began.
Carrie also earned the distinction of selling more units than any other debut female American Idol star to date. In addition, Carrie's album is the highest charting album for a debut artist in 2005.
The sales numbers easily put "Some Hearts" at the top of Billboard's Top Country Albums Chart, with an overall ranking of Number 2 on the Billboard 200, which ranks albums of all genres.

Carrie Underwood's impressive sales numbers were propelled in part by her powerful single, Jesus, Take The Wheel, currently sitting at No.14 on the Billboard Monitor Country chart and gaining momentum more quickly than any other record at the format. In fact, the track made chart history earlier by becoming the first single by a new artist to debut inside the Top 40 on the Country charts since BDS monitoring started in 1990.
In addition to the remarkable radio airplay, Carrie has only just begun a slate of television performances which will remind fans of the spectacular voice and charismatic stage presence that earned her the top spot at this year's American Idol competition.
Underwood's performance at the recent CMA Awards made show history when she became the first artist with only one single to secure a coveted performance and presenter slot on the biggest Country Music primetime television show of the year.
Carrie also recently performed on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and on the Today Show. She is scheduled to make appearances on Ellen and the Billboard Awards.
In addition, Carrie will bring some holiday cheer to television audiences by singing Christmas songs on shows like Dr. Phil, TNT's upcoming "Christmas in Washington" special and on the annual Christmas at Rockefeller Centre.
Carrie will be the subject of a profile on NBC's Dateline in early December as well as a profile on CMT's "In The Moment" on December 16.

Carrie Underwood Article: http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1517603/12...equestid=358276

Carrie Underwood TV Alert
Underwood to NBC's Dateline this Sunday, Dec. 11.
By Neil Haislop
NASHVILLE, TN Friday Dec.9.2005 /netmusiccountdown.com/ -- Carrie Underwood is hot on the album and singles charts and in demand on TV.
Tune in this Sunday, December 11th, to see a Carrie profile airing on NBC's Dateline. A few days later, on December 14th, catch Carrie's appearances on the syndicated Dr. Phil and TNT's Christmas in Washington. Fans can also watch for the22-year-old sensation on December 16th as CMT -- Country Music Television -- debuts Carrie's edition of the network's popular behind-the-scenes series, In the Moment.

Underwood, Shelton, Malo, O'Neal on TV on Sunday
Carrie Underwood will be profiled by Dateline NBC on Sunday night (Dec. 11). Cameras followed her while recording and promoting her debut album, Some Hearts. ... Several artists will be performing the national anthem at NFL games to air regionally Sunday on CBS. Blake Shelton will sing at the Kansas City Chiefs/Dallas Cowboys game. Raul Malo, lead singer of the Mavericks, will perform at the New York Jets/Oakland Raiders game. Jamie O'Neal stays closer to home by appearing at the Houston Texans/Tennessee Titans game in Nashville.

American Idol Winner Carrie Underwood's Some Hearts Album Could Bring A New Heyday To Country Music
Some people think that you have to either be a Bo Bice or a Carrie Underwood fan, but can't be both. I can tell you that is not the case. Both of these singers bring something refreshing and different to the music industry. Carrie's new album Some Hearts is a promising debut album that foreshadows what will likely be a long and successful career.
The strongest part of the Some Hearts album is Carrie's voice. Carrie has a very memorable voice with great range. Many have compared Carrie's voice to Martina McBride. During the American Idol contest Carrie did a cover of Independence Day that showed she was one of the few singers besides Martina who could sing that song and do it justice. While the comparison to Martina is a good one because Martina is a powerful singer, Carrie also has a unique quality to her voice that differentiates her from Martina.
A popular compliment paid to singers is to tell them that they could sing the phone book and it would still sound good. This compliment would definitely apply to Carrie Underwood. There are some great songs on Some Hearts, but the amazing thing about Carrie is that she even makes the average songs sound great.
If there was one thing that could have been done better on Some Hearts, then it is that it should have included more original songs by Carrie. The producers probably wanted to play it conservative, and they brought in a bevy of experienced and talented songwriters to make sure Carrie's premiere album was filled with solid hit songs.
Ironically, the strongest song on the album turns out to be “I Ain't In Checotah Anymore,” which is the one song that Carrie had a hand in writing. “I Ain't In Checotah Anymore” has catchy lyrics that are sure to strike a chord with anyone raised in a small town. Carrie Underwood comes alive during the song, and it's obvious that she's singing a song that means something to her.

“Jesus, Take The Wheel” is another song that a lot of listeners will probably be able to relate to. It was a good choice for the album and a good choice for the first single from the album. “Jesus, Take The Wheel” and “I Ain't In Checotah Anymore” will likely become the signature songs from this album that Carrie will sing at concerts for many years to come.
Another song that could catch on and become a popular concert song is “Before He Cheats.” This song starts out with the line “Right now he's probably slow dancing with that bleach blond tramp,” and goes on to include some key scratching, Louisville slugger bashing, tire slashing revenge. It's dramatically different from any other song on the album and dramatically different than the type of song that most people would probably expect coming from Carrie Underwood's mouth. However, Carrie pulls the song off and makes it fun, and for that reason it is likely to become a crowd favorite.
One of my personal favorites from the album that hasn't been getting a lot of attention yet is “Wasted.” The lyrics of the song could serve as a fair representation of Carrie's career since American Idol as she sings, “I don't wanna spend my life jaded, waiting to wake up one day and find that I let all of these years go by wasted.” With appearances on a variety of television specials and a debut album that is rocketing up the charts, Carrie Underwood is certainly wasting no time in establishing herself as a force to be reckoned with in the country music industry. With a style that has broad range appeal, Carrie Underwood has the potential to attract more new listeners to country music than any artist since the heyday of Garth Brooks in the early nineties.
Fanscape.com has the music video of Carrie Underwood's single “Jesus, Take The Wheel” online. Carrie Underwood is also scheduled to appear on a Dateline NBC profile airing on Sunday, December 11 at 7:00 P.M. ET.

Underwood's pipes aid average effort
Sony BMG Music (Canada) Ltd. photo
Carrie Underwood.
Carrie Underwood
Some Hearts
Arista Nashville/Sony BMG
*** (out of five)
Although this 22-year-old Oklahoma lass essentially earned her instant fame courtesy of TV's karaokefest American Idol, Carrie Underwood possesses one true real quality: a decent set of pipes.
And when matched with the right kind of material, Underwood can capably add persona to her squeaky-clean new country. There are moments on Before He Cheats where Underwood's air of gritted-teeth resignation is felt as she sings "Right now, she's probably up singing some/white-trash version of Shania karaoke/Right now, she's probably saying 'I'm drunk'/and he's a-thinking that he's gonna get lucky." Same goes for when Underwood kicks into Faith Hill-like party-girl mode on We're Young And Beautiful (with Carrie teasing, "Kiss me like you mean it") or espousing great pride for her hometown on I Ain't In Checotah Anymore. Too bad these are overshadowed by Inside You Heaven and Jesus, Take The Wheel? and more of that pedestrian lest-we-offend-the-faith-believers schlock that seemingly taps into how proud Americans should feel about their girl-next-door AmIdol queen.

Christmas In Washington Photos Featuring Carrie Underwood: http://www.wireimage.com/GalleryListing.as...p=gls====153536 http://www.wireimage.com/GalleryListing.as...p=gls====153544 http://www.wireimage.com/GalleryListing.as...p=gls====153546

Carrie Underwood Podcast
We speak with the former American Idol winner and newly minted country superstar.
by Spence D.
December 15, 2005 - Nobody would be faulted for calling Carrie Underwood's current situation a fairy tale come true. The singer was raised in the small town of Checotah, Oklahoma, the youngest of three siblings. She began utlizing her sweet vocal talents in church and in school musicals. She continued on this path all the way through college, music was a part of her life, but not the focus of it. Instead she was focusing on a career in broadcast journalism.
This is where the fairy tale part comes in. Thanks to a twist of fate, she caught a news story about the tryouts for the 2005 American Idol that were taking place in Cleveland, Ohio. A voice in her head sparked up, reminding her that people had always suggested she try out for the show. Next thing she knew, she was in St. Louis trying out.
If you watched the show this past season then you konw what happened. If you didn't, well Underwood won. Then she headed to Nashville and got her country music jones fixed, releasing her debut solo album, Some Hearts, in November. Needless to say it topped the charts, both on the pop and country side of things. Life is good.
We caught up with Ms. Underwood recently and talked about her whirlwind career, her music, and what it's like to become part of a modern day fairy tale.
http://music.ign.com/articles/676/676125p1.html

Carrie Underwood "Some Hearts" review
CARRIE UNDERWOOD
"Some Hearts" (Arista, 1.5 stars)
The current "American Idol" winner took her sweet time assembling her debut. So why is this coming-out party still boring? Well, nothing in this collection of saccharine anthems manages to elevate or define Underwood's pleasant if undistinguished voice. The Oklahoma native sounds most comfortable on the hickory-flavored country tracks, such as "Don't Forget to Remember Me" and "Jesus Take the Wheel," but even these ring a little hollow. Underwood has potential, but so far, she seems like a little girl playing dress-up in her momma's clothes.

Carrie Underwood: Lil' Bit Country, Lil' Bit Rock & Roll
The reigning American Idol talks to TEEN PEOPLE about stardom, her secret playlist and the rumor about her beef with a certain popstar
By Sheila Cosgrove
Dec 16, 2005 12:00AM EST
Stephen Lovekin/WireImage.com
Just six months after winning American Idol, Carrie Underwood has released her debut album -- Some Hearts -- and it's gone straight to top of the charts, ranking number one on Billboards County chart and number 2 on The Billboard 200. So when TEEN PEOPLE caught up with Carrie she was smiling but weary from stardom. Interviews, appearances, and a performance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade had Underwood running all over New York City before flying home to Oklahoma for the holiday weekend.
On Some Hearts, Underwood says that she would "rather be tipping cows in Tulsa than hailing cabs in New York," but she sure looked glam to us. She arrived with a mini-entourage and was wearing a sparkly tank and hoodie combination from BCBG, perfectly faded jeans, and hip suede boots.
She sank into an armchair for a good ol' chat with out cameras. Take a peak:
TEEN PEOPLE: Wow, you look amazing. What's your secret?
Carrie Underwood: Goodness! Don't take too long [getting ready]. I'd say, if you take to long, it starts lookin' like you took too long!
TEEN PEOPLE: So, you become the American Idol, and all of a sudden you have access to hair, fashion, and makeup experts, what did you realize you were doing all wrong?
Carrie Underwood: Since I've been working with all of these people that make me look great, I realized that I never really cared before. And it's kinda interesting 'cause they want me to look my best, but I'm like urgh! [rolling her eyes.]
TEEN PEOPLE: What would your fans be most shocked to know about you?
Carrie Underwood: I listen to all kinds of music. And while country music is my favorite, and it's certainly what I like to perform and what I like to sing, I also love really hard rock. I mean, really hard rock, like Slipknot and some of the old Green Day stuff.

TEEN PEOPLE: A closet rock chic? That's great. Who are some of your other favorite musicians and even actors?
Carrie Underwood: Musically, I love the Radical Flats boys and Trisha Yearwood. My favorite actor and actress are Johnny Depp and Drew Barrymore.
TEEN PEOPLE: Speaking of famous folks, that includes you now. What's the price of fame?
Carrie Underwood: Losing normalcy. All of the people that are actors and actresses and musicians and are famous, they're just people who have really cool jobs. And I think sometimes people forget that. And, you know, going to the store or going shopping, it becomes an ordeal, but I definitely think it's worth it.
TEEN PEOPLE: You also end up on the rumor mill. Some of the message boards on your fan sites say that you have beef with Hillary Duff. What's up?Carrie Underwood: Huh? I do? I don't have a problem with Hillary Duff! Why would I? I've never even met her! What did they say was the problem?
TEEN PEOPLE: That you were fighting.
Carrie Underwood: Cool!
TEEN PEOPLE: …And there's the dating rumors…so who are you dating?
Carrie Underwood: How do you know I'm dating someone?
TEEN PEOPLE: I don't.
Carrie Underwood: You said, "Who are you dating?" like I'm dating someone. I am though, yes.
TEEN PEOPLE: Do you want to tell us who?
Carrie Underwood: …Uh, not really.
http://www.teenpeople.com/teenpeople/artic...139146,00.shtml

20 Questions With Carrie Underwood
American Idol Artist Discusses Touring, TV and Randy Travis
Editor's note: Go behind the scenes with Carrie Underwood when her episode of CMT's In the Moment premieres Friday (Dec. 16) at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
You've just won American Idol! What are you going to do next? If you're Carrie Underwood, you go to Nashville. A longtime country fan, the talented Oklahoma native is cruising the country airwaves with "Jesus, Take the Wheel." Answering these questions from her fans, Underwood talks about finding songs, handling criticism and making the easy choice between romance and animals.
1. What gave you the courage to stick with your country roots? It had to take courage when competing on American Idol.
I was a little worried in the beginning about maybe possibly singing country music to people who might not really understand it. I thought it may be a little detrimental to me, but I knew that that's the kind of record deal I wanted afterwards, whether I won or not. I figured it would be silly to stray because then I'd end up with possibly nothing.
2. I know it is important for you to be in Nashville to further your career. Are you going to live there? I am an Oklahoman, and we are hoping you'll keep your ties here.
My parents do still live in Oklahoma, so if I ever have a couple of days off, I'm definitely going to Oklahoma. It really makes sense for me to have a house here in Nashville just because everything and everybody I work with is here in Nashville. It just makes sense, instead of me living in a hotel, like I'm doing right now, to get a house. Hopefully that will happen very soon. But also Oklahoma is home -- home-home.

3. How much input did you actually have in choosing songs for your new CD?
There were so many wonderful songs from wonderful, wonderful songwriters here in Nashville -- and everywhere else -- that were sending us great songs. It was really just a matter of several of us sitting down and picking ones that would definitely work for me and definitely work for everything. I've never done this before, obviously, so I don't know what the best songs are. It's ultimately my decision about everything, so I definitely had people around helping me figure things out. I could have never done that alone. People would send me songs here and there, and we'd weed them out.
4. What was the first thing that came to your mind when your name was called as the new American Idol?
I honestly don't think I was thinking anything. I think it was all just kind of a shocked, emotional time. I mean, I was just waiting for my name to be called --and it was -- so it was like exciting and shocking and happy all at the same time.
5. You and Bo Bice seemed very close on the show. Have you spoken to him outside the American Idol tour? Is there any thought to doing a duet together?
I have seen him since the tour was over, and he is doing very well. He's definitely got his own stuff going on right now, so if we did do something, it would definitely be later on in the future. We're both kind of trying to work on getting ourselves established first and then possibly branching out into duets and whatnot. I wish him the best, and I know he wishes me the best.
6. Was there ever a time on American Idol where you just didn't want to be in the competition anymore?
There were times when I was really scared, but that was about the only reason. I thought, "I gotta quit" or just thoughts running through my head like, "What if I can't? What if I fail?" But I knew I had to keep going, or I'd regret it forever.

7. Are you considering cutting a full-length version of Heart's "Alone" for an album? Lots of us thought it was your best performance on the show and really propelled you to victory. We also liked your version of Pat Benatar's "Love Is a Battlefield" and Air Supply's "Making Love Out of Nothing at All."
Heart and Pat Benatar, they are definitely such amazing people. I was just trying not to screw the songs up. I really like Air Supply. I think it would be really fun to have a female do some of their songs. I love them to death, and I think that would work. But me trying to do Heart or Pat Benatar as my own, I don't think it would work out so well. It was fun, like kind of pretend or try my best to try to do them, but that's not really so much my style. They are awesome. They're amazing.
8. What are your plans for promoting your new album? When can we expect to see you on a solo tour?
There are a lot of talk shows and things like that. A lot of press that I'm going to be doing. ... As far as the tour goes, you know, we're shooting for next spring, so it depends on who's going to be on tour then and who I can go sing with. So, whoever it is, I'm excited. I would rather tour with somebody because I think I need to work up to [headlining shows]. I don't think I'm there yet, to be able to do my own, personally. I think I would feel much more comfortable if I were a special guest with somebody.
9. Do you have special requests when you go on tour? What are the requirements for your dressing room?
Whenever we were on tour, I didn't even turn in my riders sheet, just because all I pretty much need is water, and I'm good. Maybe if they have fruit or a vegetable tray or whatever, I'm good with that, too. But as far as any requirements, I don't have any.
10. Is there anyone else in your family who's musical? Who taught you guitar?
Nobody else in my family is really musical. My oldest sister has a nice voice, but she is definitely not an entertainer. She does not like to be in front of people, and she gets really nervous. As far as me learning the guitar, I actually learned the piano first, and I think that really helped me out. I could kind of teach myself some stuff on the guitar, and I took lessons my junior year of high school.

11. Do you carry any particular CDs from your music collection around with you when you're traveling away from home? If so, which ones?
I keep my iPod with me -- which has every CD I have, ranging from everything from country to oldies to hard rock to R&B to whatever you can think of. I think I'd go crazy if I didn't have that with me. I love Randy Travis. He's a good calm-me-down guy. Pretty much anything. I just keep it on shuffle. You never know. It's fun that way. It's fun guessing what's gonna be next.
12. Can you read sheet music or do you play by ear or by listening to a song?
I can read sheet music. It takes me a bit longer if I don't hear the song first. It's a kind of a mixture of both. If I hear it, I definitely know when something sounds wrong, but I think it helps me to do both.
13. With all these "pinch me" moments, even before your debut album, are you able to take a break? And what do you do to relax?
I've got to go home a couple of times since May. Breaks are pretty much about doing nothing, and I think that's the most important thing I can do. When I don't have to do anything, I get to do absolutely nothing ... if that makes any sense at all. I like to stay in my pajamas. I don't want to put makeup on. I just want to watch TV. That's all I want to do.
14. What has been the toughest piece of criticism to take from someone who may be interviewing you or from someone you run across in public?
I'd say the worst criticism doesn't happen in interviews because usually people are very nice in the interviews. The worst criticism is things people say on the Internet or on different kind of picky shows, like critiquing what's she wearing or how she looks or how she sounds. Those things are really hard to take because ... I don't feel like I've worked my way up to that yet. A lot of people have more time to get used to that. One day we're normal people, who nobody talks about. And the next day, I'm the American Idol who everybody thinks is short or too blonde or not as good as everybody thinks. That's really hard to take, just people talking. I don't get on fan sites anymore. I used to, especially when we were on the show. We all did. I saw so many people get broken because of it. They'd go out there with a "this is me, this is who I am" attitude. Then they'd start reading what people thought about that -- what people who don't matter thought about that -- and it would break them. Eventually, I kind of trained myself not to look at them anymore. It's just better that way.

15. How can you be associated with PETA since you grew up in rural Oklahoma? They do not like livestock shows, rodeos, hunting and fishing. These are the activities that define us as Oklahomans.
That's a good question. I don't think those things define us as Oklahomans. I think that the way that we are in our personality and in the morals that we have, I think that defines us Oklahomans. Livestock is definitely a big deal in Oklahoma. A lot of my friends were in FFA and stuff like that growing up. ... I just choose not to eat animals. That's it. I'm not really associated with PETA. If they're doing a spay-or-neuter campaign, I'm all for it. I'm not really for so many radical things. I think there's just an easier way. I don't preach to others about it. This is just the way I am. If you were sitting there next to me, eating a steak right now, I wouldn't say anything about it because that's your choice, just like it's my choice not to eat it.
16. When did you become a vegetarian?
I quit eating beef when I was somewhere between 10 and 13 because we do have cows and I did bottle feed them and stuff like that. They were like my pets. I had an incident one day that made me refuse to eat beef ever, ever again. Later on, my neighbor had pigs, and I thought they were cute, and it just kind of went on and on from there. I phased it out over a period of time. My parents were actually banding calves. I don't know if you know what that means. I'm not going to explain it to you. ... Basically, it was to make them grow bigger so people could eat them, and they were so cute, and it just made me sad.

17. You seem so quiet and reserved. Is there a wild side to Carrie Underwood?
I think everybody has got a little wild streak no matter how quiet they are. It's always the quiet ones you gotta worry about, right? I've never, ever, ever done anything remotely, like, bad at all. I've never so much as been pulled over, knock on wood. But everybody's got a little wild streak in them, even if it's small. It's pretty rare for wild Carrie to come out, but if it does, I'm usually with my friends, so you know, I would just get a little rowdy.
18. In fashion, how would you describe your style? Where do you shop?
What style? If I'm forced to look nice, I think I do OK with it. I think I do a pretty decent job, but usually you'll see me walking around in what looks like PJs, like flannel pants and T-shirts. That's what I feel comfortable in. If I am having to dress up, I like to go to places like Bebe. I think their clothes are cute. I love to shop, but usually ... I don't really go for expensive things. I still shop like I did before, so I love Abercrombie and American Eagle and places like that. Just normal people places.
19. You have expressed numerous times your everlasting love for animals. You've also mentioned that you haven't found Mr. Right. If you had to choose between animals and men, what would you choose?
I would choose animals all the way. I know that's the one thing in life I cannot live without. I would be so amazingly unhappy if I didn't have my puppies and my kitties. I haven't found a good man, yet. I've found lots of good animals, so I'd go with animals.
20. What do you think are the most important qualities in any person?
I think honesty is very important in people. Just basically having a good heart -- and you can take that however you want to. I'm not talking like sainthood or anything. I'm just saying being a good person, having good morals and growing up, similar to the way I did -- good family, good values and stuff like that. Good wholesome stuff.
http://www.cmt.com/artists/news/1518424/12...equestid=310525

Magazine names Carrie Underwood 'Oklahoman of the Year'
By Rebecca Roverson
Phoenix Correspondent
The kudos keep coming, and of course fans, friends and family of Carrie Underwood are not surprised.
On Thursday, Oklahoma Today magazine announced the Checotah native as its 2005 Oklahoman of the Year.
The country crooner with a big heart and an even bigger voice shot to stardom as winner of the 2005 Fox TV “American Idol” competition. Nearly 30 million fans tuned in each week during the first half of the year to watch singer after singer eliminated. It came down to rocker Bo Bice and Underwood, but the country girl was the one left standing.
“Carrie Underwood has the whole package,” according to Louisa McCune, editor in chief of Oklahoma Today.
“When we're assessing candidates, we look for someone who has accomplished something phenomenal in the past year. The next thing we ask ourselves is, does this person encompass all that makes this state great?
“Carrie obviously had what it took,” McCune said.
Folks around Checotah have known that for years. Underwood got her start as a small girl singing at county fairs and at church events.
And her parents, who own a home near Checotah, keep her grounded, said Troy Clay, owner of the Checotah Market Place and Antique Shop.
“Her parents have always been behind her,” Clay said.
And though Underwood has accomplished so much in such a short time, she has been working for it all of her life, “singing in churches - wherever they would let her sing.”
“A nicer person I don't think you will ever know,” Clay said.
Underwood's great-aunt, Wanda Wanzer, said Underwood is the same humble girl today she was growing up at church.
“She has always been sincere and humble about everything,” Wanzer said. “Even as a child she always seemed to have it together. She really loves the Lord.
“On her new album the first song is 'Jesus Take the Wheel' I pray for her all the time that she stays on course and goes far.”
Wanzer also echoed Clay's comments about Underwood's parental support.
“Her mom is with her quite a bit, but her dad supports her by caring for the animals Carrie loves. He stayed home from the concert in Washington because the animals needed tending,” Wanzer said.
Another aunt, Roberta Jessee of Muskogee, said it is Underwood's outgoing personality that has taken her from small town to stardom. However, “she is still the same sweet Carrie.”
“I think she is going to go as high as any country singer can go. She has the sweetness, the look and the ability to go all the way, I mean as high as she can go,” Jessee said.
http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/apps/pbcs.d...1/51223014/1002

Underwood Named Magazine's Oklahoman of the Year
American Idol winner Carrie Underwood has been named Oklahoma magazine's Oklahoman of the year. Her debut album, Some Hearts, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's country albums chart when it was released in November and has already sold more than 1 million copies. The Checotah, Okla., native's single, "Jesus, Take the Wheel," is currently at No. 5 on Billboard's country singles chart.

Carrie Underwood, John Mayer Trio On TV This Week
Pop acts on television this week include 'American Idol' season four champ Carrie Underwood, who performs on 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno' on Monday; and John Mayer Trio, who perform on 'The Tonight Show' on Tuesday and 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' on Thursday.

Carrie Underwood Makes Music History Again As 'Some Hearts' Hits Double-Platinum Status!
Nashville, TN. (Carrie Underwood Official Website) - 2005 American Idol winner Carrie Underwood begins 2006 with her 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville collection, Some Hearts, setting the benchmark for all new artists to follow and creating music history as the fastest-selling debut country album in Nielsen SoundScan history. Now RIAA-certified Double Platinum (recognizing sales of 2,000,000 units), Some Hearts also earns the separate distinction of becoming the fastest-certified debut country album ever released, even as the disc's powerful lead single, 'Jesus, Take the Wheel,' hits No 1 on this week's Billboard country airplay chart.
Currently in its fifth consecutive week (sixth overall) at No 1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums sales chart, fan excitement over Some Hearts had earlier propelled first week sales to more than 314,000, already making Carrie the highest-debuting new artist in the country genre during the SoundScan era.
The remarkable sales story extended through the holiday season, with a recent one-week tally exceeding 401,000 units. Billboard reports that Some Hearts has also become the fastest-selling American Idol project to date, outpacing earlier discs at the six-week sales point.

Underwood's Album Certified Double Platinum
Carrie Underwood's debut album, Some Hearts, has been certified double platinum by the RIAA, for shipments of 2 million copies. The achievement means Some Hearts is the fastest-selling debut country album in the history of Nielsen SoundScan, the company that tracks music sales. She sold more than 400,000 copies in the week leading up to Christmas. She will perform at Jeff Gordon's Winter Wonderland Gala on Saturday night (Jan. 14) in Portland, Maine.

IDOL STAR UNDERWOOD BREAKS RECORDS
AMERICAN IDOL star CARRIE UNDERWOOD has broken a country music record by becoming the fastest-selling debut artist ever.
Album SOME HEARTS has been certified double platinum in the US after making it past the two million sales market.
And chart compilers Nielsen SoundScan say that makes the album the fastest-selling debut country album in history.
Underwood can thank a Christmas (05) surge in sales for her record-breaking success - fans bought up 400,000 copies in the week leading up to Christmas.

Independence Day
Carrie Underwood's debut captures the delicious uncertainty of stepping out into the world
by Katie Dodd
Early in the last season of American Idol , when Carrie Underwood was just one of 11 wannabe stars, judge Simon Cowell predicted she would not only win handily, but would sell more albums than any of the show's previous winners. Less than a year later, her debut album has already sold more than a million copies. (She's yet to best multiplatinum champion Kelly Clarkson.) A polished, well-rounded, country-pop record, Some Hearts and its accompanying publicity blitz position Underwood comfortably for the kind of crossover stardom that many acts labor for years to achieve.
This is part of what makes Idol so compelling: before our eyes, a timid college senior is transformed into the next Faith Hill. It's hard to imagine what that experience is like, but Underwood takes a stab at telling us on the autobiographical “I Ain't in Checotah Anymore,” noting wryly, “My hotel in Manhattan holds more people than our town.”
“Checotah” is an appropriate closing statement for Some Hearts , an album full of young women faced with the unknown, experiencing firsts as prosaic as bills and as profound as true love. In “Don't Forget to Remember Me,” an 18-year-old heads for the big city with a map, a Bible and a $50 bill from her mama, accompanied by spiraling fiddle accompaniment that captures the bittersweet tension between longing for home and reveling in the first taste of independence. Even in seemingly straightforward love songs like “That's Where It Is,” that quarter-life crisis is present, as Underwood gives thanks for support “when I'm crashing through the madness / Not sure who I'm supposed to be.”
“We're Young and Beautiful” is a more playful ode to youth, as the narrator implores her beau to kiss her while she's still got the goods. But even as Underwood's laid-back vocals convey the insouciance of a woman with a lifetime of kisses ahead of her, some lightning-fast guitar picking drives the groove forward, unapologetically marking the time that slips by so quickly.
It's one of life's great ironies that the young are often far more anxious about that passage of time than the old, as they struggle to define who they are and what they'll leave behind. That particular anxiety reaches a fever pitch on “Wasted,” a darker shade of country-pop that draws on anthem rock to document the epiphanies of an alcoholic and his estranged lover determined to change the direction of their lives.
Sophisticated in composition and production, “Wasted” pushes Underwood to both ends of her vocal range. She growls the gravelly verses, but when it's time to declare “I don't want to spend my life jaded, waiting,” she releases the notes from her higher register like a trap door springing open. It's a combination that ups the song's emotional ante considerably.
The space between childhood and adulthood is barely longer than a breath, but it's a time when the world seems both full of promise and terrifyingly large. Some Hearts captures this tension well, its characters giving themselves over to the joy of youth while planning feverishly for the future. It's an endearing snapshot of a moment that for most of us is over quickly-but not a moment too soon.
http://www.nashvillescene.com/Stories/Arts...Day/index.shtml

Carrie on for a cause
By STEPHANIE BOUCHARD, News Assistant
CARRIE UNDERWOOD
WHEN: 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14
WHERE: Cumberland County Civic Center, Spring Street, Portland
HOW MUCH: Tickets are $45.
TICKETS: Call Ticketmaster at 775-3331 or the Civic Center box office at 775-3458.
WHAT ELSE: At 3:30 p.m. on Friday, the doors open at the Cumberland County Civic Center for a silent auction of sports memorabilia. (The auction continues before Underwood's concert on Saturday.) At 5:30 p.m. there will be a pre-game show featuring a video presentation about NASCAR driver Jerry Nadeau followed by Nadeau talking to the crowd. During and before the game, local race car drivers and their cars will be on hand. Jeff Gordon and guests will be at a dinner at the Holiday Inn by the Bay Saturday at 6 p.m. The dinner is sold out. More information .
Carrie Underwood sang at county fairs, school events and church through her high school years in Checotah, Okla., but by the time she reached college, she figured her singing days were over.
It was time to focus on a practical career.
But her plans took a sharp turn when she entered the "American Idol" contest and won. The country girl who'd only been an hour away from home in college found herself in Los Angeles being booked for talk shows, photo shoots and concerts.
She toured nationally last summer with her fellow performers. The tour stopped in Portland in September.
Underwood, 22, is back at the Cumberland County Civic Center on Saturday as part of the weekend's fundraising events for the Jeff Gordon Foundation, which sends money to a lot of different charities.
When she toured with "American Idol" last summer, she performed cover songs and didn't shoulder the show. The concert she'll perform Saturday, while not part of her upcoming tour in support of her debut album, "Some Hearts," is still a solo show. The Don Campbell Band opens.
"I'm looking forward to doing my own thing," she said about Saturday's concert and her upcoming tour. "Singing my own songs with my own band for my own fans." She pauses and laughs. "It's all about me."
But this weekend's event offers much more. The Jeff Gordon Foundation supports organizations like the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In addition to Underwood's concert, events scheduled this weekend to benefit the foundation include a sold-out dinner with Jeff Gordon on Saturday evening and a presentation by NASCAR driver Jerry Nadeau and a sports memorabilia auction at the Portland Pirates hockey game on Friday night.
Being from Oklahoma, Underwood said, it's a given that she's interested in NASCAR. Mostly, she is pleased to be a part of the fundraising efforts helping sick children.
"Fortunately," she said by phone from Oklahoma, "I never had anybody close to me who had cancer. I imagine it's a horrible thing to go through ._._. Kids are so strong."
Tickets to the concert are $45, with a limited number of first- and second-row tickets selling for $300. The $300 ticket allows ticket holders to meet Underwood and other special guests back stage.
For each ticket purchased, you'll get a free ticket to Friday's Portland Pirates hockey game. Those attending the concert will be given a granite coaster engraved with Underwood's image.

Carrie Underwood's debut album a hit
January 13,2006
Travis M. Whitehead
The Monitor
On her debut album Some Hearts, this year's American Idol winner Carrie Underwood sings a song called, "Don't Forget To Remember Me."
It'll be hard to forget the album of this fresh new talent on the country music scene. The power behind her voice projects the strength of her conviction as a performer while demonstrating a sweet musical quality that's nothing but pleasant.
"Jesus take the wheel, take it from my hands, because I can't do this on my hand… save me from this road I'm on," sings the Oklahoma native to the accompaniment of some bittersweet, wandering violins. It's the first hit single from her 14-track album, but any one of these songs can touch your heart.
Underwood released the album Nov. 15, just six months after winning the fourth American Idol. It went straight to the top of the charts, ranking No. 1 on Billboard's Country Chart and No. 2 on the Billboard 200, according to the Web site teenpeople.com. A press release from Arista Records says "Jesus Take The Wheel" "landed on the playlists of more than 70 stations in her first week, a total unmatched this year by anyone but mega-stars Kenny Chesney, Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Gretchen Wilson and Toby Keith. The track currently sits at No. 2 on Billboard's Hot Country songs chart.
"I never thought that any of this would actually happen to me," Underwood writes in a brief bio. "These kinds of things only happen to imaginary characters on television or in the movies … not real people."
There's nothing imaginary about the intense passion of Underwood's voice that flows smoothly with any instrument, strings or keyboards. Her music reflects a broad range of experiences, of burdens too heavy to bear, of romantic liaisons, of joy and regret.
"There's some things that I regret, some words I wish had gone unsaid," she sings in "Lessons Learned," a song with a strong universal quality to which we all can all relate.
"Some starts that had some better endings, been some bad times I've been through, damage I could not undo," she continues. She sings with admirable depth in this piece; her phrasing deliberately stumbles through some lines, conveying the frustration with hard lessons learned.
This album is only a taste of things to come. Every song is a winner, and so is Underwood.

Carrie's Got Cosmo Covered
Carrie Underwood lands on cover of Cosmo Girl.
By Neil Haislop
NASHVILLE, TN Friday Jan.13.2006 /netmusiccountdown.com/ -- Carrie Underwood graces the cover of Cosmo Girl! magazine's first-ever prom issue.
Carrie shot the photo spread in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, "elegantly styled in numerous prom dresses," during a day-off from the "American Idol Live 2005" tour this past summer.
The issue will remain on stands through May.
CARRIE is also featured in the January issue of Allure magazine as photographed by Michael Thompson. She is seen in a beaded gown by Giorgio Armani and says she is "still not comfortable being dressed up."
The February issue of Teen Vogue finds her modeling a Samantha Treacy dress as photographed by David Bailey. Both photo sessions took place in New York City earlier this Fall and are on stands now.
Fans can also look for Carrie in the current issue of Sophisticates Hairstyles and in an upcoming story in Country Weekly's January 30th issue.

Carrie Underwood Rules Country Charts
American Idol Winner Has No. 1 Single and Album
Calvin Gilbert
In simultaneously topping both of Billboard primary country charts this week, 22-year-old Carrie Underwood has accomplished a career milestone most country recording artists only dream of.
After just 12 weeks on the chart, Underwood has scored her first No. 1 single with "Jesus, Take the Wheel." On the country albums chart, her double-platinum debut project, Some Hearts, remains at the top spot -- where it has nested nearly every week since it was released in November.
Underwood's national profile will increase even more with fashion photos appearing in the current issues of Allure and Teen Vogue magazines and an upcoming cover story in Cosmo Girl!.
Both country charts remain slightly sluggish as the radio and music industries recovers from their holiday lull.
Underwood knocks George Strait from No. 1 on the singles chart, pushing "She Let Herself Go" to second place while Billy Currington's "Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right" spends a second week at No. 3. Trace Adkins' "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" shakes its way from No. 5 to No. 4 as it pushes Garth Brooks' "Good Ride Cowboy" down a notch to No. 5. Dierks Bentley's "Come a Little Closer" stays at No. 6 while Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton climb one rung to No. 7 with "When I Get Where I'm Going." Tim McGraw's "My Old Friend" makes a three-space jump to land at No. 8, Little Big Town's "Boondocks" remains at No. 9 and Joe Nichols' "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off" tumbles three levels to No. 10.
Proving that the record companies are getting back into the swing of things following the holiday break, two new singles debut on this week's country chart. Rodney Atkins' enters the list at No. 53 with "If You're Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows)." Gary Allan's "Life Ain't Always Beautiful" arrives at No. 58.
With Underwood continuing her reign of the country albums chart, The Legend of Johnny Cash -- a single CD retrospective of his entire career -- remains at No. 2 for a second week. More than two years after his death, sales of Cash's extensive music catalog have again skyrocketed, thanks in large part to the recent biopic, Walk the Line. A multi-disc boxed set, The Legend, rises four spaces to land at No. 59 on the country chart. Even the Walk the Line soundtrack album -- which features actor Joaquin Phoenix singing Cash's songs -- has climbed to No. 10 this week.
Other Top 10 country albums include Rascal Flatts' Feels Like Today (rising to No. 3), Kenny Chesney's The Road and the Radio (slipping to No. 4), Adkins' Songs About Me (ascending to No. 5) and Faith Hill's Fireflies (descending to No. 6). Keith Urban's Be Here moves up to No. 7, Sugarland's Twice the Speed of Life falls to No. 8 and Reba McEntire's Reba #1's holds steady at No. 9.
http://www.cmt.com/artists/news/1520733/01...equestid=166577

Carrie Underwood Appears On Cover of Cosmo Girl!
American Idol winner Carrie Underwood graces the cover of Cosmo Girl! magazine's first-ever prom issue. Carrie shot the photo spread in Milwaukee, WI, elegantly styled in numerous prom dresses, during a day-off from the "American Idol Live 2005" tour this past summer. The issue will remain on stands through May.
Carrie is also featured in the January issue of Allure magazine as photographed by Michael Thompson. She is seen in a beaded gown by Giorgio Armani and says she is "still not comfortable being dressed up." The February issue of Teen Vogue finds her modeling a Samantha Treacy dress as photographed by David Bailey. Although a country performer, she shares a secret that "in the mornings I need something upbeat, so I pick out really hard rock songs" [to listen to]. Both photo sessions took place in New York City earlier this Fall and are on stands now.
Fans can also look for Carrie in the current issue of Sophisticates Hairstyles and in an upcoming story in Country Weekly's Jan. 30 issue.

Carrie On How She's Handled Success
Carrie Underwood has a lot of great people helping her.
By Neil Haislop
NASHVILLE, TN Friday Jan.20.2006 /netmusiccountdown.com/ -- CARRIE TELLS HOW SHE'S HANDLED FAST-TRACK CAREER SUCCESS
Usually, a singer has a few years of dues-paying and hard knocks to learn and adjust to the pace of their career as they rise to the top.
But, given Carrie Underwood's fast-track rise thanks to her win on "American Idol," and explosive success of her recording career, we asked her how she's handling all the major decisions flying her way every day.
Carrie says that the concentrated ordeal of winning on American Idol was like crash course in the does and don'ts of how to compete at a high level. And, even though she's young, she has control of her career. "I have a lot of great people around me that I trust. And they respect my opinion when I decide whether I want to do something or not."
MORE...
Catch Carrie this weekend when she heads to Seattle this Sunday to perform the National Anthem for the NFC Championship game with the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers. The game will be televised on FOX, 6:30 p.m. ET.