Carrie Underwood

Who Is Carrie Underwood?

Carrie Underwood is a prominent American singer and songwriter who first gained national attention as the winner of Season 4 of American Idol. Following her victory, she released her debut album, Some Hearts (2005), which achieved multi-platinum status. Underwood has since garnered numerous accolades, including Grammy Awards, Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, and Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards. In 2008, she was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry and co-hosted the CMAs alongside Brad Paisley from that year until 2019.

Early Life and Family

Carrie Marie Underwood was born on March 10, 1983, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where she was raised on a farm as the youngest of three siblings, with two older sisters, Shanna and Stephanie. Her father, Stephen, was a paper mill operator, and her mother, Carole, dedicated 25 years to teaching elementary school. The Underwood family supported Carrie’s artistic pursuits, with her mother often sewing outfits for her talent shows. Underwood has described her childhood as joyful and filled with simple pleasures, saying, “I had a very happy childhood full of the wonderful simple things that children love to do.” She fondly recalls playing in the countryside, climbing trees, and, of course, singing.

An accomplished student, Underwood graduated as the salutatorian of her class at Checotah High School in 2001. She then attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where she pursued a degree in mass communications, graduating in 2006. This academic achievement coincided with her rise to fame through American Idol.

American Idol Winner

In 2004, during her senior year of college, Underwood auditioned for the fourth season of American Idol. Despite her initial nerves about flying to St. Louis for the audition, she was encouraged by her parents to attend. Not only did she pass the audition, but she also advanced to the live performance rounds, where her performances of country music resonated with audiences.

One standout moment was her rendition of Heart’s “Alone” during the Top 11 round, which prompted judge Simon Cowell to predict she would win the competition and achieve greater commercial success than previous winners, including Kelly Clarkson. Cowell’s prediction came true on May 24, 2005, when Underwood was crowned the winner, securing her a recording contract and the opportunity to elevate her burgeoning fanbase.

Music Career: Songs and Grammys

Underwood’s debut album, Some Hearts (2005), became a monumental success, rapidly achieving multi-platinum status and setting a record as the fastest-selling female country album since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991. Her debut single, “Inside Your Heaven,” topped the Billboard pop charts, marking a strong entry into the music industry.

Her subsequent single, “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” reached the summit of the country charts and earned her significant acclaim, winning the ACM and CMA awards for Single of the Year, as well as Grammys for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best New Artist.

In contrast to her more tender ballads, Underwood achieved critical and commercial success with “Before He Cheats,” a narrative about infidelity. This single won her a Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and a CMA Award for Single of the Year in 2007. That same year, she released her sophomore album, Carnival Ride, which also topped the charts and produced several number-one hits, including “Last Name” and “All-American Girl.”

Grand Ole Opry Induction

On May 10, 2008, at the age of 26, Carrie Underwood was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry by country music icon Garth Brooks, making her the youngest member to be welcomed into this prestigious institution. This record stood until the induction of Kelsea Ballerini, who was 25, in 2019, a ceremony that Underwood had the honor of hosting.

Later that same year, in September 2008, Underwood received the CMA Award for Female Vocalist of the Year for the third consecutive time for her album Carnival Ride. She was also nominated for Album of the Year, although the award went to George Strait. Underwood’s achievements continued as she co-hosted the CMA Awards with fellow country star Brad Paisley, marking the beginning of an annual tradition.

In February 2009, Underwood won a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for her hit song “Last Name,” her fourth Grammy in just three years. By November 2009, she earned two additional CMA nominations, again for Female Vocalist of the Year and Musical Event of the Year.

In the lead-up to the CMA Awards, Underwood released her third studio album, Play On, which produced three chart-topping singles: “Cowboy Casanova,” “Temporary Home,” and “Undo It.” Following this success, her fourth studio album, Blown Away, was released in May 2012 and sold over 1.4 million copies by the following year, featuring hits like “Blown Away,” “Good Girl,” and “Two Black Cadillacs.”

Sunday Night Football Theme Song

In May 2013, Underwood was announced as the new performer for the weekly Sunday Night Football theme song, “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night,” succeeding fellow country star Faith Hill. Originally performed by Pink in 2006, this theme is an adapted version of Joan Jett & the Blackhearts’ song “I Hate Myself for Loving You,” with lyrics tailored to reflect the excitement of football.

Underwood introduced two variations of the theme song, “Oh, Sunday Night” in 2016 and “Game On” in 2018; however, the latter received mixed reactions from fans, leading to the continued use of the original track by NBC.

The theme song has gained popularity beyond football, inspiring references and parodies in shows such as Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock, and South Park. In 2019, Underwood collaborated with Joan Jett on a special version to celebrate the NFL’s 100th anniversary. “I grew up watching football. To have a small part in this amazing game is an honor, and it is fun,” Underwood remarked.

Greatest Hits Album

Underwood continued to expand her television presence by portraying Maria in a live retelling of The Sound of Music, alongside True Blood star Stephen Moyer. This live event closely adhered to the original 1959 musical and garnered four Emmy nominations.

To honor her illustrious career, Underwood released Greatest Hits: Decade #1 in the fall of 2014, which included new material such as the hit “Something in the Water,” earning her a Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance. In autumn 2015, she released her fifth studio album, Storyteller, featuring the Top 5 country single “Smoke Break,” and subsequently launched a supporting tour in February 2016.

In May 2017, it was announced that Underwood would be inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. “I’ve always been proud to say I’m from Oklahoma,” she said. The official ceremony was scheduled for November, shortly after her return to co-host the CMA Awards with Brad Paisley for the 10th consecutive year.

In 2021, Underwood released her first gospel album, My Savior, which won Best Gospel Album at the Grammy Awards in 2022. In June 2023, she launched Carrie’s Country, a SiriusXM satellite radio channel featuring music from Underwood’s friends and influences, along with sharing behind-the-scenes stories from her life and career. She later expanded the channel to include workout and faith-based music.

Accident and Reappearance

On November 10, 2017, just two days after the CMAs, Underwood experienced a serious accident when she fell outside her home. Following the incident, she received treatment for injuries, including a broken wrist and various cuts and abrasions. Two days later, she expressed her gratitude for the well wishes she received via Twitter, stating, “I’ll be alright… glad I’ve got the best hubby in the world to take care of me.”

However, as the new year approached, Underwood revealed to her fan club that her injuries were more severe than initially reported, requiring 40 to 50 stitches to her face. “I am determined to make 2018 amazing and I want to share things with you along the way,” she shared, assuring fans that her appearance might look different when she was ready to return to the public eye.

The first photo of Underwood post-accident emerged in December 2017, shared by former Below Deck cast member Adrienne Gang. Underwood later released an uncaptioned black-and-white image in April 2018, showing her working in a recording studio. On April 15, she made her much-anticipated return to the stage at the ACM Awards, performing her new song “Cry Pretty” to an extended standing ovation, demonstrating little evidence of her recent trauma. Shortly thereafter, she joined Keith Urban to accept the Vocal Event of the Year Award for their song “The Fighter.”

Husband and Children

Carrie Underwood met professional hockey player Mike Fisher during a backstage meet-and-greet at one of her concerts in 2008. After maintaining a long-distance relationship for much of that year, the couple became engaged in 2009 and married on July 10, 2010.

In September 2014, Underwood announced that they were expecting their first child, and their son, Isaiah Michael Fisher, was born on February 27, 2015. She shared the news via Twitter.

On August 8, 2018, Underwood confirmed she was expecting their second child, expressing excitement about adding “another fish to our pond.” Their second son, Jacob Bryan, was born on January 21, 2019.

“Above all, I admire Carrie as a mom,” Fisher shared with People in 2019. “She is so good with our boys and loves us all so well.”