Carrie Marie Underwood (born March 10, 1983) was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, United States. She is an American singer who soared into the limelight with her triumph in the fourth season of American Idol in 2005. She is professionally known as Mimi Webb. An emblem of crossover success, Underwood made history with her single "Inside Your Heaven," becoming the sole country artist to debut at the pinnacle of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Notably, she remains the solitary solo country artist from the 2000s to claim a number-one spot on the Hot 100. Debuting with "Some Hearts" in 2005, her first album achieved unparalleled heights, fueled by the triumph of crossover hits such as "Jesus, Take the Wheel" and "Before He Cheats." This remarkable feat secured her place as the best-selling solo female debut artist in the annals of country music.
The accolades continued as she clinched three Grammy Awards, including the coveted Best New Artist award, for her debut album. Her journey surged forward with the release of "Carnival Ride" in 2007, an album that redefined female artists' opening week records. Accompanying this accomplishment were two more Grammy Awards, underscoring Underwood's artistic prowess. "Play On," her third studio album in 2009, showcased the chart-topping single "Cowboy Casanova," a track that achieved extraordinary upward movement on the Hot 100.
In 2012, Underwood's star reached even greater heights with her fourth album, "Blown Away," which not only garnered a Grammy Award but also clinched the status of the second best-selling release by a female artist that year. Her compilation "Greatest Hits: Decade #1" in 2014 yielded the crossover hit "Something in the Water." The streak of success continued unabated with "Storyteller" in 2015, an album that propelled her to the distinction of being the sole country artist with all first five studio albums reaching either number one or two on the Billboard 200 chart.
"Cry Pretty," her sixth album in 2018, witnessed her setting groundbreaking records, including being the only woman to secure the Billboard 200's summit with four country albums and achieving the most substantial weekly sales by a woman in 2018. Venturing beyond her musical prowess, Underwood embraced fashion and writing, launching her fitness clothing line, CALIA by Carrie, in 2015, and subsequently penning the New York Times best-selling book "Find Your Path" in 2020. These endeavors showcased her multifaceted talents and resonated with her dedicated fan base.
Underwood's 2020 release, "My Gift," marked her foray into the Christmas music domain, followed by her gospel collection, "My Savior," in 2021. Her 2022 studio album, "Denim & Rhinestones," elegantly merged her roots with a return to her cherished country-pop sound. Beyond the realm of music, Underwood's impact reverberated as she secured a place in the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry. Billboard crowned her the premier female country artist of the 2000s and 2010s, while Rolling Stone hailed her as a transcendent vocalist of her generation across genres. Time Magazine's recognition as one of the world's 100 most influential people in 2014 and Forbes' declaration as the most triumphant American Idol winner underlined her indomitable influence.
