Carrie Underwood: From American Idol To Country Music Superstar

These days, Carrie Underwood is a country superstar, but in 2005, her journey to the top of the genre was just beginning. It was May 25, 2005 — 16 years ago — that Underwood won the fourth season of American Idol. She captured the hearts of millions, emerging from a small town in Oklahoma to become a household name in the music industry. Her story is one of determination, talent, and the pursuit of a dream.

A Checotah, Okla., native, Underwood had been singing in church, at school, and at local events since she was a kid. After high school, though, she gave up singing in an effort to be "practical" and find a more likely future career path. To that end, Underwood was in college at Oklahoma's Northeastern State University, studying mass communication with a focus on journalism, when she auditioned for American Idol in 2004. Little did she know that this decision would change her life forever.

Underwood's audition happened in St. Louis that August. She sang Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me" for judges Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, and Randy Jackson and earned a "golden ticket" to the show's Hollywood Round. Slowly but surely, she progressed through the competition: into the Top 24, then the Top 20, and so on. Throughout the elimination rounds, Underwood was never once among the bottom three contestants, showcasing her strong vocal talent and charisma. In the end, she and Bo Bice were the two remaining Idol hopefuls.

Biography of Carrie Underwood

Detail	Information
Name	Carrie Underwood
Date of Birth	March 10, 1983
Birthplace	Checotah, Oklahoma
Notable Work	American Idol Winner, Country Music Albums
Genres	Country, Pop
Education	Northeastern State University

During the American Idol Season 4 finale, Underwood performed Martina McBride's "Independence Day," Guy Sebastian's "Angels Brought Me Here," and "Inside Your Heaven" — that season's original "coronation song," which she reprised after being announced as the winner. When host Ryan Seacrest announced her name as the season's winner, the now-country star became visibly emotional but kept a smile on her face. Her family was in the audience, and a legion of supporters were watching along elsewhere, too. It was a moment of triumph that marked the beginning of her incredible career.

"Inside Your Heaven" went to No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, but only peaked at No. 52 on the country singles chart. Her second single, "Jesus, Take the Wheel" — the first from Underwood's debut album, 2005's Some Hearts — was her first country chart-topper. The album dropped in November of 2005, solidifying her place in the country music scene.