Carrie Marie Underwood (born March 10, 1983 in Muskogee, Oklahoma) is an American country singer-songwriter. She rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, and has become a multi-platinum selling recording artist and a multiple Grammy Award winner. Her debut album, Some Hearts, was certified seven times platinum and is the fastest selling debut country album in Nielsen SoundScan history.[1] Some Hearts yielded three number one hits on the Billboard Country charts in the United States and Canada: "Jesus, Take the Wheel","Wasted", and her biggest hit to date, "Before He Cheats". Additionally "Don't Forget to Remember Me" topped the charts in Canada. Underwood scored another Top 10 Billboard hit with her charity single, "I'll Stand by You". Some Hearts sold a total of seven million RIAA-certified copies as of February 2008. It is also the best-selling solo female debut album in country music history.
On September 5, 2008, Underwood joined Ciara, Fergie, Rihanna, Beyonce, Leona Lewis and other pop/rock singers in performing a single for the anti-cancer campaign Stand Up to Cancer. The single, called "Just Stand Up", was performed live during the one-hour telethon that aired on all major U.S. television networks. The song was made available on iTunes on September 2nd.
Underwood has received two Country Music Association nominations for the 2008 CMA Awards, Female Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year: "Carnival Ride". The award show will be aired on ABC on November 12, 2008, and will be hosted by Underwood along with fellow country star Brad Paisley.
She also has co-written a song for Idol alumni Kristy Lee Cook's major-label debut album Why Wait, called "Not Tonight".