Interviewee: Carrie Underwood
Interviewer: Oprah Winfrey
Date: April 26, 2009

Carrie Underwood’s rocket-like rise to stardom was mainly fueled by her success in the 4th season of the hit U.S. TV show, American Idol. Her first album, Some Hearts, went platinum 7 times and is also the fastest selling country album to date, according to the Nielsen SoundScan history.

Born and raised in Oklahoma, Carrie Underwood was already a singer in her early years. She almost had a contract with Capitol Records but a change in the management cancelled that plan. Aside from being a natural born singer, Carrie Underwood also is an academic achiever. She graduated salutatorian in high school and magna cum laude in college, with a degree in Mass Communications. She is also a former beauty queen.

Winning the 4th season of American Idol opened the door for her to pursue a career in singing. The blond crooner now has two albums, Some Hearts being the first, released in 2005, and Carnival Ride, which was launched in 2007. Carrie Underwood was very much involved in the creation of the second album, as she put in some help in the songwriting department.

Asked what the hardest song to sing is, her answer is the “Star-Spangled Banner.” The revelation came on ABC Television’s Live with Kelly and Regis late last year, where she was guest promoting her second album. Underwood, who has sang the United States’ national anthem on several occasions, the latest at Game 3 of the 2007 World Series, explained on the show that the pressure to sing the Star-Spangled Banner without making the slightest mistake is very overwhelming and tremendous.

Carrie Underwood even jested that she has to write the lyrics of the “Star-Spangled Banner” on the palm of her hand and stomp her foot to keep her calm and composed.

At the beginning of the show, Ms. Underwood was a picture of simplicity and modesty when she said that she is still the same person as she was before American Idol.

To date, Carrie Underwood is a two-time Grammy winner for Best New Artist and Best Female Country Vocal Performance. Aside from her exceptional vocal prowess, she is also a very skilled guitar player and has played the instrument on several shows.

Underwood is an active vegetarian since the age of 13 and a vocal advocate for animal rights and welfare. She was even voted as “The World’s Sexiest Vegetarian” twice, the first in 2005 and then in 2007. A popular brand of female underwear and lingerie named her as “The World’s Sexiest Musician” along with her male counterpart Justin Timberlake.

The popular singer is also into philanthropy. She constantly performs in several social functions and fundraisers to help in charity works. The latest was the 18th annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball tournament for charity, which took place in Nashville, Tennessee. All proceeds of the event were projected to the funding of medical research.