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There have been a few contestants, that have gone on to bigger and better things. To mention a few, Kellie Pickler, Clay Aiken and Kelly Clarkston. They are all great performers and hopefully will continue to rise in the music industry. But the won that has had the most sky rocketing success, directly after winning on Idol, Well this person would have to be none other than "Carrie Underwood".

Born and raised in Checotah Oklahoma, Carrie had a happy child hood, with all the child things kids love to do. She participated in school musicals and in town musical functions as she got older. Although she had plenty of encouragement, Carrie didn't really pursue music. Rather after High school, she attended Northern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Where she majored in broadcast journalism, in hopes to later have a career in news.

In her senior year, her college friends tried to talk her into auditioning for the 2005 season of American Idol. When her mom called and said she would drive her to the audition, Carrie decided she would go and take a chance. Wow did that pay off for her. Not only did she blow then away on American Idol and win that season, but she went on to have a very successful ongoing career in country music. Her debut album "Some Heart" is the biggest - selling American Idol album to date. Selling more than six million in the US alone. Only two weeks after being on American Idol, and winning Carrie was on The Grand Ole Opry stage. Dreams are coming true and moving fast at this point, for this young rising star.

Setting off on a one hundred and fifty show tour with such stars as Brad Paisley and Kenny Chesney, wow, talk about having a helping hand up in the right direction, getting to tour with such credits to the country music business as the these two stars, headlining the tour.

This all being directly after Carrie actually found time to graduate from College with a BA, magna cum laude in May of 2006. Talk about a busy girl, then after this tour had barely ended, Miss Underwood was off to do a USO tour during Christmas in Kuwait and Iraq.

A Beautiful voice and a huge heart of gold is what she seems to be about. Sharing her gift of voice.

Since being released in late 2005 this has been the best selling female country album 2005, 2006 and 2007. Not to mention EVERY single has won two Grammy's, as well as AMA, ACM, CMA, Peoples Choice and Billboard, etc.

And this year she topped it all off with hug win of the "Entertainer of the Year" award for 2009 at the 44th academy of country music awards, held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hosted by and admired by Carrie, the one and only Reba McEntire.

Recently Carrie had the honor of meeting one of her long time favorite country music singers, "Randy Travis" and when they first met it has been reported that Carrie actually started to cry. She later said she was just consumed with being fan struck. She couldn't believe it was him, she said she had listened to him and cheered him on during the CMA awards she watched when she was a little girl. The two shared a laugh and Randy joins Carrie on one of her new songs " I Told You So", that is on her new album Carnival Ride. She also performed this song live at the CMA awards show held this year. In a very Big and Beautiful dress that made headlines all on it's own.

Learn more about this author, Sam Madsen.
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