It's hard to believe that before 2005, nobody — other than her circle of friends and family — knew the name Carrie Underwood.

Underwood became an instant star in 2005, when she won Season 4 of American Idol. After that day, life forever changed for the young lady from Oklahoma, as did country music as a whole.

"Inside Your Heaven," her first official single, made Underwood the first country artist to debut on the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the only solo country artist in the 2000s to have a No. 1 song on the Hot 100.

Since then, she has released nine studio albums, one greatest hits project and 29 singles — and counting. She has had 16 No.1 songs on the Billboard Country Airplay chart to date. In 2024, Underwood is one of the world's most successful female artists of all-time, all genres. Her awards and accolades read something like a CVS receipt.

She is the most awarded country music artist ever: Underwood has eight Grammy Awards, twelve Billboard Music Awards, sixteen ACM Awards, seventeen American Music Awards, nine CMA Awards and twenty three CMT Awards — but who's counting?

Let's take a journey through Underwood's humble beginnings and see where the "Out of My Truck" singer got her personality and fortitude.

36 Photos of Carrie Underwood Young

Carrie Underwood is undeniably one of the most popular musicians on the planet, with a quick rise to stardom after winning American Idol in 2005. Eight Grammys and countless ACM and CMA Awards later, Underwood is still releasing music and touring. Let's take a look at Carrie Underwood when she was young, before we met her and when we first got to know this star.

Gallery Credit: Evan Paul

See Inside Carrie Underwood's Nashville Mansion

Carrie Underwood and husband Mike Fisher sold their 7,000-square-foot Brentwood, Tenn., home for $1,410,000 in March of 2019, and pictures reveal a spectacular mansion worthy of one of country music's biggest stars.

Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker

PICTURES: See Carrie Underwood at the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Carrie Underwood was among the stars who were on hand at the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in New York City on Nov. 3, 2023. The singer paid tribute to 2023 inductee George Michael.

Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker

 

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