Career Timeline of Carrie Underwood: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of Carrie Underwood, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Carrie Underwood is an American singer-songwriter who gained fame after winning American Idol in 2005. Her debut single, "Inside Your Heaven," made history as the first country artist to debut atop the Billboard Hot 100. Her debut album, "Some Hearts" (2005), became the best-selling debut album by a female country artist and earned her three Grammy Awards. Subsequent albums like "Carnival Ride" (2007) and "Play On" (2009), which featured the hit "Cowboy Casanova", further solidified her success in the music industry.
1988: Randy Travis praises Carrie Underwood's cover of "I Told You So"
In 1988, fellow country music singer Randy Travis praised Carrie Underwood's voice when asked about her cover of his 1988 hit song "I Told You So", saying that "her voice is so much better suited to the song. I have a baritone voice, and her soprano voice really fits well with the range of the song. Her ability to get into the upper register of her voice and just hold those high notes is great."
1988: Rosanne Cash's success
Since Rosanne Cash in 1988, Carrie Underwood became the first woman to score ten number-ones on such a chart.
1991: SoundScan System Advent
In 1991, the advent of the SoundScan system occurred, after which the large first week sales of Carrie Underwood's album Some Hearts made it the biggest debut of any country artist.
1991: Sales records introduced
Since accurate sales records were introduced in the US in 1991, Carrie Underwood was named by the Guinness Book of World Records as the female country artist with the most number-one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
1995: Shania Twain's success
In 1995, Shania Twain was the last female country artist to have four tracks from one album top the Billboard Hot Country Songs before Carrie Underwood.
2000: "Amazed" reaches number one
In 2000, Lonestar's "Amazed" became the first song from a country artist to go to number one on the Hot 100.
2004: American Idol Audition
In 2004, Carrie Underwood auditioned for American Idol in St. Louis, Missouri.
March 22, 2005: American Idol Performance and Prediction
On March 22, 2005, during the top 11 finalists' performance on American Idol, Carrie Underwood sang a rendition of "Alone". Judge Simon Cowell predicted she would win the competition and outsell all previous Idol winners.
May 25, 2005: Winning American Idol Season Four
On May 25, 2005, Carrie Underwood won the fourth season of American Idol. Her winnings included a recording contract, use of a private jet, and a Ford Mustang convertible.
June 14, 2005: Release of "Inside Your Heaven"
On June 14, 2005, Carrie Underwood's music career officially began with the release of her first single, "Inside Your Heaven". The song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
November 15, 2005: Release of "Some Hearts" Album
On November 15, 2005, Carrie Underwood released her debut album, Some Hearts, which sold 315,000 copies and debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums and at number two on the Billboard 200.
2005: Underwood appears in Skechers campaign
In 2005, Carrie Underwood appeared in a Skechers global advertising campaign.
2005: Performance at NBA Finals Game 4
In 2005, Carrie Underwood performed the "Star-Spangled Banner" at Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons.
2005: Winning American Idol and Initial Success
In 2005, Carrie Underwood won the fourth season of American Idol. Her first single, "Inside Your Heaven", made her the first country artist to debut atop the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Her debut album, Some Hearts, was released and became the best-selling debut album by a solo female country artist.
2005: Debut praised by veteran artists and critics
Since her debut in 2005, Carrie Underwood has been praised by both veteran artists and music critics.
April 2006: Carrie Underwood: Live 2006 Tour Start
In April 2006, Carrie Underwood started her first headlined tour, Carrie Underwood: Live 2006, with dates across North America.
2006: Performances at NBA All-Star Game, Thanksgiving Day Football Game, and NFC Championship Game
In 2006, Carrie Underwood performed at the NBA All-Star Game, at halftime of the Thanksgiving Day football game at Texas Stadium, and at the NFC Championship Game between the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers.
2006: "Some Hearts" Album Success
In 2006, Carrie Underwood's album Some Hearts became the best-selling album of the year in all genres in the United States, and it was also the best-selling country album.
April 11, 2007: Release of "Wasted"
On April 11, 2007, Carrie Underwood released the single "Wasted", which peaked at number one on the Hot Country Songs chart.
July 2007: Release of 'So Small' single
In July 2007, Carrie Underwood released "So Small," the first single from her album Carnival Ride, which reached number one on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.
October 2007: Release of Carnival Ride album
In October 2007, Carrie Underwood released her second album, Carnival Ride, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums charts and sold over 527,000 copies in its first week.
2007: Billboard Year-End charts and American Music Awards
At the end of 2007, Carrie Underwood topped five Billboard Year-End charts, including Billboard 200 Artist of the Year and Country Artist of the Year, and won three American Music Awards.
2007: Underwood promotes Carnival Ride in Target advertisements
In 2007, Carrie Underwood appeared in Target advertisements promoting her album Carnival Ride. The limited edition of the album which included a behind the scenes DVD was exclusively sold at Target.
2007: Performance at World Series Game 3
In 2007, Carrie Underwood performed the "Star-Spangled Banner" at Game 3 of the World Series between the Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies.
2007: Carnival Ride Album Release
In 2007, Carrie Underwood released her second studio album, Carnival Ride, which sold over half a million copies in its first week and won two Grammy Awards.
2007: "Some Hearts" Album Success Continued
In 2007, Carrie Underwood's album Some Hearts remained the best-selling country album for the year, making Underwood the first female artist in Billboard history to earn back-to-back honors for Top Country Album. It was also the best-selling female country album of 2007.
January 2008: Joint tour with Keith Urban
In January 2008, Carrie Underwood began a joint tour with Keith Urban called the Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Carnival Ride Tour.
February 2008: Start of Carnival Ride Tour
In February 2008, Carrie Underwood commenced her headlining Carnival Ride Tour across North America.
March 15, 2008: Invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry
On March 15, 2008, Carrie Underwood was invited by Randy Travis to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
May 10, 2008: Induction into the Grand Ole Opry
On May 10, 2008, Carrie Underwood was officially inducted into the Grand Ole Opry by Garth Brooks.
July 2008: Release of 'Just a Dream' single
In July 2008, Carrie Underwood released "Just a Dream" from her album Carnival Ride, which later peaked at number one on the Hot Country Songs chart for two weeks.
August 2008: Recording of "Just Stand Up!"
In August 2008, Carrie Underwood collaborated with Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Miley Cyrus, and other female artists to record the song "Just Stand Up!" The proceeds from the song were donated to Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C) and helped raise $73.6 million for groundbreaking cancer research. The song reached number 11 on Billboard's Hot 100 Songs.
August 2008: "Jesus, Take the Wheel" Ringtone Certified Platinum
In August 2008, the "Jesus, Take the Wheel" ringtone was certified Platinum, making Carrie Underwood the first country artist ever to have two songs hit Platinum Mastertone status together with "Before He Cheats".
November 2008: Posthumous Duet with Elvis Presley
In November 2008, Carrie Underwood recorded a virtual and posthumous duet with Elvis Presley on his classic, "I'll Be Home for Christmas", for his 2008 album Christmas Duets.
December 14, 2008: End of Carnival Ride Tour
On December 14, 2008, Carrie Underwood concluded her Carnival Ride Tour, having played to 1.2 million fans and being named the top-selling country female touring artist of 2008.
2008: Academy of Country Music Awards and CMA Awards
In 2008, Carrie Underwood won Female Vocalist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards for the 2nd consecutive time and co-hosted the Country Music Association Awards with Brad Paisley, also winning Female Vocalist of the Year for the third consecutive year.
2008: Female Vocalist of the Year at European Country Music Association Awards
In 2008, Carrie Underwood won her first international award, which was "Female Vocalist of the Year" at the European Country Music Association Awards.
2008: Underwood works with Nintendo and Vitamin Water
In 2008, Carrie Underwood worked with Nintendo for the launch of their Nintendo DS appearing in various television commercials. That same year, Carrie Underwood became the spokesperson for Vitamin Water starring in television and magazine advertisements.
February 2009: Release of 'I Told You So' duet
In February 2009, Carrie Underwood released "I Told You So," a duet with Randy Travis, which peaked at number two on the Country charts and number nine on the Billboard Hot 100.
March 2009: Cover of 'Home Sweet Home'
In March 2009, Carrie Underwood tracked a cover of Mötley Crüe's ballad "Home Sweet Home" for the American Idol season eight farewell theme.
September 2009: Release of 'Cowboy Casanova' single
In September 2009, Carrie Underwood released "Cowboy Casanova", the first single from her album Play On, which experienced a significant jump on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
November 3, 2009: Release of Play On album
On November 3, 2009, Carrie Underwood released her third studio album, Play On, which debuted atop both the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums charts.
December 2009: Some Hearts Named Number One Country Album
In December 2009, Billboard named Carrie Underwood's album "Some Hearts" the number-one Country Album of the 2000 Decade. Underwood was also ranked as the top female artist on Billboard's Best Country Artists of the 2000 Decade list.
2009: Underwood establishes the Checotah Animal, Town, and School Foundation
In 2009, Carrie Underwood established the Checotah Animal, Town, and School Foundation. The foundation helps with general causes, needs and services in the area of Checotah to directly impact the community.
2009: CMA Awards Hosting and Nominations
In 2009, Carrie Underwood received two nominations at the CMA Awards and co-hosted the ceremony with Brad Paisley for their second consecutive year.
2009: Play On Album Release and "Cowboy Casanova" Success
In 2009, Carrie Underwood released her third studio album, Play On, which included the top 20 single "Cowboy Casanova," known for its significant upward movement on the Hot 100 chart.
2009: Academy of Country Music Awards and Grammy Award for 'Last Name'
In 2009, Carrie Underwood won Female Vocalist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards, and also won the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Last Name".
2009: Checotah Animal, Town & School Foundation Partnership
In 2009, Carrie Underwood's foundation, "Checotah Animal, Town & School Foundation," and the Academy of Country Music foundation, "ACM Lifting Lives," partnered to donate new instruments valued at over $120,000 to music programs for students in Checotah, Oklahoma. Underwood held a surprise concert and unveiled the gifts, which were ordered through Yamaha Corporate Artist Affairs. The instruments were shared throughout the Checotah school district.
January 2010: Partnership with Country Cares for St. Jude Kids
In January 2010, Carrie Underwood partnered with Country Cares for St. Jude Kids, visiting the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
February 7, 2010: Performance of National Anthem at Super Bowl XLIV
On February 7, 2010, Carrie Underwood performed the National Anthem for Super Bowl XLIV.
March 11, 2010: Start of the Play On Tour
On March 11, 2010, Carrie Underwood started the first leg of her Play On Tour in Reading, Pennsylvania.
March 2010: Appearance on How I Met Your Mother
In March 2010, Carrie Underwood appeared on How I Met Your Mother, playing the role of Tiffany, a medical sales representative who develops a relationship with Ted. The episode was the second highest rated episode for season five, attracting 10.48 million viewers.
March 29, 2010: Partnership with Pedigree to Donate to Animal Shelter
On March 29, 2010, Carrie Underwood and Pedigree partnered to donate $10,000 to a New York City Animal Shelter.
April 2010: ACM Awards - Entertainer of the Year and Triple Crown Award
In April 2010, Carrie Underwood was named Entertainer of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards, becoming the first woman to win this award twice, and received the ACM Triple Crown Award.
September 25, 2010: Second Leg of the Play On Tour
On September 25, 2010, Carrie Underwood began the second leg of her Play On Tour in Portland, Oregon.
October 2, 2010: Sold Out Show at the Hollywood Bowl
On October 2, 2010, Carrie Underwood had a sold out show at the prestigious Hollywood Bowl.
December 3, 2010: Honored as CMT Artist of the Year
On December 3, 2010, Carrie Underwood was honored by the CMT Artists of the Year special as one of the 5 top artists of the year in country music.
December 2010: Play On Tour Ranked Among Top Tours
In December 2010, Pollstar.com ranked Carrie Underwood's Play On Tour as one of the Top 50 tours of 2010, ranking number one in North America and number 31 worldwide. Billboard also ranked the tour at number 24 for all worldwide tours of 2010.
2010: Underwood named in Guinness Book of World Records
In 2010, Carrie Underwood achieved ten career number-one singles on the Hot Country Songs, for which she was named by the Guinness Book of World Records as the female country artist with the most number-one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart (since accurate sales records were introduced in the US in 1991).
2010: Underwood becomes spokesperson for Pedigree adoption drive
In 2010, Carrie Underwood became the spokesperson for the Pedigree adoption drive.
2010: Launch of Academy of Country Music Lifting Lives Temporary Home Fund
In 2010, Carrie Underwood launched the Academy of Country Music Lifting Lives Temporary Home Fund to benefit victims of the Tennessee floods. The Fund was started with grants Underwood received as Entertainer of the Year from ACM. She also collaborated with Brooks and Dunn to record a Public Service Announcement (PSA) in support of the new Fund.
2010: Grammy Award for 'I Told You So'
In 2010, Carrie Underwood won her fifth Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for "I Told You So" with Randy Travis.
January 1, 2011: End of the Play On Tour
On January 1, 2011, Carrie Underwood concluded the second leg of the Play On Tour in Detroit.
January 4, 2011: Underwood Named Top Female Country Touring Artist
On January 4, 2011, official statistics revealed that Carrie Underwood played to over 1 million fans throughout the Play On tour, resulting in her being named again as the top-ranked female country touring artist of the year.
February 11, 2011: Ottawa Radio Station Controversy
On February 11, 2011, an Ottawa radio station, 105.3 KISS-FM, initially announced a ban on playing Carrie Underwood's music due to her husband Mike Fisher's trade to the Nashville Predators. Following fan backlash on Facebook, the station apologized, claiming it was a joke and wishing Fisher luck. Fisher criticized the station for implying Underwood was involved in the trade, leading to negativity. Furthermore in 2012, Underwood was selected by The Hockey News on its annual list of the 100 People of Power and Influence in Ice Hockey, where she ranked at number 85.
February 2011: Donation to Save the Children
In February 2011, Carrie Underwood donated $140,125 to Save the Children. This initiative was inspired by the "36 cents" lyric in her song "Change" from the album Play On, highlighting how small change can make a difference.
March 2011: Sang John Lennon's "Instant Karma!"
In March 2011, Carrie Underwood sang John Lennon's "Instant Karma!" at NBC's special All Together Now – A Celebration of Service, honoring former President George H. W. Bush.
April 2011: Film Debut in Soul Surfer
In April 2011, Carrie Underwood made her film debut in Soul Surfer, playing Sarah Hill, the church youth leader who helped Bethany Hamilton overcome the obstacles she faced after a shark attack.
April 2011: Opening of Happy Paws Animal Shelter
In April 2011, Carrie Underwood opened the Happy Paws Animal Shelter in her hometown.
May 2011: Honored at Girls' Night Out: Superstar Women of Country
In May 2011, Carrie Underwood was honored by the Academy of Country Music at the Girls' Night Out: Superstar Women of Country special for being the first and only female artist in the academy's history to ever win Entertainer of the Year twice.
May 2011: Underwood becomes Biggest American Idol Earner
Since May 2011, Carrie Underwood is the Biggest American Idol Earner, with tour revenues and records sales combined.
June 2011: Ranked Number 11 Queen of Pop by Rolling Stone Magazine
In June 2011, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Carrie Underwood as the number 11 Queen of Pop, based on various criteria from 2009 to 2011.
July 2011: Top-Earning American Idol Alumnus
In July 2011, Forbes reported that Carrie Underwood earned over $20 million between May 2010 and May 2011, making her the top-earning American Idol alumnus for the fourth consecutive year.
2011: Underwood expands Guinness Book record
Between 2011 and 2014, Carrie Underwood broke and expanded her Guinness Book record by scoring four more number-one singles on the Hot Country Songs, for a total of fourteen number-ones.
2011: Checotah Schools Donation
During the 2011 holiday season, Carrie Underwood's foundation donated $350,000 to the Checotah schools.
2011: Underwood becomes brand ambassador for Olay skin care
In 2011, Carrie Underwood became the first celebrity brand ambassador for Olay skin care. Underwood has appeared in the global advertising campaign for their facial wash.
2011: Duets and iHeartRadio Music Festival Headliner
In 2011, Carrie Underwood was featured on "Remind Me", a duet with Brad Paisley that reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, giving Underwood her eleventh number-one single on that chart and fourteenth overall. She also had a duet with Tony Bennett on his album "Duets II" and another duet with Randy Travis on his album "Anniversary Celebration". Underwood was one of the headliners of the iHeartRadio Music Festival in 2011.
2011: Performance with Steven Tyler at ACM Awards
In 2011, at the Academy of Country Music Awards, Carrie Underwood sang with Steven Tyler, performing both her song "Undo It" and Aerosmith's "Walk This Way".
January 10, 2012: Rescue of Abandoned Dog
On January 10, 2012, it was reported that Carrie Underwood rescued an abandoned dog along a highway, which she had previously blogged about on her official fan-site.
February 4, 2012: Recorded CMT's Crossroads with Steven Tyler
On February 4, 2012, Carrie Underwood joined Steven Tyler to record CMT's Crossroads at the Pepsi Coliseum during the Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam of Super Bowl XLVI. The episode became the highest-rated in seven years.
February 12, 2012: Performed Duet at Grammy Awards
On February 12, 2012, Carrie Underwood and Tony Bennett performed their duet "It Had to Be You" at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards.
February 23, 2012: Release of "Good Girl"
On February 23, 2012, Carrie Underwood released "Good Girl" as the first single from the "Blown Away" album.
March 12, 2012: Music Video Premiere of Good Girl
On March 12, 2012, Carrie Underwood's music video for "Good Girl" premiered on Entertainment Tonight and VEVO.
May 1, 2012: Release of Blown Away Album
On May 1, 2012, Carrie Underwood's fourth album, "Blown Away", was released, featuring songs with a 'darker storyline'.
June 21, 2012: Blown Away Tour Started in London
On June 21, 2012, Carrie Underwood's "Blown Away Tour" began at the Royal Albert Hall in London, which sold out in 90 minutes.
July 9, 2012: Release of "Blown Away" as a Single
On July 9, 2012, "Blown Away" was released as the second single from Carrie Underwood's album of the same name. The song achieved massive success, selling over 2 million copies and reaching significant chart positions.
July 2012: Public Support for Same-Sex Marriage
In July 2012, Carrie Underwood publicly supported same-sex marriage, emphasizing that her evangelical church, GracePointe Church in Nashville, was gay-friendly. She expressed her belief that everyone should have the right to love and marry the people they want to love.
October 2, 2012: VH1 Unplugged and Behind The Music Premieres
On October 2, 2012, Carrie Underwood's VH1 Unplugged episode (called "VH1 Presents: Carrie Underwood Unplugged") and VH1 Behind The Music episode premiered, featuring a cover of Coldplay's song "Fix You".
2012: Blown Away Tour Donation to Red Cross
In 2012, Carrie Underwood donated $1 from every ticket sold on the North American leg of her Blown Away Tour to the Canadian and American Red Cross.
2012: Blown Away Album Release and Grammy Win
In 2012, Carrie Underwood released her fourth album, Blown Away, which became the number-two best-selling female release of the year. The album also earned her a Grammy Award.
2012: Ranked in The Hockey News' 100 People of Power and Influence in Ice Hockey
In 2012, Carrie Underwood was included in The Hockey News' annual list of the 100 People of Power and Influence in Ice Hockey, ranking at number 85.
2012: CMT and American Music Awards Wins
In 2012, Carrie Underwood won the CMT Music Awards for Video of the Year for "Good Girl", and Collaborative Video of the Year for "Remind Me", a duet with Brad Paisley. She also won the American Music Award for Favorite Album – Country, for "Blown Away".
January 21, 2013: Release of Aerosmith's "Can't Stop Lovin' You"
On January 21, 2013, "Can't Stop Lovin' You", a song by Aerosmith featuring Carrie Underwood's vocals, was released as a single.
February 2013: Second Leg of Blown Away Tour
In February 2013, Carrie Underwood started the second leg of the Blown Away Tour, with shows in Ireland and England, as part of the C2C: Country to Country festival, as well as several shows in North America.
February 2013: Won Grammy Award and Other Awards
In February 2013, Carrie Underwood won her sixth Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance for "Blown Away". She also won the prize for Top Selling International Album of the Year at the 41st Country Music Awards of Australia and International Album of the Year at the 2013 British Country Music Awards.
February 22, 2013: Ranked as 16th Money Maker by Billboard
On February 22, 2013, Billboard ranked Carrie Underwood as the 16th money maker for the period from February 2012 to February 2013, earning close to $12 million.
March 2013: Release of See You Again as a Single
In March 2013, Carrie Underwood released "See You Again" as the fourth single from her album "Blown Away". The song peaked at number 2 on the Country Airplay chart.
May 2013: Blown Away Tour Concluded
In late May 2013, Carrie Underwood wrapped up the Blown Away Tour after playing to one million fans across three continents and six countries.
May 24, 2013: $1 Million Donation to Red Cross for Oklahoma Tornado Relief
On May 24, 2013, Carrie Underwood donated $1 million in proceeds from her recent Blown Away Tour to the Red Cross for relief efforts in response to the Oklahoma tornado.
June 2013: Forbes Placed Underwood on The Celebrity 100 List
In June 2013, Forbes placed Carrie Underwood at number 46 on The Celebrity 100 list, reporting that she earned more than $31 million between June 2012 and June 2013.
August 13, 2013: Release of The Blown Away Tour: LIVE DVD
On August 13, 2013, Carrie Underwood released "The Blown Away Tour: LIVE", a DVD featuring performance footage, behind-the-scenes content, interviews, and music videos from the album "Blown Away". It marked Underwood's first official DVD concert.
August 2013: Planning a New Album
In August 2013, Carrie Underwood confirmed that she began planning a new album.
September 22, 2013: Performed at Primetime Emmy Awards
On September 22, 2013, Carrie Underwood performed one of The Beatles' iconic songs, "Yesterday", at the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards as part of a special tribute honoring the 50th Anniversary of 1963 Television Milestones.
November 10, 2013: Carrie Underwood: The Blown Away Tour Exhibition Ended
On November 10, 2013, Carrie Underwood: The Blown Away Tour Exhibition, which ran from June 5 through November 10, 2013, at the Country Music Hall of Fame, concluded.
December 5, 2013: Played Maria von Trapp in The Sound of Music Live!
On December 5, 2013, Carrie Underwood played Maria von Trapp in NBC's The Sound of Music Live!. The three-hour telecast partnered NBC with Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, with Ted Chapin noting the excitement of Underwood bringing a fresh spirit to the classic songs.
January 2014: Underwood signs deals with Nicole by OPI and Almay
In January 2014, Carrie Underwood signed a deal with Nicole by OPI to launch 14 new nail lacquers. In the same month, Carrie Underwood signed a deal to serve as Almay's global brand ambassador, where she would appear in TV and print advertisements for the brand later that month.
December 1, 2014: Fronted U2's World AIDS Day (RED) Concert
On December 1, 2014, Carrie Underwood was asked by Bono himself to front U2's World AIDS Day (RED) Concert, alongside U2, Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay's Chris Martin, and Kanye West. She was joined on stage by U2 guitarist The Edge during a performance of her song "Change", which received acclaim.
2014: Underwood expands Guinness Book record
Between 2011 and 2014, Carrie Underwood broke and expanded her Guinness Book record by scoring four more number-one singles on the Hot Country Songs, for a total of fourteen number-ones.
2014: Underwood recognized as top-earning American Idol alum
Carrie Underwood has been the top-earning American Idol alum of all time since 2014.
2014: Awards and Recognition in 2014
In 2014, Carrie Underwood received the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award from the Academy of Country Music and the Milestone Award at the Billboard Music Awards. She was also listed as one of Time's 100 most influential people and won Favorite Female Country Artist at the American Music Awards. Billboard named her the top female Christian artist of 2014.
2014: Greatest Hits: Decade #1 Album Release
In 2014, Carrie Underwood released her compilation album, Greatest Hits: Decade #1, which broke multiple chart and sales records and included the Grammy-winning crossover single "Something in the Water".
2014: Release of Greatest Hits: Decade #1 and Success of "Something in the Water"
In 2014, Carrie Underwood released her first greatest hits compilation, Greatest Hits: Decade #1, which included the successful single "Something in the Water". The song reached number one on the Hot Country Songs chart, making it her fourteenth number-one hit. She also earned $10 million in 2014, topping Forbes' list of top-earning American Idols.
2014: Underwood receives CRB Artist Humanitarian Award
In 2014, Carrie Underwood was honored by the Country Radio Broadcasters' Board of Directors with the CRB Artist Humanitarian Award at the 2014 Country Radio Seminar.
February 2015: Release of "Little Toy Guns"
In February 2015, Carrie Underwood released "Little Toy Guns" as the second single from her compilation album. The track peaked at number six on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart. It was nominated for Best Country Solo Performance at the 58th Grammy Awards.
March 2015: Underwood releases fitness clothing line
In March 2015, Carrie Underwood released a fitness clothing line named CALIA by Carrie Underwood. In collaboration with Dick's Sporting Goods, the line features clothing that is intended to be suitable for both active and casual wear.
October 23, 2015: Release of 'Storyteller'
On October 23, 2015, Carrie Underwood released her fifth studio album, Storyteller. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Top Country Albums chart. Storyteller has since been certified Platinum by the RIAA.
2015: Billboard calls Underwood ultimate Idol success story
A 2015 Billboard article called Carrie Underwood the ultimate Idol success story.
2015: Storyteller Album Release
In 2015, Carrie Underwood released her fifth studio album, Storyteller, making her the only country artist in history to have all of their first five studio albums reach either number one or two on the Billboard 200 chart.
2015: Release of Calia by Carrie Clothing Line
In 2015, Carrie Underwood ventured into fashion with the release of her fitness clothing line, Calia by Carrie.
2015: Awards in 2015
In 2015, Carrie Underwood won Best Country Solo Performance at the 57th Grammy Awards for "Something in the Water". She also won Top Christian Song for "Something in the Water" at the Billboard Music Awards. At the CMT Music Awards in 2015, she won three awards, including Video of the Year for "Something in the Water", and she won her ninth American Music Award for Favorite Female Country Artist.
January 2016: Launch of The Storyteller Tour
In January 2016, Carrie Underwood launched The Storyteller Tour, her fifth headlining tour. The tour played to over 1 million fans, completing 92 shows across 7 countries.
June 2016: CMT Music Awards Wins
In June 2016, Carrie Underwood received three nominations from the CMT Music Awards, taking home two honors for "Smoke Break", expanding her CMT Music Award total to 15—the most among all acts.
August 2016: Release of 'Dirty Laundry'
In August 2016, Carrie Underwood released "Dirty Laundry" from the album Storyteller, eventually peaking at number two on the Billboard Country Airplay. Billboard ranked Underwood as the top female country artist for the year, and fifth overall.
September 2016: ACM Lifting Lives Gary Haber Award
In September 2016, Carrie Underwood was the first artist to receive the ACM Lifting Lives Gary Haber Award, for her continuous work with charities.
October 20, 2016: CMT Artists of the Year honor and CMA Awards Nominations and Win
On October 20, 2016, Carrie Underwood was honored as one of CMT Artists of the Year. She received four nominations for the 50th Annual Country Music Association Awards, winning Female Vocalist of the Year for the fourth time.
December 2016: Joining Keith Urban for concerts in Australia and New Zealand
In December 2016, Carrie Underwood joined Keith Urban for a series of concerts in Australia and New Zealand.
January 2017: People's Choice Award and Grammy Performance
In January 2017, Carrie Underwood received her ninth People's Choice award for Favorite Female Country Artist. She and Keith Urban performed their new single, "The Fighter", at the Grammy ceremony.
January 2017: Time off and Album Writing
In January 2017, Carrie Underwood took time off at the beginning of the year to spend time with family and to begin writing for her next album.
March 2017: Signing with Capitol Records Nashville
In March 2017, Carrie Underwood signed with Universal Music Group's Capitol Records Nashville after being with Arista Nashville for nearly twelve years.
2017: Awards and Nominations in 2017
In 2017, Carrie Underwood received two nominations for the 52nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards, including Entertainer of the Year. She scored three more nominations for the 2017 CMT Music Awards in June, including Video of the Year for "Church Bells".
2017: National Anthem Performance at Nashville Predators Game
In 2017, Carrie Underwood sang the National Anthem for the Nashville Predators before their victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
2017: Collaboration and Co-producing New Album
In 2017, Matthew West collaborated with Carrie Underwood, who performed background vocals on the song "Something Greater". Underwood also met David Garcia with whom she began co-producing her new album.
January 2018: Release of "The Champion"
In January 2018, Carrie Underwood released "The Champion", a promotional duet single featuring Ludacris for Super Bowl LII. The song debuted at number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
September 14, 2018: Release of Cry Pretty Album
On September 14, 2018, Carrie Underwood released her sixth studio album, Cry Pretty. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Cry Pretty finished 2018 as the best-selling solo female album and the seventh best-selling album overall.
October 2018: Underwood's net worth estimated at US$200 million
As of October 2018, Carrie Underwood has a net worth estimated at US$200 million.
November 14, 2018: Hosting the CMA Awards and Winning Female Vocalist of the Year
On November 14, 2018, Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley hosted the 52nd Annual Country Music Association Awards, where she picked up her fifth win as the CMA's Female Vocalist of the Year.
2018: Awards and Performances in 2018
In 2018, Carrie Underwood received four nominations and one win for the CMT Music Awards. She performed "Cry Pretty" at the ceremony and received a nomination for Choice Country Artist and "Cry Pretty" received a nomination for Choice Country Song for the Teen Choice awards, winning Choice Country Artist.
2018: Cry Pretty Album Release and Chart Success
In 2018, Carrie Underwood released her sixth album, Cry Pretty, becoming the only woman in history to top the Billboard 200 with four country studio albums. The album also had the largest female album debut of 2018.
May 2019: Cry Pretty Tour 360 and Glastonbury Festival Performance
In May 2019, Carrie Underwood kicked off the Cry Pretty Tour 360. It was also announced that the leg of the tour would include a performance at the Glastonbury Festival.
May 19, 2019: Performance on American Idol
On May 19, 2019, Carrie Underwood returned to American Idol to perform "Southbound" during the season's finale episode.
July 2019: Performance at Glastonbury Festival
In July 2019, Carrie Underwood performed at the Glastonbury Festival as part of her Cry Pretty 360 Tour.
December 2019: Kennedy Center Honors Tribute
In December 2019, Carrie Underwood attended the Kennedy Center Honors and paid tribute to Linda Ronstadt by performing two of her songs.
2019: 54th Academy of Country Music Awards Nomination and Performance
In 2019, Carrie Underwood received a nomination for Female Artist of the Year at the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards. She performed with Chrissy Metz, Lauren Alaina, Mickey Guyton, and Maddie & Tae and debuted "Southbound" from the Cry Pretty album during the show.
February 2020: Cry Pretty Certified Platinum
In February 2020, Carrie Underwood's album Cry Pretty was certified Platinum.
March 3, 2020: Release of "Find Your Path"
On March 3, 2020, Carrie Underwood released her debut book, "Find Your Path", went on a book tour, and appeared on television shows, including Rachael Ray.
August 2020: Hosting XO Radio on Apple Radio
In August 2020, Carrie Underwood hosted her own Apple Radio Show, entitled XO Radio.
September 25, 2020: Release of "My Gift"
On September 25, 2020, Carrie Underwood released her first Christmas album, "My Gift".
December 3, 2020: Starring in and Executive Producing Holiday Special
On December 3, 2020, Carrie Underwood starred in and executive produced a holiday special airing on HBO Max, performing all of the songs from "My Gift".
December 2020: Release of "Tears of Gold" Duet with David Bisbal
In December 2020, Spanish singer David Bisbal released his duet with Carrie Underwood, "Tears of Gold", featuring a music video that was filmed in Los Angeles.
2020: Publication of Find Your Path Lifestyle Book
In 2020, Carrie Underwood expanded her career into writing with the release of her lifestyle book, Find Your Path, which became a New York Times best-seller.
2020: My Gift Christmas Album Release
In 2020, Carrie Underwood released her first Christmas album, My Gift.
September 3, 2021: Collaboration on "Only Us" for Dear Evan Hansen Soundtrack
On September 3, 2021, Carrie Underwood collaborated with Dan + Shay on a cover of "Only Us" for the soundtrack album of the 2021 film adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen that was released as a single.
September 24, 2021: Release of Special Edition of "My Gift"
On September 24, 2021, a special edition of the album "My Gift" was released, containing three additional tracks, including a version of "Favorite Time of Year".
October 2021: Underwood scores 16th number one on Country Airplay
In October 2021, Carrie Underwood scored her 16th number one on the Country Airplay, with the joint single "If I Didn't Love You".
December 2021: Launch of Las Vegas Residency "Reflection"
In December 2021, Carrie Underwood's Las Vegas residency, "Reflection", launched in collaboration with Resorts World Las Vegas.
2021: Latin American Music Awards Performance
In 2021, Carrie Underwood joined David Bisbal for the debut televised performance of the song "Tears of Gold" at the Latin American Music Awards in Sunrise, Florida.
2021: My Savior Gospel Album Release and Grammy Win
In 2021, Carrie Underwood won the Grammy Award for Best Roots Gospel Album with her first gospel album, My Savior.
March 18, 2022: Release of "Ghost Story"
On March 18, 2022, Carrie Underwood released the single, "Ghost Story"; the song served as lead single from Underwood's ninth studio album, Denim & Rhinestones.
April 3, 2022: Grammy Win for Best Roots Gospel Album
On April 3, 2022, Carrie Underwood won the Grammy Award for Best Roots Gospel Album, and gave the debut performance of "Ghost Story" at the ceremony.
April 2022: Extension of Las Vegas Residency
Due to high demand, in April 2022, Carrie Underwood added six more shows to her Las Vegas residency, extending it through April 2022.
April 2022: Grammy Win for Best Gospel Album for My Savior
In April 2022, Carrie Underwood received two Grammy nominations for the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, winning one for Best Gospel Album for "My Savior".
June 10, 2022: Release of Denim & Rhinestones
On June 10, 2022, Carrie Underwood's ninth studio album, Denim & Rhinestones, was released.
July 2022: Underwood joins Guns N' Roses on stage
In July 2022, Carrie Underwood joined Guns N' Roses on stage during their concert at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London where she performed with band frontman Axl Rose, saying after, "I've covered enough Guns N' Roses stuff, and it was people like him who taught me how to sing".
November 9, 2022: Country Music Association Awards Airing
Carrie Underwood received three nominations for the Country Music Association Awards, including Entertainer of the Year, airing November 9, 2022.
2022: Denim & Rhinestones Album Release
In 2022, Carrie Underwood reinforced her country pop image with the release of Denim & Rhinestones.
2022: Underwood among top female touring artists
In 2022, Pollstar said Carrie Underwood was among the 15 all-genre top female touring artists of the past four decades, having sold over 4.3 million concert tickets and grossed around $265 million with her headlined tours.
March 10, 2023: Release of "Out of That Truck"
On March 10, 2023, Carrie Underwood released a new single, "Out of That Truck".
2023: Underwood sales reach 85 million records worldwide
As of 2023, Carrie Underwood has sold 85 million records worldwide.
July 2024: Extension of Residency and Replacement of Katy Perry on American Idol
In July 2024, it was announced Carrie Underwood had extended her residency. She would also replace Katy Perry as judge on American Idol in 2025.
August 2024: Vegas residency, Reflection extended through August 2024
In August 2024 Carrie Underwood added 18 more dates for her Vegas residency, Reflection, through August 2024.
September 2024: Release of "I'm Gonna Love You" with Cody Johnson
In September 2024, Carrie Underwood was featured on the duet "I'm Gonna Love You" with Cody Johnson, released to country radio. The single opened at number one on Billboard's Digital Songs sales chart.
January 2025: Performance at U.S. Presidential Inauguration
In January 2025, Carrie Underwood performed "America the Beautiful" at the second inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
2025: American Idol judge
In 2025, it was announced Carrie Underwood would replace Katy Perry as judge on American Idol.
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