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 and songwriter who gained fame after winning American Idol in 2005. Her debut single, "Inside Your Heaven," made her 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 solo female country artist and earned her three Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist. She followed this success with albums like Carnival Ride (2007), and Play On (2009), achieving numerous number-one singles and establishing herself as a leading figure in country music. She is scheduled to return as an American Idol judge in 2025.
1988: Randy Travis Releases "I Told You So"
In 1988, Randy Travis released his song "I Told You So," which Carrie Underwood later covered. Travis praised Underwood's soprano voice for being well-suited to the song's range, complementing his baritone voice.
1988: Rosanne Cash last woman with ten number-ones
In 1988, Rosanne Cash was the last woman before Carrie Underwood to score ten number-ones on the Hot Country Songs chart.
1991: Start of Accurate Sales Records in the US
In 1991, accurate sales records were introduced in the US, which later helped to determine Underwood's record-breaking achievements on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
1995: Shania Twain achieves feat before Underwood
In 1995, Shania Twain was the last female country artist before Carrie Underwood to have four tracks from one album top the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
1997: Capitol Records Contract Cancelled
In 1997, when Carrie Underwood was 14, Capitol Records was preparing a contract for her after a local admirer arranged an audition in Nashville, but it was canceled due to changes in company management.
2000: Lonestar's "Amazed" tops Hot 100
In 2000, prior to Underwood's rise to fame, Lonestar's "Amazed" was the last country song to top the Hot 100 chart before "Inside Your Heaven" broke that record.
2000: Highest Album Certification Since 2000
Since 2000, Carrie Underwood's debut album 'Some Hearts' is the highest album certification of any country artist.
2004: American Idol Audition
In mid-2004, Carrie Underwood auditioned for American Idol in St. Louis, Missouri, singing Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me".
March 22, 2005: Top 11 Performance on American Idol
On March 22, 2005, during the top 11 finalists' performance on American Idol, Carrie Underwood sang a rendition of "Alone" by Heart. Judge Simon Cowell correctly predicted that she would win the competition and outsell all previous Idol winners.
May 25, 2005: Wins American Idol Season 4
On May 25, 2005, Carrie Underwood was declared the winner of season four 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 released her first single, "Inside Your Heaven," which debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. She became the first country artist ever to debut at number one on the Hot 100.
November 15, 2005: Some Hearts Album Release
On November 15, 2005, Carrie Underwood released her debut album, Some Hearts, which entered the Billboard charts with 315,000 copies sold, debuting at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums and at number two on the Billboard 200.
2005: Performed "Star-Spangled Banner" at NBA Finals
In 2005, Carrie Underwood performed the "Star-Spangled Banner" at Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons, showcasing her vocal talent at a major sporting event.
2005: Wins American Idol
In 2005, Carrie Underwood won the fourth season of American Idol, which launched her to stardom.
2005: Underwood's Debut Praised
Since her debut in 2005, Carrie Underwood has received praise from both veteran artists and music critics in the industry.
April 2006: Carrie Underwood: Live 2006 Tour Begins
In April 2006, Carrie Underwood started her first headlined tour, Carrie Underwood: Live 2006, with dates across North America.
2006: Start of CMT Awards success
Between 2006 and 2019, Carrie Underwood collected over 20 awards, leading to her becoming the most awarded artist in the history of the CMT Music Awards.
2006: Performed 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. She also performed at NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600, and MLB All Star Game in Pittsburgh.
2006: Best-Selling Album of 2006
In 2006, Carrie Underwood's album Some Hearts became the best-selling album of the year in all genres in the United States.
April 11, 2007: Release of "Wasted"
On April 11, 2007, Carrie Underwood released "Wasted", which peaked at number one on the Hot Country Songs chart and was later certified Platinum by the RIAA.
July 2007: So Small Single Release
In July 2007, Carrie Underwood released "So Small", the first single from her album Carnival Ride. It quickly reached number one on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, holding the top spot for three weeks.
October 2007: Carnival Ride Album Release
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, selling over 527,000 copies in its first week. The album was certified double platinum within two months.
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. She also won three American Music Awards for Artist of the Year, Favorite Female Country Artist, and Favorite Country Album for Some Hearts.
2007: Idol Gives Back Performance
In 2007, Carrie Underwood performed "I'll Stand By You" at the Idol Gives Back concert. Her cover of The Pretenders' hit debuted at number six on Billboard's Hot 100 Songs.
2007: Performed at Game 3 of the World Series
In 2007, Carrie Underwood performed the "Star-Spangled Banner" at Game 3 of the World Series between the Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies, further cementing her presence at significant sporting events.
2007: Top Country Album
In 2007, Carrie Underwood's album Some Hearts was the best-selling country album, making her the first female artist in Billboard history to earn back-to-back honors for Top Country Album.
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: "Before He Cheats" Certified Double Platinum
In February 2008, "Before He Cheats" became the first country song to ever be certified multi-platinum, reaching double Platinum status.
February 2008: Carnival Ride Tour
In February 2008, Carrie Underwood launched her headlining tour, the Carnival Ride Tour, across North America.
March 15, 2008: Invited to Grand Ole Opry
On March 15, 2008, Randy Travis invited Carrie Underwood to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
May 10, 2008: Inducted into Grand Ole Opry
On May 10, 2008, Garth Brooks officially inducted Carrie Underwood into the Grand Ole Opry.
July 2008: "Just a Dream" Reached Number One
In July 2008, Carrie Underwood's single "Just a Dream" peaked at number one on the Hot Country Songs chart, remaining there for two consecutive weeks, marking her as the first solo female artist since Shania Twain to have four number-one hits from one album.
August 2008: Recorded "Just Stand Up!" to benefit cancer research
In August 2008, Carrie Underwood joined Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Miley Cyrus, and other female artists to record the song "Just Stand Up!" to benefit Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C). The song ultimately peaked at 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: Recorded 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 album Christmas Duets.
December 14, 2008: Carnival Ride Tour Ended
On December 14, 2008, Carrie Underwood concluded her Carnival Ride Tour, having played to 1.2 million fans and earning the title of top-selling country female touring artist of the year.
2008: ACM and CMA Awards
In 2008, Carrie Underwood won Female Vocalist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards for the second consecutive time. She also co-hosted the Country Music Association Awards with Brad Paisley, winning Female Vocalist of the Year for the third year in a row. At the American Music Awards, Carnival Ride won Favorite Country Album.
2008: Won first International Award
In 2008, Carrie Underwood won her first international award for Female Vocalist of the Year at the European Country Music Association Awards.
February 2009: "I Told You So" Single Release
In February 2009, Carrie Underwood released "I Told You So", a duet with Randy Travis, which reached number two on the Country charts and number nine on the Billboard Hot 100.
March 2009: Covered Home Sweet Home
In March 2009, Carrie Underwood recorded a cover of Mötley Crüe's ballad "Home Sweet Home" for the American Idol season eight farewell theme.
May 2009: Forbes' Idol Earnings Report
According to Forbes, in May 2009 to May 2010, Carrie Underwood earned over $13 million, being the top-earning Idol.
September 2009: Cowboy Casanova Single Release
In September 2009, Carrie Underwood released "Cowboy Casanova", the first single from her album Play On. The song quickly jumped from number 96 to number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and later peaked at number one on the Hot Country Songs chart.
November 3, 2009: Play On Album Release
On November 3, 2009, Carrie Underwood released her third studio album, Play On, which debuted at the top of both the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums charts, selling over 318,000 copies in its first week.
December 2009: Billboard's Country Album and Artist Rankings
In December 2009, Carrie Underwood's 'Some Hearts' was named the number-one Country Album of the 2000 Decade by Billboard, and Underwood was also the top-ranked female artist on Billboard's Best Country Artists of the 2000 Decade list.
2009: "Inside Your Heaven" Landmark
From 2000 to 2009, "Inside Your Heaven" was the only single by a solo country artist to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
2009: Established Checotah Animal, Town, and School Foundation
In 2009, Carrie Underwood established the Checotah Animal, Town, and School Foundation, aimed at supporting causes, needs, and services in Checotah, Oklahoma, to positively impact the local community. Underwood stated the foundation was a way to give back to her supportive hometown.
2009: CMA Awards Nominations
In 2009, Carrie Underwood received two nominations at the CMA Awards and co-hosted the ceremony with Brad Paisley for the second consecutive year.
2009: Play On Release
In 2009, Carrie Underwood released her third studio album, 'Play On', making her the only woman in history to have eleven consecutive top-two singles and the first since the 1980s to accumulate ten number-ones at US country radio.
2009: Partnered with ACM Lifting Lives to donate to Checotah schools
In 2009, Carrie Underwood's "Checotah Animal, Town & School Foundation" partnered with the Academy of Country Music foundation "ACM Lifting Lives" to donate more than $120,000 worth of new musical instruments to students in Checotah, Oklahoma. Underwood also held a surprise concert at a local high school when unveiling the gifts.
2009: Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance
In 2009, at the 51st Grammy Awards, Carrie Underwood won the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Last Name", marking her third consecutive win in this category. She also received nominations for Video of the Year at the CMT Awards for "Just A Dream".
January 2010: Partnered 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 to support their efforts in combating childhood diseases.
February 7, 2010: Performed the National Anthem at Super Bowl XLIV
On February 7, 2010, Carrie Underwood performed the National Anthem for Super Bowl XLIV, one of the most prestigious performance opportunities in American entertainment.
March 11, 2010: Play On Tour First Leg
On March 11, 2010, Carrie Underwood's Play On Tour commenced its first leg in Reading, Pennsylvania.
March 2010: Appeared on How I Met Your Mother
In March 2010, Carrie Underwood appeared on How I Met Your Mother, playing the role of Tiffany. The episode became the second highest rated episode for season five with 10.48 million viewers. Critics were surprised with how well Underwood performed in her first acting role.
March 29, 2010: Partnered with Pedigree to donate to a New York City Animal Shelter
On March 29, 2010, Carrie Underwood partnered with Pedigree to donate $10,000 to a New York City Animal Shelter, supporting animal welfare and adoption efforts.
April 2010: Entertainer of the Year and ACM Triple Crown Award
In April 2010, at the Academy of Country Music Awards, Carrie Underwood was named Entertainer of the Year, becoming the first woman to win the award twice. She also received the "ACM Triple Crown Award."
May 2010: Forbes' Idol Earnings Report
According to Forbes, Carrie Underwood earned over $13 million between May 2009 and May 2010, being the top-earning Idol.
September 25, 2010: Play On Tour Second Leg
On September 25, 2010, Carrie Underwood began the second leg of her Play On Tour in Portland, Oregon.
October 2, 2010: Sold Out Hollywood Bowl
On October 2, 2010, Carrie Underwood achieved a significant milestone by selling out the prestigious Hollywood Bowl.
December 3, 2010: CMT Artists of the Year Special
On December 3, 2010, Carrie Underwood was honored as one of the top 5 artists of the year in country music at the CMT Artists of the Year special.
December 2010: Ranked Among Top Tours
In December 2010, Pollstar.com ranked Carrie Underwood's Play On Tour among the Top 50 tours of the year, placing it at number one in North America and number 31 worldwide.
2010: Launched the 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 the victims of the Tennessee floods. Underwood initiated the Fund with grants she received from ACM as Entertainer of the Year, and collaborated with Brooks and Dunn to record a Public Service Announcement (PSA) in support of the Fund.
2010: Fifth Grammy Award
In 2010, at the 52nd Grammy Awards, Carrie Underwood won her fifth Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for "I Told You So" with Randy Travis. She also performed during the Michael Jackson tribute.
2010: Underwood Achieves Ten Number-One Singles
In 2010, with the singles from her third album, Play On, Carrie Underwood achieved ten career number-one singles on the Hot Country Songs chart.
January 1, 2011: Play On Tour Ended
On January 1, 2011, Carrie Underwood concluded the second leg of her Play On Tour in Detroit.
January 4, 2011: Top Female Country Touring Artist
On January 4, 2011, it was revealed that Carrie Underwood played to over 1 million fans during her Play On Tour, leading to her being named the top-ranked female country touring artist of the year.
February 2011: Donated to Save the Children
In February 2011, Carrie Underwood donated $140,125 to Save the Children. This charitable initiative was inspired by the "36 cents" mentioned in the lyrics of Underwood's song "Change" from her album Play On.
March 2011: NBC's All Together Now – A Celebration of Service
In March 2011, Carrie Underwood sang John Lennon's "Instant Karma!" at the NBC's special All Together Now – A Celebration of Service, which honored former president George H. W. Bush.
April 2011: Made her film debut in Soul Surfer
In April 2011, Carrie Underwood made her film debut in Soul Surfer. She played Sarah Hill, the church youth leader who helped Bethany Hamilton overcome the obstacles she faced after a shark attack.
April 2011: Opened the Happy Paws Animal Shelter
In April 2011, Carrie Underwood opened the Happy Paws Animal Shelter in her hometown, providing a haven for animals in need and promoting pet adoption.
May 2011: Forbes' Idol Earnings Report
Between May 2010 and May 2011, Forbes reported that Carrie Underwood earned over $20 million, being the top-earning American Idol alumnus for the fourth consecutive year.
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 to win Entertainer of the Year twice. During the event, she also performed "How Great Thou Art" with Vince Gill, which became a viral sensation.
May 2011: Underwood Named Biggest American Idol Earner
Since May 2011, Carrie Underwood has been recognized as the Biggest American Idol Earner, combining tour revenues and records sales.
June 2011: Rolling Stone's Queen of Pop Ranking
In June 2011, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Carrie Underwood as the number 11 Queen of Pop, based on criteria from 2009 until 2011.
July 2011: Forbes' Idol Earnings Report
In July 2011, Forbes reported that Carrie Underwood earned over $20 million between May 2010 and May 2011, being the top-earning American Idol alumnus for the fourth consecutive year.
September 2011: Blue Bloods Season Two Premiere
In September 2011, Carrie Underwood and Tony Bennett sang "It Had to Be You" on the season two premiere of Blue Bloods.
2011: Academy of Country Music Awards Performance
At the 2011 Academy of Country Music Awards, Carrie Underwood performed both her song "Undo It" and Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" with Steven Tyler.
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, bringing her total to fourteen.
2011: Foundation donated to Checotah schools
During the 2011 holiday season, Carrie Underwood's foundation donated $350,000 to the Checotah schools, further supporting educational initiatives in her hometown.
2011: Collaborations and iHeartRadio Music Festival
In 2011, Carrie Underwood was featured on "Remind Me", a duet with Brad Paisley that reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs. She also had a duet with Tony Bennett on his 2011 album Duets II and another duet with Randy Travis on his 2011 Anniversary Celebration album. Underwood was also one of the headliners of the iHeartRadio Music Festival.
January 10, 2012: Rescued an abandoned dog
On January 10, 2012, it was reported that Carrie Underwood rescued an abandoned dog along a highway. Underwood herself had previously blogged about the rescue on her official fan-site.
February 4, 2012: CMT's Crossroads at the Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam
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. It was the highest-rated episode in seven years.
February 12, 2012: 54th Annual Grammy Awards Performance
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' Single
On February 23, 2012, Carrie Underwood's first single from the album 'Blown Away,' called "Good Girl", was released.
February 27, 2012: 'Good Girl' to Country Radio
On February 27, 2012, 'Good Girl' was officially released to Country radio.
March 12, 2012: Premiere of 'Good Girl' Music Video
On March 12, 2012, the music video for Carrie Underwood's "Good Girl" premiered on Entertainment Tonight and on 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." It debuted at number one on various charts in the US, selling over 267,000 copies in its first week.
June 21, 2012: Start of the Blown Away Tour
On June 21, 2012, the first leg of the Blown Away Tour started at the Royal Albert Hall in London, which sold out in 90 minutes.
July 9, 2012: Release of 'Blown Away' Single
On July 9, 2012, the song "Blown Away" was released as the second single from Carrie Underwood's album of the same name and became a massive success.
July 2012: Publicly supported same-sex marriage
In July 2012, Carrie Underwood publicly supported same-sex marriage, emphasizing that her church, GracePointe Church in Nashville, was gay-friendly. Underwood stated, "I definitely think we should all have the right to love, and love publicly, the people that we want to love."
October 2, 2012: VH1 Unplugged and Behind The Music Episodes Premiere
On October 2, 2012, Carrie Underwood had her very own VH1 Unplugged (called "VH1 Presents: Carrie Underwood Unplugged") and VH1 Behind The Music episodes, which premiered. Underwood included a cover of the Coldplay song "Fix You" for the episode.
2012: CMT and American Music Awards
At the 2012 CMT Music Awards, Carrie Underwood won the awards for Video of the Year, for "Good Girl", and Collaborative Video of the Year, for "Remind Me", her duet with Brad Paisley. She also performed "Good Girl" at the ceremony. At the 2012 American Music Awards, she won the award for Favorite Album – Country, for Blown Away, and performed "Two Black Cadillacs".
2012: Future Songwriting for Movie
In 2012, Carrie Underwood and songwriters, David Hodges and Hillary Lindsey, also wrote "See You Again" for the movie The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. However, the song was not included in the film and Underwood kept it and pushed for its inclusion on her fourth album in 2012.
2012: Donated ticket proceeds to Red Cross
In 2012, Carrie Underwood donated $1 from every ticket sold on the North American leg of the Blown Away Tour to the Canadian and American Red Cross, supporting the organization's humanitarian efforts.
2012: Forbes' Idol Earnings Report
In 2012, Forbes reported that Carrie Underwood earned $5 million between 2011 and 2012.
January 21, 2013: Release of 'Can't Stop Lovin' You'
On January 21, 2013, "Can't Stop Lovin' You", a song by rock band Aerosmith with featured vocals by Carrie Underwood, was released as a single.
February 2013: Awards and Performances
In February 2013, Carrie Underwood won her sixth Grammy Award, for Best Country Solo Performance, for "Blown Away". She performed a medley of "Blown Away" and "Two Black Cadillacs" at the awards show ceremony featuring an LED-powered dress.
February 2013: Second Leg of Blown Away Tour Begins
In February 2013, the second leg of Carrie Underwood's Blown Away Tour started, with shows in Ireland, an additional show in England, as part of the C2C: Country to Country festival, and several shows in North America.
February 22, 2013: Billboard's Top Money Makers Ranking
On February 22, 2013, Billboard ranked Carrie Underwood as the 16th money maker for the period from February 2012 to February 2013. She earned close to $12 million, being American Idol's Top Earner and second for female country artists.
March 2013: Release of 'See You Again' as a Single
In March 2013, "See You Again" was released as the fourth single from Carrie Underwood's 'Blown Away' album.
April 2013: Spoke out against the Tennessee "Ag Gag bill"
In April 2013, Carrie Underwood publicly voiced her disapproval of the Tennessee "Ag Gag bill", which aimed to criminalize the act of videotaping animal cruelty or abuse without promptly submitting the evidence to authorities. Underwood expressed concerns about animal welfare and consumer safety, engaging in a Twitter exchange with state lawmakers regarding the bill.
May 2013: Wrapping Up the Blown Away Tour
In late May 2013, Carrie Underwood wrapped up the Blown Away Tour, playing to one million fans across three continents and six countries.
May 24, 2013: Donated Blown Away Tour proceeds 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, providing significant support to those affected.
June 2013: Forbes' 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, being the top-earning American Idol, and also being one of the ten highest-paid women in music of 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-scene looks, interviews, and music videos from the album Blown Away. This is Underwood's first official DVD concert.
August 2013: Planning New Album
Carrie Underwood confirmed that she began planning a new album in August 2013 and would start prep work sometime in 2014.
September 22, 2013: Performance at the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards
On September 22, 2013, at the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards, Carrie Underwood performed one of The Beatles' iconic songs, "Yesterday", as part of the Emmy Awards' special tribute honoring the 50th Anniversary of 1963 Television Milestones.
November 10, 2013: 'Carrie Underwood: The Blown Away Tour Exhibition' Concludes
On November 10, 2013, 'Carrie Underwood: The Blown Away Tour Exhibition' concluded after running from June 5 at the Country Music Hall of Fame.
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!, a three-hour telecast. The production was a collaboration between NBC and the producing team of Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.
December 1, 2014: Fronting 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, bringing her total to fourteen.
2014: Underwood Honored with 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.
2014: Wins Milestone Award and AMA
In 2014, Carrie Underwood won the Milestone Award at the Billboard Music Awards, recognizing her chart success. She also won Favorite Female Country Artist at the American Music Awards, marking her eighth AMA win. Additionally, Time listed Underwood as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
2014: "Something in the Water" Becomes Crossover Hit
In 2014, Carrie Underwood's song "Something in the Water" became a crossover success. It reached number one on the Hot Country Songs chart, becoming her fourteenth number-one hit on that chart and her second in 2014. She also earned $10 million between 2013 and 2014, topping Forbes' list of the top-earning American Idols
2014: Underwood Top-Earning American Idol Alum
Since 2014, Carrie Underwood has been the top-earning American Idol alum of all time, showcasing her continued success.
February 2015: "Little Toy Guns" Released as Single
In February 2015, Carrie Underwood released "Little Toy Guns" as the second single from her compilation album. The track reached number six on Billboard's Hot Country Songs, number two on the Country Airplay Chart and number 47 on the Hot 100. The song was nominated for Best Country Solo Performance at the 58th Grammy Awards.
March 2015: Underwood Releases CALIA 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 suitable for both active and casual wear.
October 23, 2015: Release of Storyteller album
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, earning Underwood a record as the first artist to score six consecutive number-one albums on that chart.
2015: Calia by Carrie Release
In 2015, Carrie Underwood ventured into fashion by releasing her fitness clothing line, Calia by Carrie.
2015: Wins Grammy, Billboard and CMT awards
In 2015, Carrie Underwood won Best Country Solo Performance for "Something in the Water" at the 57th Grammy Awards, marking her seventh Grammy Award. She also won Top Christian Song for "Something in the Water" at the Billboard Music Awards and three awards at the CMT Music Awards, including Video of the Year for "Something in the Water". She won her ninth American Music Award in 2015, winning Favorite Female Country Artist.
2015: Storyteller Album Release
In 2015, Carrie Underwood's fifth studio album, 'Storyteller', was released, making her the only country artist in history to have all of her first five studio albums reach either number one or two on the Billboard 200 chart.
2015: Billboard Calls Underwood Ultimate Idol Success Story
In 2015, a Billboard article referred to Carrie Underwood as the ultimate Idol success story, highlighting her achievements since her debut.
January 2016: Storyteller Tour Begins
In January 2016, Carrie Underwood launched the Storyteller Tour, her fifth headlining tour. Billboard named it the top country tour for the first half of the year.
August 2016: "Dirty Laundry" Released as Single
In August 2016, Carrie Underwood released "Dirty Laundry" from the album Storyteller. The song eventually peaked at number two on the Billboard Country Airplay.
September 2016: Receives ACM Lifting Lives Gary Haber Award
In September 2016, Carrie Underwood was the first artist to receive the ACM Lifting Lives Gary Haber Award, recognizing her continuous work with charities.
December 2016: Joins Keith Urban for Concerts
In December 2016, Carrie Underwood joined Keith Urban for a series of concerts in Australia and New Zealand.
March 2017: Signs 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: Sang the National Anthem for the Nashville Predators before their Stanley Cup Playoffs victory
In 2017, Carrie Underwood sang the National Anthem for the Nashville Predators prior to their victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
2017: Forbes Declares Underwood Most Successful American Idol Winner
In 2017, Forbes declared Carrie Underwood the most successful American Idol winner of all time, citing her album sales and revenue generated.
January 2018: Releases "The Champion"
In January 2018, Carrie Underwood released "The Champion", a promotional duet single featuring Ludacris for Super Bowl LII. It's Underwood's first under the pop genre.
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, setting several records upon arrival.
September 2018: Underwood Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
In September 2018, Carrie Underwood received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her numerous achievements in music.
October 2018: Underwood's Net Worth Estimated
As of October 2018, Carrie Underwood's net worth was estimated at US$200 million.
2018: Wins CMT Music Award and Radio Disney Music Award
In 2018, Carrie Underwood received four nominations and one win for the CMT Music Awards. Also in June 2018, she was honored with the Hero award from the Radio Disney Music Awards in recognition of her humanitarian efforts.
2018: Cry Pretty Album Release
In 2018, Carrie Underwood's sixth album, 'Cry Pretty', was released, making her the only woman in history to top the Billboard 200 with four country studio albums and had the largest female album debut of 2018.
May 2019: Cry Pretty Tour 360 Begins
In November 2018, Carrie Underwood announced she would kick off the Cry Pretty Tour 360 in May 2019. The leg of the tour would include a performance at the Glastonbury Festival.
July 2019: Glastonbury Festival Performance
In July 2019, Carrie Underwood performed at the Glastonbury Festival as part of her Cry Pretty 360 Tour.
2019: Start of CMT Awards success
Between 2006 and 2019, Carrie Underwood collected over 20 awards, leading to her becoming the most awarded artist in the history of the CMT Music Awards.
2019: 54th Academy of Country Music Awards and CMT Music Awards
In 2019, Carrie Underwood received a nomination for Female Artist of the Year at the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards and performed "Southbound". She also received two nominations for the Billboard Music Awards, winning Top Female Country Artist. At the CMT Music Awards, her videos for "Cry Pretty" and "Love Wins" received nominations, with both winning Video of the Year and Female Video of the Year, respectively. The music video for "Southbound" premiered on June 8, 2019.
March 3, 2020: Release of "Find Your Path"
On March 3, 2020, Carrie Underwood released her debut book, "Find Your Path", and went on a book tour, appearing on television shows such as Rachael Ray.
August 2020: Hosting XO Radio
In August 2020, Carrie Underwood began hosting 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", which debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
December 3, 2020: Starring in and executive producing a 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: David Bisbal releases "Tears of Gold" duet
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: Find Your Path Book Release
In 2020, Carrie Underwood released her book 'Find Your Path', which became a New York Times best-selling lifestyle book.
September 3, 2021: Release of "Only Us" cover
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, which was released as a single.
October 2021: Underwood Scores 16th Number One on Country Airplay
In October 2021, Carrie Underwood scored her 16th number one on the Country Airplay chart with the joint single "If I Didn't Love You".
December 2021: Launch of Las Vegas Residency
In December 2021, Carrie Underwood's Las Vegas residency, Reflection, launched in collaboration with Resorts World Las Vegas.
March 18, 2022: Release of "Ghost Story"
On March 18, 2022, Carrie Underwood released the single, "Ghost Story", as the lead single from her ninth studio album, Denim & Rhinestones.
April 3, 2022: Grammy Win and "Ghost Story" Performance
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, Carrie Underwood added six more shows in April 2022, extending her Las Vegas residency, Reflection, through April 2022.
April 2022: Grammy Win for My Savior
In April 2022, Carrie Underwood won a Grammy for Best Gospel Album for her album, My Savior.
June 10, 2022: Release of Denim & Rhinestones Album
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 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, performing with Axl Rose. She expressed that singing with him taught her how to sing, acknowledging his influence on her career.
November 9, 2022: Airing of Country Music Association Awards
The Country Music Association Awards, where Carrie Underwood received three nominations, including Entertainer of the Year, aired on November 9, 2022.
2022: Pollstar Ranks Underwood Among Top 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: Rolling Stone Ranks Underwood as One of the Greatest Singers
In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Carrie Underwood at number 158 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time, recognizing her acclaimed vocals.
July 2024: Announcement of Residency Extension and American Idol Judging
In July 2024, it was announced that Carrie Underwood had extended her Las Vegas residency and would replace Katy Perry as a judge on American Idol in 2025.
August 2024: Extension of Vegas Residency Dates
In August 2024, Carrie Underwood added 18 more dates for her Vegas residency, Reflection, extending 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, which was released to country radio.
January 2025: Performance at Presidential Inauguration
In January 2025, Carrie Underwood performed "America the Beautiful" at the second inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, performing a cappella due to complications.
2025: Returns as American Idol Judge
In 2025, Carrie Underwood returns as a judge beginning with the twenty-third season of American Idol.
2025: Judging Role on American Idol
In 2025, it was announced that Carrie Underwood would replace Katy Perry as judge on American Idol.
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