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 rose to fame after winning American Idol in 2005. A prominent figure in 21st-century country music, she's known for her powerful vocals and stage presence. Underwood is credited with revitalizing the role of female artists within the genre and maintaining their presence in mainstream music. Her success has solidified her as a leading force in contemporary country music.
1988: Rosanne Cash
In 2010, Carrie Underwood became the first woman to score ten number-ones on such a chart since Rosanne Cash in 1988.
1991: Advent of the SoundScan System
In 1991, the SoundScan system was introduced.
1991: Guinness Book of World Records title
In 2010, 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 (since accurate sales records were introduced in the US in 1991), tied with Reba McEntire.
1995: Four tracks from one album top the Billboard Hot Country Songs
With the singles from her second album, Carnival Ride, Carrie Underwood became the first female country artist since Shania Twain in 1995 to have four tracks from one album top the Billboard Hot Country Songs.
1997: Capitol Records Contract Cancellation
In 1997, when Carrie Underwood was 14, Capitol Records was preparing a contract for her but canceled it due to changes in company management.
2000: Album Certification
Since 2000, Some Hearts became the highest album certification of any country artist to emerge.
2000: "Amazed" reached number 1 on the Hot 100
Since country group Lonestar's "Amazed" in 2000, "Inside Your Heaven" is the first song from a country artist to go to number 1 on the Hot 100.
2004: American Idol Audition
In 2004, Carrie Underwood auditioned for American Idol in St. Louis, Missouri, showcasing her talent and beginning her journey on the show.
2004: Miss NSU Runner-Up
In 2004, Carrie Underwood competed in numerous beauty pageants at Northeastern State University and was selected as Miss NSU runner-up.
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". Simon Cowell correctly predicted that Underwood would win the competition and outsell all previous Idol winners.
May 25, 2005: American Idol Season Four Win
On May 25, 2005, Carrie Underwood was declared the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, marking a significant milestone in her career.
June 14, 2005: "Inside Your Heaven" Release
On June 14, 2005, Carrie Underwood released her first single, "Inside Your Heaven", which debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking her as the third artist and first country artist to achieve this debut since 1998. It also topped the Canadian Singles Chart for seven weeks.
November 15, 2005: Some Hearts Album Release
On November 15, 2005, Carrie Underwood's debut album, Some Hearts, was released, selling 315,000 copies and debuting at number 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums and at number 2 on the Billboard 200.
2005: Skechers Advertising Campaign
In 2005, Carrie Underwood appeared in a Skechers global advertising campaign, marking her entry into endorsement deals.
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: Billboard Music Awards Wins
In 2005, Carrie Underwood won several awards at the Billboard Music Awards, including Top-Selling Hot 100 Song of the Year and Top-Selling Country Single of the Year for "Inside Your Heaven", as well as Country Single Sales Artist of the Year.
2005: American Idol Win
In 2005, Carrie Underwood won the fourth season of American Idol, revitalizing the presence of female country artists in popular culture.
2005: "Inside Your Heaven" and "Some Hearts" Success
In 2005, Carrie Underwood's debut single, "Inside Your Heaven," topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, making her the first country artist to achieve this. Her debut album, Some Hearts, became the best-selling debut album by a solo female country artist.
2005: Debut in the music industry
Since her debut in 2005, Carrie Underwood has garnered praise from veteran artists and music critics alike, marking a significant milestone in her career.
April 2006: Carrie Underwood: Live 2006 Tour
In April 2006, Carrie Underwood started her first headlined tour, Carrie Underwood: Live 2006, with dates across North America.
December 2006: Performed on The Oprah Winfrey Show and at Kennedy Center Honors
In December 2006, Carrie Underwood performed "For Once in My Life" with Tony Bennett, Michael Bublé, and Josh Groban on The Oprah Winfrey Show. She also paid tribute to Dolly Parton at the Kennedy Center Honors, singing "Islands in the Stream" with Kenny Rogers.
2006: Most awarded artist in CMT Music Awards history
After taking home over 20 awards from 2006 to 2019, Underwood became the most awarded artist in the history of the CMT Music Awards.
2006: Performances at NBA All-Star Game and Thanksgiving Day Football Game
In 2006, Carrie Underwood performed at the NBA All-Star Game and at halftime of the Thanksgiving Day football game at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas.
2006: Award Wins in 2006
In 2006, Carrie Underwood won multiple awards, including Top New Female Vocalist and Single of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards, Horizon Award and Female Vocalist of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards, and Breakthrough Video of the Year and Female Video of the Year at the CMT Music Awards.
2006: Some Hearts Success
In 2006, Carrie Underwood's album Some Hearts became the best-selling album across all genres in the United States and was also the best-selling country album.
April 11, 2007: "Wasted" Release and Success
On April 11, 2007, Carrie Underwood released "Wasted", which peaked at number 1 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. It quickly reached number 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs.
October 2007: Release of Carnival Ride Album
In October 2007, Carrie Underwood released her second album, Carnival Ride, which moved over 527,000 copies in its first week and debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums.
2007: Topped Billboard Year-End Charts and Won 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: Artist of the Year, Favorite Female Country Artist, and Favorite Country Album for Some Hearts.
2007: Target Advertisements
In 2007, Carrie Underwood appeared in Target advertisements promoting her album "Carnival Ride" (2007). The limited edition of the album which included a behind the scenes DVD was exclusively sold at Target.
2007: Performed at Idol Gives Back Concert
In 2007, Carrie Underwood performed "I'll Stand By You" at the Idol Gives Back concert, and her cover of the song debuted at number 6 on Billboard's Hot 100 Songs.
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: Award Wins in 2007
In 2007, Carrie Underwood won awards such as Album of the Year, Video of the Year, and Female Vocalist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards. She also won Video of the Year, Female Video of the Year, and Video Director of the Year at the CMT Awards for "Before He Cheats". Additionally, she won Female Vocalist of the Year and Single Record of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards.
2007: Carnival Ride Album Success
In 2007, Carrie Underwood's album, Carnival Ride, sold over half a million copies in its first week and earned her two Grammy Awards.
2007: Some Hearts Continued Success
In 2007, Some Hearts continued its success as the best-selling country album, making Carrie 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 for the third year running.
2007: Grammy Wins for Some Hearts
In 2007, at the 49th Grammy Awards, Carrie Underwood's album Some Hearts received four nominations, and she won her first two Grammy Awards: Best New Artist and Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Jesus, Take the Wheel".
January 2008: Embarking on the Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Carnival Ride Tour
In January 2008, Carrie Underwood began a joint tour with Keith Urban called the Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Carnival Ride Tour, with dates nationwide that continued through April.
February 2008: "Before He Cheats" Certification
In February 2008, "Before He Cheats" became the first country song to ever be certified multi-platinum.
February 2008: Starting the Carnival Ride Tour
In February 2008, Carrie Underwood started her headlined tour, the Carnival Ride Tour, with dates across all 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: Inducted into the Grand Ole Opry
On May 10, 2008, Carrie Underwood was officially inducted by Garth Brooks into the Grand Ole Opry.
July 2008: Release of 'Just a Dream' Single
In July 2008, Carrie Underwood released "Just a Dream", the next single from her album Carnival Ride, which later peaked at number one on the Hot Country Songs chart.
August 2008: Recording of "Just Stand Up!"
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).
August 2008: "Jesus, Take the Wheel" Ringtone Certification
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 along with "Before He Cheats", which had been certified earlier in 2007.
November 2008: Recorded a virtual 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 the Carnival Ride Tour
On December 14, 2008, Carrie Underwood concluded her headlining Carnival Ride Tour, having played to 1.2 million fans throughout North America.
2008: Vitamin Water Spokesperson
In 2008, Carrie Underwood became the spokesperson for Vitamin Water, starring in television and magazine advertisements and hosting a guide to a healthy lifestyle on Vitamin Water's website.
2008: Nintendo DS Launch
In 2008, Carrie Underwood collaborated with Nintendo for the launch of their Nintendo DS, appearing in various television commercials.
2008: Induction into the Grand Ole Opry
In 2008, Carrie Underwood was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry for her many accomplishments in country music, marking a significant milestone in her career.
2008: Won Female Vocalist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards
In 2008, Carrie Underwood won Female Vocalist of the Year for the 2nd consecutive time at the Academy of Country Music Awards. She also co-hosted the Country Music Association Awards with Brad Paisley for their first year as hosts and won the Female Vocalist of the Year award for the third consecutive year.
2008: Won Female Vocalist of the Year at the 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: Grammy Win for "Before He Cheats"
In 2008, at the 50th Grammy Awards, Carrie Underwood won the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Before He Cheats".
February 2009: Release of 'I Told You So' Single
In February 2009, Carrie Underwood released "I Told You So", a duet with Randy Travis, as a single from her album Carnival Ride.
March 2009: Tracked a cover of Mötley Crüe's '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.
May 2009: Forbes reports Underwood's earnings
From May 2009 to May 2010, Carrie Underwood earned over $13 million, as reported by Forbes in 2010, making her the top-earning Idol.
May 17, 2009: Forbes Reported as Top Earning American Idol Alumnus
In 2009, Forbes reported that from June 2008 to May 17, 2009, Carrie Underwood was the top earning American Idol alumnus.
September 2009: Release of Cowboy Casanova Single
In September 2009, Carrie Underwood released "Cowboy Casanova", co-written by herself, as the first single from her album Play On.
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.
December 2009: Some Hearts named number-one country album of the 2000s
In December 2009, Billboard named Carrie Underwood's album, Some Hearts, the number-one country album of the 2000s. Underwood was also ranked as the top female artist on Billboard's Best Country Artists of the 2000 Decade list, and number 50 on the Artists of the Decade list overall.
2009: Co-hosted the CMA Awards and Received Nominations
In 2009, Carrie Underwood co-hosted the CMA Awards with Brad Paisley for their second consecutive year and received two nominations.
2009: Establishment of the Checotah Animal, Town, and School Foundation
In 2009, Carrie Underwood established the Checotah Animal, Town, and School Foundation, dedicated to supporting general causes, needs, and services in the Checotah area to directly benefit the community.
2009: Induction into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame
In 2009, Carrie Underwood was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, further solidifying her status as a prominent figure in the music industry.
2009: Won Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance
In 2009, Carrie Underwood won the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Last Name" for the third year in a row at the 51st Grammy Awards and performed the song at the ceremony.
2009: Donation to Checotah Schools
In 2009, Carrie Underwood's foundation and the Academy of Country Music foundation partnered to donate more than $120,000 in new instruments to students in Checotah, Oklahoma. Carrie Underwood held a surprise concert at a local high school and unveiled the instruments.
2009: Play On Album Success
In 2009, with the album Play On, Carrie Underwood became the only woman to have eleven consecutive top-two singles and the first since the 1980s to achieve ten number-one songs at country radio.
2009: "Inside Your Heaven" Milestone
In the decade of 2000-2009, "Inside Your Heaven" remained the only single by a solo country artist to reach number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
January 2010: Partnership with Country Cares for St. Jude Kids
In January 2010, Carrie Underwood partnered with Country Cares for St. Jude Kids and visited 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 began 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 as Tiffany, a medical sales rep. The episode became the second highest rated of the season.
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: Named Entertainer of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards
In April 2010, Carrie Underwood was named Entertainer of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards, making her the first woman to win this award twice. She also received the "ACM Triple Crown Award".
May 2010: Forbes reports Underwood's earnings
From May 2010 to May 2011, Carrie Underwood earned over $20 million, as reported by Forbes in July 2011, being the top-earning American Idol alumnus for the fourth consecutive year.
September 25, 2010: Start of the Second Leg of the Play On Tour
On September 25, 2010, Carrie Underwood started the second leg of the Play On Tour in Portland, Oregon.
October 2, 2010: Sold Out the Hollywood Bowl
On October 2, 2010, Carrie Underwood sold out 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 top 5 artists of the year in country music.
December 2010: Play On Tour Ranked Among Top Tours of 2010
In December 2010, Pollstar.com ranked Carrie Underwood's Play On Tour as one of the Top 50 tours of 2010, at number 1 in North America and number 31 worldwide.
2010: Won Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals
At the 52nd Grammy Awards in 2010, Carrie Underwood won her fifth Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for "I Told You So" with Randy Travis. She also performed with Celine Dion, Usher, Smokey Robinson, and Jennifer Hudson during the Michael Jackson tribute.
2010: Top female country artist
At the turn of the 2010 decade, Billboard named Carrie Underwood the top female country artist and seventh overall country artist, recognizing her dominance in the genre.
2010: Pedigree Adoption Drive Spokesperson
In 2010, Carrie Underwood became the spokesperson for the Pedigree adoption drive, lending her support to the cause.
2010: Ten career number-one singles
In 2010, with the singles of her third album, Play On, Carrie Underwood achieved ten career number-one singles on the Hot Country Songs, leading to Guinness World Record recognition.
January 1, 2011: End of the Second Leg of the Play On Tour
On January 1, 2011, Carrie Underwood ended the second leg of the Play On Tour in Detroit.
January 4, 2011: Named Top-Ranked Female Country Touring Artist of the Year
On January 4, 2011, it was 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 2011: Donation to Save the Children
In February 2011, Carrie Underwood donated $140,125 to Save the Children, inspired by the "36 cents" in her song "Change" from the album Play On.
March 2011: Sang "Instant Karma!" at NBC's special
In March 2011, Carrie Underwood sang John Lennon's "Instant Karma!" at the NBC 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, who helps Bethany Hamilton overcome her challenges 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: Forbes reports Underwood's earnings
From May 2010 to May 2011, Carrie Underwood earned over $20 million, as reported by Forbes in July 2011, being the top-earning American Idol alumnus for the fourth consecutive year.
May 2011: Honored by the Academy of Country Music at Girls' Night Out
In May 2011, Carrie Underwood was one of the seven women to be honored by the Academy of Country Music at the Girls' Night Out: Superstar Women of Country special. She is the only female artist to win Entertainer of the Year twice.
May 2011: Biggest American Idol Earner
Since May 2011, Carrie Underwood is the Biggest American Idol Earner, considering tour revenues and record sales combined.
June 2011: Rolling Stone ranks Underwood as number 11 Queen of Pop
In June 2011, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Carrie Underwood as the number 11 Queen of Pop, based on criteria from 2009 to 2011.
July 2011: Forbes reports Underwood's earnings
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: Sang "It Had to Be You" on Blue Bloods premiere
In September 2011, Carrie Underwood and Tony Bennett performed their duet "It Had to Be You" on the season two premiere of Blue Bloods.
2011: Sang with Steven Tyler at the Academy of Country Music Awards
At the 2011 Academy of Country Music Awards, Carrie Underwood sang with Steven Tyler both her song "Undo It" and Aerosmith's "Walk This Way".
2011: Four more number-one singles
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: Donation to Checotah Schools
During the 2011 holiday season, Carrie Underwood's foundation donated $350,000 to the Checotah schools.
2011: Olay Brand Ambassador
In 2011, Carrie Underwood became the first celebrity brand ambassador for Olay skin care, appearing 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, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. In 2011, Carrie Underwood also had duets with Tony Bennett on his Duets II album and with Randy Travis on his Anniversary Celebration album. Additionally, in 2011 Carrie Underwood headlined the iHeartRadio Music Festival on September 23 and 24.
February 4, 2012: 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, which became the highest-rated episode in seven years.
February 12, 2012: Performed "It Had to Be You" at the 54th Annual 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 2012: Ranked 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.
February 23, 2012: Release of Good Girl single
On February 23, 2012, "Good Girl", the first single from Carrie Underwood's album Blown Away, was released.
February 27, 2012: Good Girl released to country radio
On February 27, 2012, Carrie Underwood's single, "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 song "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. The album debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200, the Country Albums Chart, and the Digital Albums chart in the US, selling over 267,000 copies in its first week.
June 2012: Placed on The Celebrity 100 list by Forbes
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.
June 21, 2012: Blown Away Tour Started in London
On June 21, 2012, Carrie Underwood's Blown Away Tour started at the Royal Albert Hall in London, which sold out in 90 minutes.
July 9, 2012: Release of Blown Away as second single
On July 9, 2012, the song "Blown Away" was released as the second single from Carrie Underwood's album of the same name.
October 2, 2012: VH1 Unplugged and Behind The Music episodes premiered
On October 2, 2012, Carrie Underwood's VH1 Unplugged (called "VH1 Presents: Carrie Underwood Unplugged") and VH1 Behind The Music episodes premiered. For the VH1 Unplugged episode, Underwood included a cover of the Coldplay song "Fix You".
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: Forbes reports Underwood's earnings
Carrie Underwood earned $5 million between 2011 and 2012.
2012: Blown Away Album Success
In 2012, Carrie Underwood achieved the second-best-selling female release with her album Blown Away and won a Grammy Award for it.
2012: Donation from Blown Away Tour Tickets
In 2012, Carrie Underwood donated $1 of every ticket sold on the North American leg of the Blown Away Tour to the Canadian and American Red Cross.
2012: Kept See You Again song for her fourth album
In 2012, Carrie Underwood included See You Again song on her fourth album. She kept See You Again song for her fourth album after it was not included in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader movie.
January 21, 2013: Release of "Can't Stop Lovin' You" single
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: Won Grammy Award
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. Also in February 2013, Carrie Underwood won the prize for Top Selling International Album of the Year at the 41st Country Music Awards of Australia.
February 2013: Second Leg of Blown Away Tour Started
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. All dates of the second leg of the Blown Away Tour were sold out, breaking records.
February 2013: Ranked 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.
February 22, 2013: Ranked 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, "See You Again" was released as the fourth single from Carrie Underwood's album. It has peaked at number 2 on the Country Airplay chart and has been certified two-times Platinum by the RIAA.
May 2013: Blown Away Tour Wrapped
In late May 2013, Carrie Underwood wrapped the Blown Away Tour, playing to one million fans across three continents and six countries.
May 24, 2013: 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: Placed on The Celebrity 100 list by Forbes
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 with nearly 100 minutes of performance footage, behind-the-scene looks, interviews, and music videos from the album Blown Away. This was Underwood's first official DVD concert.
August 2013: Began planning a new album
In August 2013, Carrie Underwood confirmed that she began planning a new album.
September 22, 2013: Performed "Yesterday" 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" ended
Carrie Underwood's "Carrie Underwood: The Blown Away Tour Exhibition", which ran from June 5, 2013 had its last day on November 10, 2013, at the Country Music Hall of Fame.
December 5, 2013: Starring 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.
January 2014: Almay Global Brand Ambassador
Also in January 2014, Carrie Underwood became Almay's global brand ambassador, appearing in TV and print advertisements for the brand, further solidifying her presence in the beauty sector.
January 2014: Nicole by OPI Collaboration
In January 2014, Carrie Underwood partnered with Nicole by OPI to launch 14 new nail lacquers, expanding her ventures into the beauty industry.
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: Four more number-one singles
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: Prep work for a new album
Carrie Underwood confirmed in August 2013 that she would start prep work sometime in 2014 for her new album.
2014: Top-earning American Idol alum
Carrie Underwood has been the top-earning American Idol alum of all time since 2014, highlighting her sustained success in the music industry.
2014: Awards and Recognition in 2014
In 2014, Carrie Underwood received the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award from the Academy of Country Music. She also won the Milestone Award at the Billboard Music Awards. Time listed her as one of the 100 most influential people. Additionally, she won Favorite Female Country Artist at the American Music Awards and was named 2014's top female Christian artist by Billboard.
2014: Release of Greatest Hits: Decade #1
In 2014, Carrie Underwood released her first greatest hits compilation, Greatest Hits: Decade #1, on December 9. The lead single, "Something in the Water", became a crossover success, reaching number one on the Hot Country Songs chart and breaking airplay records. She earned $10 million between 2013 and 2014, topping Forbes' list of the top-earning American Idols.
2014: 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: "Something in the Water" Success
In 2014, Carrie Underwood's compilation album spawned the Grammy-winning crossover single "Something in the Water", achieving commercial success.
February 2015: Release of "Little Toy Guns"
In February 2015, Carrie Underwood released "Little Toy Guns" as the second single from the compilation album. The track peaked at number 6 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs.
March 2015: CALIA by Carrie Underwood Launch
In March 2015, Carrie Underwood launched a fitness clothing line named CALIA by Carrie Underwood in collaboration with Dick's Sporting Goods, featuring clothing 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. It debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Top Country Albums chart.
2015: Awards and Recognition in 2015
In 2015, Carrie Underwood won Best Country Solo Performance for "Something in the Water" at the 57th Grammy Awards. 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 for Favorite Female Country Artist.
2015: Billboard's American Idol success story
In 2015, a Billboard article recognized Carrie Underwood as the ultimate Idol success story, acknowledging her significant impact and achievements in the music industry.
2015: Storyteller Album Success
In 2015, with the album Storyteller, Carrie Underwood became the only country artist to have her first five studio albums reach the top two on the US Billboard 200.
January 2016: Launch of the Storyteller Tour
In January 2016, Carrie Underwood launched the Storyteller Tour, her fifth headlining tour.
June 2016: CMT Music Awards
In June 2016, Carrie Underwood received three nominations from the CMT Music Awards, winning two honors for "Smoke Break".
August 2016: Release of "Dirty Laundry"
In August 2016, Carrie Underwood released "Dirty Laundry" from the album Storyteller, which eventually peaked at number two on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.
September 2016: Receiving the ACM Lifting Lives Gary Haber Award
In September 2016, Carrie Underwood became the first artist to receive the ACM Lifting Lives Gary Haber Award for her work with charities.
October 20, 2016: CMT Artists of the Year honor
On October 20, 2016, Carrie Underwood was honored as one of CMT Artists of the Year for the third time.
December 2016: Joining Keith Urban for concerts
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 single, "The Fighter", at the Grammy ceremony.
January 2017: Taking time off and planning next album
In January 2017, Carrie Underwood took time off at the beginning of the year to spend time with family, and would then, possibly, begin to write 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: Recognition on Billboard's Top 50 Money Makers list
In 2017, Carrie Underwood earned $20 million and was ranked on Billboard's Top 50 Money Makers list.
2017: Co-producing new album with David Garcia
In 2017, Carrie Underwood met songwriter/producer David Garcia, with whom she began co-producing her new album.
2017: Awards and Nominations in 2017
In 2017, Carrie Underwood received nominations for the Academy of Country Music Awards and CMT Music Awards, winning Female Video of the Year. She also won Choice Country Artist at the Teen Choice awards and Favorite Female Artist at the American Music Awards.
2017: National Anthem Performance for Nashville Predators
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: Forbes' most successful American Idol winner
In 2017, Forbes declared Carrie Underwood the most successful American Idol winner of all time, highlighting her impressive album sales and revenue generation compared to other contestants.
January 2018: Release of "The Champion"
In January 2018, Carrie Underwood released "The Champion", a promotional duet single featuring Ludacris for Super Bowl LII. It is Underwood's first under the pop genre.
September 14, 2018: Release of Cry Pretty
On September 14, 2018, Carrie Underwood's sixth studio album, Cry Pretty, was released, debuting at number 1 on the Billboard 200.
September 2018: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
In September 2018, Carrie Underwood received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognizing her numerous achievements in music.
October 2018: Estimated net worth
As of October 2018, Carrie Underwood has an estimated net worth of US$200 million.
November 14, 2018: Hosting the CMA Awards and Winning Female Vocalist of the Year
On November 14, 2018, Carrie Underwood hosted the 52nd Annual Country Music Association Awards with Brad Paisley and picked up her fifth win as the CMA's Female Vocalist of the Year.
2018: Debut of "Game On" for SNF
For the 2018 NFL season, Carrie Underwood's SNF opening theme song was changed to an original song, "Game On".
2018: Awards and Recognition in 2018
In 2018, Carrie Underwood received four nominations and one win at the CMT Music Awards. She also won Choice Country Artist at the Teen Choice awards.
2018: Cry Pretty Album Success
In 2018, Carrie Underwood's album Cry Pretty had the largest female album debut and made her the only woman to top the Billboard 200 with four country studio albums.
May 2019: Cry Pretty Tour 360
In May 2019, Carrie Underwood announced that she would kick off the Cry Pretty Tour 360.
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.
2019: Most awarded artist in CMT Music Awards history
After taking home over 20 awards from 2006 to 2019, Underwood became the most awarded artist in the history of the CMT Music Awards.
2019: 54th Academy of Country Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards Nominations and Wins
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 received two more nominations for the Billboard Music Awards, including Top Country Album for Cry Pretty and Top Female Country Artist, winning the latter. She also received nominations for the CMT Music Awards for the videos "Cry Pretty" and "Love Wins", winning both Video of the Year and Female Video of the Year respectively. On June 8, 2019, the music video for "Southbound" premiered on Underwood's YouTube channel.
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' and Book Tour
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 began hosting her own Apple Radio Show, entitled XO Radio.
September 2020: Third Entertainer of the Year Award
In September 2020, Carrie Underwood won her third Entertainer of the Year award from the Academy of Country Music, becoming the first woman in history to achieve this milestone.
September 25, 2020: Release of 'My Gift' Christmas Album
On September 25, 2020, Carrie Underwood released her first Christmas album, My Gift. It achieved number-one status on multiple Billboard charts and number 8 on the Billboard 200.
December 3, 2020: Starring in 'My Gift' Holiday Special on HBO Max
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: My Gift Christmas Album Release
In 2020, Carrie Underwood released the Christmas album My Gift.
September 3, 2021: Release of "Only Us" Cover with Dan + Shay
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.
October 2021: Sixteenth number one on the Country Airplay
In October 2021, Carrie Underwood scored her sixteenth number one on the Country Airplay chart with the joint single "If I Didn't Love You".
December 2021: Launch of Las Vegas Residency "Reflection"
In December 2021, Carrie Underwood launched her Las Vegas residency, Reflection, in collaboration with Resorts World Las Vegas.
2021: My Savior Gospel Album Grammy Win
In 2021, Carrie Underwood won the Grammy Award for Best Roots Gospel Album with her gospel album My Savior.
March 18, 2022: Release of "Ghost Story" Single
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 Award for Best Roots Gospel Album and Performance of "Ghost Story"
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 "Reflection"
Due to high demand, Carrie Underwood added six more shows in April 2022, extending her Las Vegas residency, Reflection.
April 2022: Grammy Win for Best Gospel Album
In April 2022, Carrie Underwood won a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album for My Savior at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.
June 10, 2022: Release of 'Denim & Rhinestones' Album
On June 10, 2022, Carrie Underwood's ninth studio album, Denim & Rhinestones, was released.
July 2022: Performance with Guns N' Roses
In July 2022, Carrie Underwood joined Guns N' Roses on stage during their concert at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. She performed with Axl Rose, expressing that he and Guns N' Roses had taught her how to sing.
2022: Denim & Rhinestones Album Release
In 2022, Carrie Underwood reinforced her country-pop image with the release of her album Denim & Rhinestones.
2022: Top female touring artist
In 2022, Pollstar said that 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.
July 2024: Residency Extension Announcement
In July 2024, it was announced that Carrie Underwood had extended her residency.
August 2024: Vegas Residency Extension
In August 2024, Carrie Underwood added 18 more dates for her Vegas residency, Reflection, through August 2024.
September 2024: Duet 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.
January 2025: Performance at Donald Trump's Inauguration
In January 2025, Carrie Underwood performed "America the Beautiful" at the second inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
2025: Ranked among the Top 100 Women Artists
Billboard later ranked Carrie Underwood at number 13 on its 2025 "Top 100 Women Artists of the 21st Century" list.
2025: Return as American Idol Judge
In 2025, it was announced that Carrie Underwood would replace Katy Perry as judge on American Idol.
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