Carrie Underwood - The Reigning Queen of Country American Idol Style

At the outset, American Idol was billed as a launching pad for singing hopefuls in the pop music genre. Carrie Underwood, season four winner, has taken her success on the smash hit TV show and roped it around to her way of thinking.

Underwood’s seen success across both the country and pop Billboard charts. The single “Inside Your Heaven” debuted in the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, paving the way for cross-genre acceptance whether we like it or not. Trust me, American Idol fans love it. To prove it, “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and “Before He Cheats” peaked at #20 and #24 respectively. Not too shabby for a sweet-smiling country girl from Oklahoma.

“Before He Cheats,” Underwood’s latest single to sit atop the country music Billboard charts, serves as a well chosen diversion from her usual fare. Releasing this Alanis Morissette-esque (back in her “You Oughta Know” heyday), revenge laden, sweet-smiling country girl anathema was just the right move at just the right time.

Her audience has recognized her ability to belt out a ballad from her days on American Idol, but she’s recognized that she must also compete with the likes of country music bad girls, Gretchen Wilson and Jo Dee Messina. Carving up your cheatin’ boyfriend's “souped up 4-wheel drive” oughta do the trick. And it’s oh, so country.

Underwood prepares for a big night at the Country Music Association Awards on November 6, 2006. Not surprisingly, she garnered four nominations, more than any other female nominee of the night. My prediction is that she’ll take home two of the four CMA awards; Female Vocalist of the Year and the Horizon Award.

Naysayers have chalked up her success to strategic marketing by her label Arista Records, with cross-promoting (including gospel and adult contemporary radio) being the gnat buzzing in the critics' ears. More likely, it’s the juggernaut of the American Idol fan base that identified Underwood as multi-platinum material, and much to the critics’ dismay, fans just keep on buying the music she’s playing.

Article Author: Kathy Scovill

Kathy Scovill is a married mother of two and provides childcare in her home. She writes to maintain some sanity, craves adult interaction and occasionally entertains the thought of a 2-3 week vacation at a psychiatric hospital.

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