American Idol & Country Music?

Carrie Underwood


American Idol is not only for would-be pop stars after this year. Last springs final episode - that pitted rock and roll musician Bo Bice against country singer Carrie Underwood - is unanimous validation that Americas Idol does not have to be the stereotypical “pop” star.

Upwards of 50 million fans voted for Carrie and Bo in American Idol’s fourth final episode showdown. When all was said and done, fans were unable to resist the down to earth country singer from Oklahoma. She had even won the congratulations of Simon Cowell, who is known more for his nasty criticisms than his compliments. Throughout the competition, Cowell had pointedly said American Idol was Carrie’s to lose. When she was crowned America’s Idol, Carrie assured her devotees she would always sing in the music genre that had brought her to this point - country music.

In fact, Carrie Underwood has often said that her participating in American Idol - rather than the country competition Nashville Star - was great for the viewers. "I think it's really good for country music to have somebody advance as far as I have, because maybe it opens some people's eyes that didn't like it before," she said to USA Today prior to American Idol’s conclusion.

Carrie - a 22-year-old college senior - beat out more than 100,000 original participants and 22 semi-finalists to win American Idol. Even American Idol’s most abrasive mud-slingers will concur that’s rather a feat for anybody, but possibly an even bigger feat for a country and western artist. Her first album Inside Your Heaven, was released in mid-June, sold 130,000 copies and shot straight up the Billboard 100. Mainstream The US adores Carrie Underwood, but what about the country music fans?

To spite her declaration of her commitment to country music, Carrie has not exactly performed the same as was projected: the country music buffs reception has been tepid at best. Inside Your Heaven might have been #1 on Billboard, but it scarcely made a scratch on country music charts and has obtained very little airplay on country music radio stations.

However, Carrie was invited to - and sang at - the 2005 Nashville. She’s sang at the Grand Ole Opry, has set up her own page on the Country Music Network’s website, and is well on her way to turning into a moneymaking country star.

Following her American Idol win, Carrie signed a record contract with Arista. Inside Your Heaven is conveniently only a small preview of what’s to come - her first CD will come out this fall. however, a record contract is just the beginning. Carrie has also signed a lot of lucrative endorsement deals. She will be seen in ads to promote Hershey’s chocolates and Sketchers sneakers. Furthermore, in an online poll run by PETA, people called Carrie the hottest vegetarian today joined with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.

Right now, Carrie is on the road with the nine runners-up of American Idol - singing and bringing country music to idol lovers in cities all over the United States.