I'm a sucker when it comes to music competitions. I love watching The Voice, American Idol, and America's Got Talent on a regular basis because I find them so entertaining. Is there anything better than an 18-year-old crying their eyes out because Kelly Clarkson, Simon Cowell, Luke Bryan, Adam Levine, or Blake Shelton are rooting for them as an artist? It's wonderful and surely very inspiring. By far one of my favorite videos in the world is Carrie Underwood winning season four of Fox's American Idol. This win made her one of the biggest stars in country music today -- for a very good reason.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Let's rewind a little bit and go back to 2005 to the moment that changed Underwood's life. The Oklahoma native showed up to her audition with her mother, wearing a very bright pink shirt and curly blond hair. There she paced the hallway before going in to sing for judges Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell. Unfortunately, Paula Abdul was absent that day for unknown reasons. But after walking inside the room Jackson asked Underwood if she was nervous, to which she responded yes since Cowell was "scary."
Read More: Story Behind the Song: Carrie Underwood's Introductory Statement of Faith, 'Jesus, Take the Wheel'
The American Idol audition was very funny and charming in itself. Underwood shared that she used to play quarterback for the youth football team in her hometown, that Martina McBride was her favorite singer and that she could successfully cluck like a chicken.
The then 21-year old left the judges blown away with her cover of Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me."
"American Idol" Season 4 - Top 9 Finalist, Carrie Underwood, 21, from Checotah, Oklahoma (Photo by Ray Mickshaw/WireImage)
So with this audition, it didn't just lead her straight to the show, but she actually dominated the fourth season of the singing competition and was crowned the winner on May 25, 2005. A golden ticket indeed. I always get emotional when I see her reaction to the win since you can tell that she didn't really expect it.
Flash forward to a few months later, the American Idol winner released her debut album Some Hearts, which was a massive hit. Ever since then the songwriter went on to win several Grammy Awards, 11 Academy of Country Music Awards, 8 American Music Awards, 16 Billboard Music Awards and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song.
The"Cry Pretty" singer is now married to Mike Fisher and is mom to two beautiful children.
This article previously ran in July of 2021.
