Carrie Underwood’s rise from ‘American Idol’ winner to country music royalty

Carrie Underwood experienced a full-circle moment last month when she returned to American Idol as a judge years after she was crowned the winner of the hit serenading competition show The -year-old country star joined Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan on the judging panel along with longtime host Ryan Seacrest for American Idol's rd season which premiered March When Underwood was a contestant on American Idol's fourth season in judge Simon Cowell shared a bold prediction about the Muskogee Oklahoma native's future Carrie you re not just the girl to beat You re the person to beat he disclosed after the aspiring country singer performed rock band Heart's hit Alone AMERICAN IDOL JUDGE CARRIE UNDERWOOD ADMITS IT S 'DIFFICULT' TO BRING FAITH INTO HOLLYWOOD I will make a prediction Not only will you win this show you will sell more records than any other previous Idol winner Cowell's prophecy was fulfilled after Underwood was proclaimed the victor of season and she went on to sell over million records more than any other American Idol winner to date Here's a look back at Underwood's rise from reality TV contestant to country music royalty Underwood earned a million-dollar recording contract after she was declared the winner of American Idol during its fourth-season finale May Less than a month later Underwood made history when she distributed her first single 'Inside Your Heaven becoming the first country singer to debut at No on the Billboard Hot In November Underwood circulated her debut studio album Several Hearts which topped the Top Country Albums Chart and claimed the No spot on the Billboard Specific Hearts which featured the No singles Jesus Take the Wheel Wasted and Before He Cheats became the bestselling solo female debut album in country music history and has been certified platinum nine times by RIAA In Underwood won her first Grammys taking home the trophies for best new artist and best female country performance At the ACM Awards she won the top new female vocalist award and single of the year for Jesus Take the Wheel CARRIE UNDERWOOD WARNS OF KIDS WATCHING TOO MUCH TV NOTICES 'ATTITUDE CHANGE' IN SONS Jesus Take the Wheel also earned Underwood CMT Awards for breakthrough video of the year and best female video of the year Underwood followed up Specific Hearts with her second studio album Carnival Ride which was published in October and debuted at No on both the Billboard and Top Country Albums charts Four singles from Carnival Ride including Just a Dream Last Name So Small and All-American Girl topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart Carnival Ride was certified platinum twice within two months of its release and it now holds four platinum certifications In Underwood took home her third Grammy Award after winning best female vocal performance for Before He Cheats At the AMAs she won awards for artist of the year and favorite country artist while at the CMAs Underwood won the top female vocalist award album of the year and video of the year The hitmaker embarked on her first headlining tour after joining forces with fellow country star Keith Urban for Love Pain and the Whole Crazy Carnival Ride Tour which kicked off in January On May country music legend Randy Travis inducted a tearful Underwood into the famed Grand Ole Opry in Nashville The induction award they gave me says 'Hey you're a part of the family ' Underwood commented via Taste of Country It means a lot to me because it's the heart of country music the church the sacred place the super-elite club that says you love this music In Underwood added to her Grammy Awards haul winning best female country vocal performance for her song Last Name At the CMA Awards Underwood was named female vocalist of the year for the third consecutive year The singer also co-hosted the awards show for the first time with country star Brad Paisley and she returned as a host the next years AMERICAN IDOL' ALUM CARRIE UNDERWOOD ADMITS THE BIG DILEMMA SHE FACES IN NEW ROLE AS JUDGEUnderwood issued her third studio album Play On in November Play On debuted at the top of the Billboard and the Top Country Albums charts The record also featured three chart-topping singles including Undo It Cowboy Casanova and Temporary Home The singer scored her fifth Grammy Award win for best country collaboration with vocals after teaming up with Travis for the single I Described You So She also won entertainer of the year and female vocalist of the year at the ACM Awards In Underwood performed the national anthem at the Super Bowl in Miami Florida That year she won the award for entertainer of the year at the CMAs becoming the first woman in history to win twice Underwood circulated her fourth studio album Blown Away in May The album debuted at the top of the Billboard and the Top Country Albums charts The record also produced the chart-topping singles Good Girl and Blown Away In Underwood took home her sixth Grammy Award win when she was awarded best solo performance for Blown Away The following December Underwood issued her first greatest hits album Greatest Hits Decade Number which reached the No spot on the Top Country Albums chart Greatest Hits Decade Number featured the single Something in the Water which earned Underwood her seventh Grammy for best solo country performance In Underwood notched her sixth consecutive No album on the Top Country Albums chart when she published her fifth studio record Storyteller In she embarked on her fifth headlining tour in aid of the album Underwood distributed her sixth studio album Cry Pretty in November After Cry Pretty debuted at the top of the Billboard Underwood made history as the first female artist to top the chart with four country albums AMERICAN IDOL ALUM CARRIE UNDERWOOD REPLACING KATY PERRY AS JUDGEIn September Underwood received the th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during a ceremony in which she was honored by Cowell and Paisley Underwood published her first Christmas album My Gift in September My Gift claimed the No spot on the Top Country Albums chart and reached the fifth spot on the Billboard LIKE WHAT YOU RE READING CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSThe record debuted at No on the Top Christian Albums and Top Holiday Albums charts In March Underwood ventured into a new musical genre when she distributed her first gospel album My Savior which hit No on the Top County Albums and U S Christian Albums charts She followed up in with her ninth studio album Denim Rhinestones which claimed the No spot on the Billboard At the ACMs she also won single of the year for her collaboration with Jason Aldean If I Didn't Love You In Underwood issued the deluxe edition of Denim Rhinestones which featured the single Out of the Truck CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERUnderwood revealed she would be returning to American Idol in a video she shared in August I went from nobody knowing my name to tens of millions of people watching the show she noted I m proud of everything I was able to accomplish on the show and I m so proud of everything I ve accomplished since Underwood kicked off by performing America the Beautiful at the th presidential Inauguration Day ceremony where President Donald Trump was sworn into office Jan Due to a technical issue Underwood ended up vocalizing the patriotic song a cappella earning rave reviews for her performance Ahead of the inauguration Underwood informed her participation in a comment writing I love our country and am honored to have been requested to sing at the inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future