Country Superstar Carrie Underwood Takes on The Sound of Music: Check Her Out Through The Years

carrie underwood yearbook young 1992 photo

Carrie Underwood, Third Grade, Checotah School, 1992

Back in 1992, did anyone know that this sweet Oklahoma girl would go on to become one of the biggest stars in country music? She would later immortalize her hometown in a song on her first album: “I Ain’t in Checotah Anymore.”

carrie underwood yearbook young 1995 photo

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Carrie Underwood, Sixth Grade, Checotah School, 1995

When Carrie was 14 (shortly after this photo was taken), she auditioned in Nashville and received a contract from Capitol Records. But unfortunately there was a change in management, so the contract was canceled. Instead, we would have to wait nearly 10 more years before we could hear Carrie on the radio.

carrie underwood yearbook young high school 2001 prom photo

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Carrie Underwood, Senior Prom, Checotah High School, 2001

This guy, who snagged Carrie back in high school for his prom date, must feel like he’s in pretty good company. Other men who have won Carrie’s heart include Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford, and her husband, Nashville Predators hockey star Mike Fisher.

carrie underwood yearbook young high scool young 2001 photo

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Carrie Underwood, Senior Year, Checotah High School, 2001

Carrie isn’t just a big voice and a pretty face. She’s also one smart cookie. She graduated salutatorian of her class at Checotah High School, was in the honor society, and played basketball and softball.

carrie underwood american idol audition 2005 photo

Carrie Underwood, American Idol Audition, 2005

When she auditioned for American Idol, Carrie sang “Independence Day” by Martina McBride. It became her anthem, and she sang it three more times on the show, including in the finale as her “contestant’s choice” song.

carrie underwood american idol results 2005 photo

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Carrie Underwood, American Idol Winner, 2005

There wasn’t really much competition on American Idol season 4. We knew Carrie was going to win pretty much from the beginning, and producers even said later that she had the most votes every week.

carrie underwood some hearts 2006 album photo

Carrie Underwood, Some Hearts, 2005

When Carrie was on Idol, Simon Cowell said: "Not only will you win this show, you will sell more records than any other previous Idol winner." When the man is right, he is right. Carrie’s debut Some Hearts went seven times platinum, making it the best-selling album of 2006 and the biggest album by any American Idol alum.

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Carrie Underwood, Grammys, 2007

The country world accepted Carrie with open arms, but would the Grammys love her too? Yes. Yes, they would. In 2007, Carrie won Best New Artist at the Grammys (she is still the only Idol winner to even be nominated for that award) and Best Female Country Performance for “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” To date, she has won a total of six Grammys and about a million other awards.

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Carrie Underwood & Mike Fisher, Grammys, 2010

Carrie met hockey player Mike Fisher in 2008 when he came to one of her concerts. They were married in summer 2010, and the wedding was attended by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Garth Brooks, and all three American Idol judges.

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Carrie Underwood & Tony Bennett, Grammys, 2012

If she were still on Idol, Simon probably would have questioned the song choice for Carrie’s duet with Tony Bennett at the 2012 Grammys. “It Had to Be You” was a little too quiet—we like to hear Carrie belt it out. But even so, she looked great, and who would say no to singing with Tony Bennett?

NBC

Carrie Underwood as Maria in NBC's Sound of Music, 2013

It was announced in late 2012, that Carrie Underwood would be playing the coveted and iconic role of Maria in NBC's live broadcast of The Sound of Music. Airing on December 5th, the three hour telecast will pair Underwood with True Blood's Stephen Moyer in a decidedly less naked role as Captain von Trapp.