Carrie Underwood Facts: Career Details, Life Before Fame

Dreams do come true! Carrie Underwood’s life was forever changed when she won season 4 of American Idol in 2005. Audiences fell in love with her charming personality and phenomenal voice, which has helped her become of the most successful country artists of all time.

The “Blown Away” singer has performed all over the world, broken numerous records as a female country artist, hosted the Country Music Association Awards and won several awards of her own. Even after all of her tremendous accolades, the Oklahoma native credits American Idol with making it all possible.

“I think back and that’s a decision that changed my entire life — I have no idea where I’d be,” she said after returning to the show to mentor the contestants in May 2022. “And to see contestants get every opportunity they’ve ever wanted is just magical.”

The country superstar has collaborated with top artists in the music industry over the years including John Legend, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley and Jason Aldean. Her husband, Mike Fisher, has remained one of her biggest supporters since they began dating in 2008. The New York Times bestselling author and the NHL star got engaged in 2009 and were married the following year.

The couple welcomed their first child together, son Isaiah, in 2015. Their youngest son, Jacob, arrived in January 2019.

“Mike loves having two little boys to run around outdoors and to teach sports. And motherhood has fulfilled Carrie and keeps her feeling grounded,” an insider told Closer in June 2020. “The boys are their world, and they always say how happy they are as a family of four.”

Carrie and Mike have loved spending more time with their boys and getting to watch them grow up amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m very lucky,” she said during a December 2020 interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe. “I do have two incredible boys. … We live on a farm, and I kind of got to get back to some of my roots by not being on stage for a minute, and I got to be outside so much and work in the garden and just be a mom and be a wife. … It’s the most I’ve been still in over 15 years.”

Keep scrolling to learn five facts about Carrie you might not know.

Carrie Revealed Her Celebrity Crush

In October 2015, Carrie revealed her celebrity crush to the world. “I have a massive crush on Patrick Stewart. Always have, always will,” she said.

The Grammy winner got the ultimate shock when Patrick tweeted a snapshot of the interview, writing, “@carrieunderwood’s words excite me more than the solid results of my recent bone density scan.”

She Loves Horror Movies

Carrie’s music video for the 2012 hit “Two Black Cadillacs” was unlike anything she had ever done before because of its dark and mysterious plot. The video was inspired by her love for horror films.

“I really don’t know why I’ve always loved horror movies, but I know why I’ve always loved Stephen King,” she said in a behind-the-scenes clip making the video. “My mom was such a huge fan. I guarantee you she’s read everything he’s ever written. I would borrow her books and read her books.”

She Was a Beauty Queen

The “Cry Pretty” songstress competed at the 1998 Miss Westark Pageant in Arkansas where she performed Martina McBride‘s “A Broken Wing.” Carrie commented on a throwback video of her performance on Twitter, saying, “Awww … I was such a baby with my braces and my sparkly dress!!! Thanks for the flashback!”

She was also named the runner-up at the Miss NSU pageant at Northeastern State University from which she graduated in 2006.

Stevie Nicks Is a Huge Fan of Carrie

Carrie has millions of fans all over the world including Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks. They performed together at the 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

“I told Carrie, ‘It’s a good thing you weren’t around when I joined Fleetwood Mac because I think you would have won the lottery on that one and I would have been back to being a waitress,'” Stevie said during an HBO special about the ceremony.

Her Acting Skills Are Impressive

Much like fellow American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson, Carrie ventured into the world of acting. She appeared on an episode of How I Met Your Mother in 2010. The mom of two made her film debut in the biographical drama Soul Surfer in 2011. She later starred in NBC’s The Sound of Music Live! in 2013. There is nothing she can’t do!