Keith Urban

     Keith Lionel Urban (born 26 October 1967, New Zealand), is a New Zealand-born Australian Grammy- and ARIA-winning country music singer. Urban began his career in Australia, having moved there at an early age; in 1991, Urban released a self-titled debut album, and charted four singles in Australia before moving to the United States in 1992. Eventually, Urban found work as a session guitarist before founding a group known as The Ranch, which recorded one studio album on Capitol Records and charted one single on the Billboard country charts.In 1996 he appeared on the tribute album to Hank Marvin and The Shadows “Twang” playing the instrumental “Dance On”.
     Urban’s sound may be rooted in the past, but his New Country is all about the present, replete with semi-programmed beats. As southern as the man’s music sounds, Keith Urban was born in New Zealand and grew up in Australia. Urban was hamming it up as a youngster performing in plays and musicals, years before finding his voice in country music. Urban credits pilfering through his father’s twangy record collection as the main influence on his heartfelt country musings. Before going solo, Urban was in a country band called the Ranch. Following his success, they re-released their album.
     Still signed to Capitol, he made his solo American debut in 1999 with the album keith urban; certified platinum in the U.S., it also produced his first American Number One in “But for the Grace of God”. His breakthrough hit was the Number One “Somebody Like You”, from his second Capitol album Golden Road (2002). This album also earned Urban his first Grammy Award win for “You’ll Think of Me”, its fourth single and the third Billboard Number One of his career. 2004’s Be Here, his third American album, produced three more Number Ones, and became his highest-selling album, earning 4× Multi-Platinum certification. Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing was released in 2006, earning Urban’s second Grammy for the song “Stupid Boy”, while a Greatest Hits package entitled Greatest Hits: 18 Kids followed in 2008.

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Carrie Underwood

     Carrie Marie Underwood (born March 10, 1983 in Muskogee, Oklahoma) is a three-time Grammy Award-winning singer. She is the first Idol winner to sweep all three major music awards (Billboard, American Music, and Grammy Award) in one single season.[citation needed] Since her sweep, she has become a multi-platinum selling recording artist. Her debut album, Some Hearts, was certified seven times platinum and is the fastest selling debut country album in Nielsen SoundScan history. Some Hearts yielded five number one hits on the country charts in the United States and Canada: “Inside Your Heaven”, “Jesus, Take the Wheel”, “Don’t Forget to Remember Me”, “Wasted,” and her biggest hit to date, “Before He Cheats”. Underwood scored another Top 10 Billboard hit with her charity single, “I’ll Stand by You”. Some Hearts sold a total of 7 million RIAA-certified copies as of February 2008. In addition to being the best selling album by an American Idol contestant in the United States to date, it is also the best-selling solo female debut album in country music history.
     Carrie Underwood was the champion on season four of “American Idol.” Underwood’s career shifted into high gear with the release of the country anthem “Jesus Take the Wheel.” Underwood has already hit high on the country charts, but she’s also crossed over to the Christian radio charts. Underwood’s main competition was longhaired heartthrob Bo Bice, who despite losing, landed a record deal. Carrie started singing in church when she was three and plays both the guitar and the piano.

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