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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Rascal Flatts

     Rascal Flatts is an American Grammy Award-winning country group founded in Nashville, Tennessee. Since its inception, Rascal Flatts has been composed of three members: Gary LeVox (lead vocals); LeVox’s second cousin, Jay DeMarcus (bass guitar, harmony vocals); and Joe Don Rooney (lead guitar, harmony vocals).
     Rascal Flatts mix twangy pedal steel licks with contemporary R&B to create a soulful yet countrified version of a boy band. Some of the members of the harmony-laden Rascal Flatts were once the backing band of a young country diva named Chely Wright. From 2000 to 2007, Rascal Flatts sold well over eight million albums. Rascal Flatts’ third album “Feels Like Today” went platinum in just under one week. Rascal Flatts have performed for the President and First Lady. They have also become spokesmen for the American Red Cross.
     Rascal Flatts has released five studio albums and a live compilation to date, all on Lyric Street Records. Their first two albums, 2000’s Rascal Flatts and 2002’s Melt, have been certified 2× platinum and 3× platinum, respectively, in the United States, while 2004’s Feels Like Today and 2006’s Me and My Gang have received 5× platinum and 4× platinum certifications respectively. Still Feels Good, their most recent album, is certified 2× platinum.

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