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American Idol & Country Music?

Carrie Underwood

American Idol is not just for would-be pop stars after this year. Last springs finale - that pitted rock and roll musician Bo Bice versus country crooner Carrie Underwood - is unanimous proof that Americas Idol does not have to be the plain-old "pop" singer.

Upwards of 50 million fans called or text messaged votes for Carrie and Bo in American Idol's fourth finale competition. When all was said and done, the TV audience could not resist the blond country singer from Oklahoma. She had even experienced the congratulations of Simon Cowell, the English judge aknowledged more for his knifelike critiques than his compliments. Throughout the competition, Cowell had pointedly said American Idol was Carrie's game to lose. When she got the title of America's Idol, Carrie assured her devotees she would always sing in the music genre that had always been in her heart - country music.

In fact, Carrie Underwood has often said that her participating in American Idol - rather than the country competition Nashville Star - was good for the viewers. "I think it's really good for country music to have somebody advance as far as I have, because maybe it opens some people's eyes that didn't like it before," she said to USA Today prior to American Idol's final episode.

Carrie - a 22-year-old college senior - beat out more than 100,000 original participants and 22 semi-finalists to win American Idol. Even American Idol's unkindest mud-slingers should concur that's quite a victory for anybody, but possibly an even larger feat for a country and western singer. Her first album Inside Your Heaven, came out in mid-June, sold 130,000 copies and moved directly up the Billboard 100. Most of America cannot get enough of Carrie Underwood, but what about the country music fans?

To spite her declaration of her allegiance to country music, Carrie has not exactly performed the same as was projected: the country music fans response has been tepid at best. Inside Your Heaven may have been #1 on Billboard, but it hardly made a dent on country music charts and has experienced little airplay on country music radio stations.

However, Carrie was asked to - and performed at - the 2005 Nashville. She's done at the Grand Ole Opry, has set up her own page on the Country Music Network's website, and she's well on her way to turning into an outstanding country star.

Following her American Idol win, Carrie signed a record contract with Arista Records. Inside Your Heaven is conveniently merely a small preview of what's to come - her first CD will come out this fall. but, a record contract is only the beginning. Carrie has also signed many moneymaking endorsement deals. She will be seen in commercials to promote Hershey's chocolate and Sketchers footwear. Further, in an internet public opinion poll done by PETA, subscribers named Carrie the hottest vegetarian alive joined with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.

As of today, Carrie is on tour with the other runners-up of American Idol - performing and introducing country music to lovers in cities all over the United States.

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