20 Things To Know About Carrie Underwood (& Her Growing Family)
There are many celebs who were born into very different lives than the ones they are living these days. One of today's biggest stars also falls into this category, that star is none other than Carrie Underwood.
The country singer was born in Oklahoma, is the youngest of 3 sisters, and started singing at a young age. Underwood participated in talent shows and donated her vocal talents to numerous local events. Since those humble beginnings, Underwood has won multiple Grammy awards, People's Choice awards, as well as American Music Awards, just to name a few. Despite the numerous awards, the country star's musical career is just one of the many interesting aspects of her life. She regularly works out, stays healthy and fit, and has created a fitness clothing line called Calia by Carrie Underwood.
These days, Underwood wears many hats (not only a stetson). First and foremost, she now has a family of her own, with one more on the way!
Carrie Underwood certainly has an interesting life. Here are some facts about this country music star.
20 She Was A Sorority Girl
Being a part of a fraternity or a sorority is something many college students strive to do during their time as a student. In fact, there are many well-known celebs who've been involved in sororities, including Elizabeth Banks, Sophia Bush, Molly Sims, and of course, Carrie Underwood!
Underwood pledged Sigma Sigma Sigma at Northeastern State University. The singer has stayed close to her roots, and showed off her scholarly pride by wearing her sorority letters in the music video for her song, "American Girl". We bet that Sigma Sigma Sigma has a picture of Carrie hanging on the wall of their sorority house, we'd want to show off our famous past-pledges if we were them!
19 American Idol Helped Her Through College
The popular television show American Idol has been a great way for some performers to get the record deals and fame that they dreamed of having since it began in 2002. Some of the most famous people to come from this show are Kellie Pickler, Phillip Phillips, Katherine Mcphee, Jordin Sparks, Adam Lambert, Jennifer Hudson and Kelly Clarkson.
However, Underwood still stands as one of the show's most successful winners. But one fun fact is that, not only did this show help her with getting her music career off of the ground, it also helped her get through college. That's because American Idol counted as an internship for Underwood, who was the winner of the fourth season of the popular show.
18 She Spared No Expense For Her Wedding
Weddings are notoriously expensive events, but they are well worth it. There are a lot of famous people who have been known to go all out with their wedding, and Underwood and her husband Mike Fisher, who used to play hockey for the Nashville Predators, did just that.
The total cost for Underwood and Fisher's wedding added up to approximately $500,000. The event took place at the Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Plantation resort in Georgia.
Also, Underwood's dog, Ace, joined them in walking down the aisle. Ace sported a pink tuxedo that had Swarovski crystals in it. Additionally, Underwood had two dresses for the occasion: her wedding dress and one she wore at the reception, which made it easier for her to dance.
17 Even Carrie Underwood Has Had Hairstyles She Is Not Proud Of
Over the years, the country music star has sported some very beautiful hairstyles and cuts. But, money and fame aside, Underwood is just like the rest of us. Even she has had some hairstyles that she's not a fan of now.
In fact, her husband posted an older picture which showed her with very curly, teased hair on Instagram for her 35th birthday. The image was from a performance Underwood gave during her time on American Idol.
He captioned the photo by saying “Happy birthday to an incredible wife and an amazing mom with killer hair!” Underwood later responded with “you just can't let some things go, can ya?”
16 Carrie Was A Runner-Up Pageant Queen
There are many famous individuals who once competed in beauty pageants before the world knew who they were. Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Pfieffer, Raquel Welch, Kathie Lee Gifford… just to name a few.
Underwood was not only involved in a beauty pageant, but she was chosen as a runner-up in the Miss Northeastern State University beauty pageant.
But the pageant game was nothing new to her, as she had already performed at the 1998 Miss Westark Pageant when she was just 14 years old. Underwood performed the Martina McBride song “A Broken Wing,” and even at that young age, Underwood wowed the crowd.
15 Her Son Is Going To Be A Big Brother
Earlier this year, fans were excited to find out that Underwood and Fisher are promoting their son, Isaiah Fisher, to a pretty important position. He is about to be a big brother!
This is a sign that maybe Underwood may finally be getting some good luck this year after injuring her wrist and face, by taking a fall outside her home.
Underwood, like many women, wanted to wait till she was sure everything was healthy with her baby before she discussed it publicly. The country star announced her pregnancy to the world on her Instagram account in August.
14 She Used To Sneak Out… For A Good Cause
Famous people have been known to do a lot of wild and risky things. So, it's really not a shock to hear about one of them sneaking out of the house as a teenager.
But, the story behind Underwood sneaking out of the house was not one that centered on rebellion. Instead, Underwood snuck out to feed stray animals.
One of the many things about Underwood that has not changed is her love of animals. In fact, in 2012, Underwood helped an injured animal who she found on the highway by taking her to vet and caring for her until she found a permanent home for the animal.
13 She Had Never Been On An Airplane Prior To American Idol
It is interesting to think about all of the things we would have missed out on if we did not try something new (and sometimes, a bit scary) in our lives. For Underwood, this life-altering thing was the moment she flew on an airplane for the first time.
Underwood had to travel on a plane to go to her second audition for American Idol. If she had decided not to do that, her life, as well as country music as we know it today, would be very different. Stories like these certainly inspire one to not hold back when trying new things.
12 Even Carrie Gets Her Songs Stuck In Her Head
Everyone has those awkward moments where we have a song stuck in our heads and we just have to sing it out loud, or even whistle it. Sometimes we do that while we are alone, and other times we do it in front of others. Some may not even notice they are doing it in the first place.
Well, even Underwood has moments like this, which is just another thing that makes her so relatable. Additionally, sometimes the song in question is one of her own. Though, we can't blame her. Her songs are very catchy, and it is hard not to get them stuck in our heads.
11 She's A Neat Freak
It seems that most celebrities are pretty busy, as they lead very active lives. This is especially true for Underwood, considering the fact that she is a mom, a wife, and a performer.
However, the musician has been known to refer to herself as a “neat freak.” When it comes to her household, Underwood prefers things to be neat and tidy.
For example, everything in her refrigerator is labeled, and she places the items in neat rows. She's even mentioned how she has trouble focusing on things throughout the day if she did not make her bed after waking up that morning.
10 She's A Horror Movie Junkie
There are a lot of things fans can associate with Underwood. When many people think about the country music star, they think about her music, as well as her beauty. After all, Underwood has definitely built a great life for herself, as she's also a mother now, and the wife of a famous athlete!
But, one thing that fans may not think about when they are discussing Underwood is the fact that she is a big fan of horror films. In fact, the singer has claimed that some of her favorite films are the Halloween movies. Underwood is also a fan of movies and television shows that center around mysteries.
9 She Nearly Had A Record Deal… At 14!
There are a lot of very talented folks in the world of show business. But, just because they are talented does not mean their success came easy for any of them.
Underwood is a great example of this. Firstly, she sang a lot at various events as a child. Secondly, as a teenager, there was a time when she came very close to signing a record deal with Capitol Records.
Underwood had to travel to Nashville for the audition, and they liked her and were impressed by her voice. However, new management took over, and she didn't get a record deal with them. But she had the courage to continue pursuing her dreams, and has since become a very successful performer.
8 She Had A Cameo On 'How I Met Your Mother'
While celebrities, and most people in general, only have one main focus when it comes to their career, there are some people who like to dabble in different professions for a bit. This is true for Underwood because she is primarily a singer, but she has also been on the big screen, as well as television.
In 2010, Underwood played a small role on one episode of the popular sitcom How I Met Your Mother. She played a character named “Tiffany,” who was one many love interests of Ted Mosby. The role Underwood played on the big screen was in the film Soul Surfer, where she played a character named “Sarah Hill.”
7 She Graduated From College - After Winning 'Idol'!
Being famous can be pretty hard when it comes to finding the time to achieve other goals. But, there are some celebrities who have found the time to get their desired college degree, despite how many other activities they may have to be involved in.
Underwood is a great example of this. She was a student at Northeastern State University in Oklahoma when she decided to put her college goals on the back burner so that she could be on American Idol.
In the end, that decision worked out quite well. After winning American Idol, Underwood still pursued her degree, and she graduated magna cum laude. While in college Underwood studied mass communication with an emphasis in journalism.
6 Her Parents Have Been Married For 50 Years
These days, it can be hard to come across stories of successful marriages. That seems even truer when it comes to famous people.
But, this is not the case for Underwood and her husband, as they have been married since 2010. It seems as though the long-lasting marriage that her parents share may have set a good example for her.
Underwood's parents are Stephen and Carole Underwood. When Underwood was young, her father worked at a paper mill, and her mother was a school teacher. This year, the happy couple and loving parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by telling friends and family members how they met, and what the first few years of their marriage were like.
5 She Was A Brace Face Like The Rest Of Us
There are a lot of celebrities who are known for their pearly white teeth, and their beautiful, healthy smiles. Underwood is one of them, as she has a gorgeous smile.
Smiles are beautiful on their own, but that does not mean that some of the ones we love to see so much did not take a lot of work. In order to get the smile she has today, Underwood had to wear braces in the past, saying:
“I had to get braces [more than once]. I actually had them on the bottom for like three months while I was doing red carpets, but no one knew - so I felt like I had a secret.”
4 Being A Mom Changed Her
Any parent will tell you that having a child is a drastic change. Becoming a mother or a father, whether it is the first time or not, is a very life-changing moment.
Furthermore, these changes to do wait until birth. Typically, when a woman finds out she is pregnant, and she and her partner are faced with changes that will ensure that the baby and the mother stay in the best health possible.
Underwood has said that becoming a mother brought many positive changes to her life. She has been happier since the birth of her son and she is very much in love with him.
3 Carrie Is Inspired By Reese Witherspoon
There are many famous celebrities who have great style. Additionally, one of the coolest things about many stars who always look stylish is that each of them seems to have a different type of style, something that is distinctly them.
Underwood certainly is one of these celebrities, as there never seems to be a moment when she's looking less than perfect. When it comes to fashion, Underwood is a definitely inspired by Reese Witherspoon.
The influence Witherspoon has on Underwood can be seen in some of the things Underwood chooses to wear to public events. Both stars have a very feminine style.
2 One Of Her Relationships Ended By Text… Ouch
Fans talk about a lot of things when it comes to their favorite celebrities. Usually, though, some of the discussions surrounding famous people is focused on who they are or are not dating at the time.
This is no different when it comes to Underwood and her former boyfriend, actor Chace Crawford. Apparently, this was not a serious relationship, and it ended over a simple text message.
Despite their breakup, these two talented folks don't seem to have any ill feelings about one another, as they do not have any negative feelings for each other. Normally, text messages are not the most personal way to handle this type of thing, but both parties seemed to take the breakup well, and not make a big scene out of it.
1 She Won't Eat Eggs
It's no secret that Underwood is very fit, and she leads an extremely healthy lifestyle. The star tries to be completely vegan, which means that she does not eat certain things. Eggs are one of the food items Underwood removed from her diet due to her decision to become vegan.
However, there are some delicious foods that she still enjoys. For instance, one of the meals she makes for lunch is tofu scramble. The singer also likes to drink black coffee in the mornings in order to boost her energy levels, especially if she plans to work out that morning.