The Daily Collegian

Issue date: 2/20/08 Section: Arts & Living

Media Credit: (MCT) Country superstar Carrie Underwood is performing at the Mullins Center tonight along with Josh Turner. [Click to enlarge]

Music lovers don't always accept country music with open arms. But if you find yourself to be a fan of fun, catchy beats, lyrics with actual meaning and happen to follow pop culture at all, you have definitely heard of Carrie Underwood.

If you are one of those people who shun country music without a second thought, kindly lend your ear to the fourth "American Idol" winner and she will definitely change your opinion.

Tonight, Underwood and country singer Josh Turner will be playing the Mullins Center at 7:30 p.m.

Three seasons ago, Underwood performed the Heart classic, "Alone." After this, American Idol judge Simon Cowell predicted she would not only win the competition, but also sell more records than any other previous Idol winner. With over seventeen major musical awards, including four Grammys, Underwood is well-deserving of your attention.

Coming three seasons after the first and most popular "American Idol" winner, Kelly Clarkson, Underwood has proved Cowell's prediction correct. Underwood's first album, "Some Hearts," was the fastest-selling debut country album of the SoundScan era, which began in 1991.

"Some Hearts" has reached a septuplet platinum, while Clarkson's albums "Thankful" and "Breakaway" only hit two and five times platinum. Underwood's most recent album, "Carnival Ride," which was released in October 2007, has already reached double platinum.

During Underwood's competition on "American Idol," she was the second Idol to never have been voted in the bottom three during the entire competition.

What sets Underwood apart from most country singers is her lack of stereotypical hokey-ness. Her songs have soul, rhythm and beat that makes her listeners want to get up and dance.

Not many country singles make it to mainstream radio stations; however, not every country singer records crossover hits like "Before He Cheats." The single was such a success that it made RIAA history when it surpassed two million paid downloads and qualified as a double platinum digital single.

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