Carrie Underwood To Embark on USO Tour

On top of her recent Grammy nominations and Billboard Music Award wins, Carrie Underwood is about to tackle a completely different kind of challenge. She will soon embark on her first USO tour to the Persian Gulf region. Carrie, who recently received the Country Music Association’s “Female Vocalist of the Year” Award and “Horizon” Award, will perform and meet with service members. After becoming the 2005 “American Idol” winner in the show’s fourth season, Carrie’s career has skyrocketed. Her debut album, “Some Hearts,” was certified quadruple platinum and is the fastest-selling debut female country album since the introduction of the Nielsen SoundScan in 1991. “Some Hearts” will close 2006 as the best-selling country album of the year. In addition, all three singles from the CD have hit the top spot on the country music singles chart: “Jesus, Take The Wheel,” “Don’t Forget To Remember Me” and recent five-week #1 “Before He Cheats.” Underwood is the only solo female artist to top the country chart in 2006 and also leads as the artist with the most cumulative weeks at #1 on the R&R country chart so far this year. Since the release of her debut album, the Checotah, Okla., native has received numerous awards this year, including “Breakthrough Artist” at the American Music Awards, the “Top New Female Vocalist” and “Single of the Year” Awards from the Academy of Country Music, two CMT Music Awards and many more. This tour continues the USO tradition of bringing celebrities to visit troops during the holiday season.