The Other Carrie Underwood
I thought I knew Carrie Underwood. Carrie, the American Idol. Carrie, the paparazzi darling. Carrie, the six-million-album girl. Who knew there was another side? A chocolate-gravy-and-biscuits-lovin’ side? A take-a-nap-on-your-parent’s-living-room-carpet side? Chicago now knows that for all the fame and fortune, the Oklahoma girl is still in there somewhere.
On a trip to Chicago’s country station US99 today to promote her new album, Carnival Ride (which had first week sales of 527,101 and hardly needs promoting), Carrie talked about things she hasn’t talked about before, even with all the press surrounding this release. Like the fact that she wears Anna Sui perfume, always reads her horoscope, still drives a 2000 Mustang, calls soda “pop,” cleans her own toilets and calls her mom every day. That’s the kind of thing that reminds you just how young she is. That, and stories about gutter cleaners coming to her home in Nashville and asking if her parents were home. And saying that while fame does come with certain restrictions, “The goods definitely outweigh the bads.”
The “bads” would be the media, who might see her at a club talking to another celebrity for five minutes and report that “they were flirting all night, they were all over each other.” When she does make it to the cover of a magazine, she said she’s her own worst critic. Of the recent Target campaign where she’s in a red dress, she said, “I’m just not a red girl.”
When you consider the fame that’s been thrust upon her, and all the people she must get to meet, it was refreshing to hear her talk about the thrill of meeting Randy Travis. Carrie’s always maintained that her roots are nothing but country. When she put Travis on a pedestal, that must mean she’s telling the truth. Her cover of his No. 1 hit, “I Told You So,” is one of the best tunes on the new album. So now that I know this other side of Carrie, she seems a little more real to me. Like someone I could get close to. Maybe not BFF close. But as close as her ominous shadow of a bodyguard would let us.
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
holloween says:
People: you do not have any real insight into a star’s character because they chose to tell you their favorite perfume, that they drive a Mustang, or that repairmen think they look young. This is the most superficial level of knowledge imaginable.
This is the kind of journalism I would expect to find in “Country Weekly” magazine: fluff that makes “Teen Magazine” look sophisticated.
Haley says:
It is good to know that the big star still has some down-home country gal inside of her. It’s hard to see since the media portrays her as one who has let her success rise to her head, and although I have seen for myself that this seems to be true, it is good to read a positive article about her kindness too.
Mike says:
This is fluff, but that’s what people like. CW is the biggest country magazine there is so they must be doing something right. If you want such sophisticated investigative reporting, why are you even on CMT?
carriefanatic says:
She doesn’t look that pretty and thin from eating chocolate gravy and biscuits. LOL! that doesn’t sound like health food to me but it duz sound gooooooooooooood.
Mandy says:
Can’t speak for others, but I think this kind of stuff is bad because it misleads. It encourages people to think they “know” an artist because of the post.”
I wish CMT would offer something more substantial than a report that Carrie calls her mom and likes colors other than red. lol.
CARRIEROCKS says:
Great blog! I agree- Carrie is still very down to earth, and shy at times. I love that she still cleans her own house, etc. I think people assume once you are famous, you become this evil diva person….but it is refreshing to see that it is not true. I also think martina and reba are like that– they both seem like the type of ladies who would cook home meals and not be too high maintenance. Carrie is a wonderful person, and a great role model for kids. :)
hotelmotel says:
The blog doesnt say Carrie cleans her own house!!! It says she cleans her own toilets but she has someone come to clean her gutters.Also, just because Carrie says she cleans her toilets doesn’t mean someone else doesnt, too. My dad has a housekeeper come once every other week. During the “off week” my dad does a bit of tidying up himself. Carrie is possibly the same way
Mel says:
OK CMT it’s time to get busy and build a new trio of beautiful musical talent that’s sure to sellout every venue…Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift and Miranda Lambert, touring the US :-) and a DVD…Blu-ray, maybe even a video game.
boardboy says:
This is posted over on the cu mboards at cmt.com and you guys all think its fluff and not indepth but we love it over there. She rocks, and now the whole world can hear even more about the true carrie behind the big superstar.
txblueyes says:
Sorry, but Carrie is WAY over rated. She didn’t deserve last years female vocalist of the year and she didn’t deserve this one. She is too new to this industry to be taking what the other women have worked so hard for. I think it’s wrong that they let this happen. I would have reacted the same way as Faith did. I honestly think American Idol is a joke. It’s based on votes by the American people and frankly it is just another reality TV show. I’m not saying she can’t sing but country music is just not what it use to be. What ever happened to the Charlie Pride, George Jones music. Now that’s real country. I can’t stand half of the new songs coming out now a days. The newer generation is taking the good ole fashion country music and rubbin it in the dirt. It’s terrible.
ralph rivera says:
I like Carrie Underwood, BUT she does not deserve MOST of the awards she has recieved.She has recieved everything on a silver platter.Every roadblock that evey singer encounters on the way to the TOP has been moved out of the way for her.By this I mean she has been given the best songs,the best producers,unlimited marketing money for radio and tv,and everything else to prove American Idol will make you a STAR.If i were Carrie, I would like to know where I really stand and not be graded on a CURVE.
Example:In the song jesus take the wheel,Carrie has so much trouble with the high notes that the back up singer
has to take the lead.I dont know of any other CMA Female Vocalist of the Year who has this problem..
canadagirl28 says:
I think carrie has a wonderful voice and i have been watching her and listening to all her songs since american idol. She is a very sweet girl BUT i think she is looking 2 thin. i mean if you saw a pic on her first alabm and then seen pics of the gramy she has bones showing on her coller bone. her face is not a fresh as her first alabm.
i think she could use putting 10lbs back on.
misty says:
carryunderwood rocks and i love chocolate gravy and biscuits
anna says:
I love Carrie Underwood and i think she is a great singer, she’s not afraid to sing anything and does great at it. She has the sweetest personality. She is still that wholesome girl from oklahoma and always will be. She deserves all of the awards that she gets. I can’t believe that some people think she has had all of this handed to her on a silver platter, she has worked very hard to get what she has and I am very proud of her. I have kept up with her ever since American Idol and I think she has and is doing wonderful and making the country music industry proud.I belive that if you can stand in front of Simon Cowell every single week and hear critisim and what ever else you hear from him and still stand with dignity and pride and be able to go out each and perform and always give it 100% and then win. I think that she has proven herself already that she is a great singer . She will always her oklahoma roots and that will never change. All of the awards are just proof to her that she has and is accomplishing a dream that she has made come true.Thank GOD for her and I know she will always be the great performer and girl she now. Carrie thank you for being you and for your great work that you do.love you you are beautiful and keep up the great work. GOD BLESS
getreal98 says:
There are better singers and bigger issues out there then little miss underwood!
XRumerTest says:
Hello. And Bye.