Carrie Underwood: From Tri Sigma Sister to Country Music Superstar

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Born on March 10, 1983, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, Carrie Marie Underwood was raised on her family's farm in Checotah. Her father, Stephen, worked in a paper mill, while her mother, Carole, was an elementary school teacher. She grew up singing in church, participating in local talent shows, and developing a love for country music.

“I had a very happy childhood full of the wonderful simple things that children love to do,” she once said. “Growing up in the country, I enjoyed things like playing on dirt roads, climbing trees, catching little woodland creatures and, of course, singing.”

At 14 years old, a family acquaintance arranged for Carrie to audition for Capitol Records in Nashville. The label was interested in signing her, but a management change resulted in the deal falling through.

Looking back, Carrie said, “I honestly think it's a lot better that nothing came out of it now, because I wouldn't have been ready then. Everything has a way of working out.”

Education and Sorority Life

After graduating as salutatorian of her high school class in 2001, Carrie enrolled at Northeastern State University (NSU) in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where she majored in mass communication with an emphasis on journalism.

During her time at NSU, Carrie joined the Sigma Sigma Sigma (Tri Sigma) sorority, Alpha Iota chapter, where she embraced the organization's values and built lasting friendships. She also participated in the university's Downtown Country Show for two summers and competed in beauty pageants, earning the runner-up title in the Miss NSU pageant in 2004.

Although she originally planned for a career in broadcasting, her path changed when she auditioned for “American Idol” in 2004—while still in college.

'I did most of my volunteer work when I was in college because I knew of more ways to get involved. In high school, we'd do things like, there was a homeless shelter near our hometown and our church group decorated one of the rooms. In college, I was in a sorority, and we did a lot of things, like pick up trash on the highway."

American Idol and the Road to Stardom

In 2004, between her junior and senior years of college, Carrie auditioned in St. Louis for the fourth season of “American Idol”. She had never flown on a plane before and wasn’t sure if she should go, but with her family’s encouragement, she took the leap.

After her performance of Heart's "Alone" during the Top 11 finalists' episode on March 22, 2005, judge Simon Cowell made a bold prediction: “Not only will you win this show, you will sell more records than any previous winner.”

He was right. We imagine her Tri Sigma sisters helped out with the voting!

Carrie won “American Idol” in May 2005, and her first single, “Inside Your Heaven”, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart—making her the first country artist to achieve that feat.

Her debut album, “Some Hearts” (2005), became the best-selling debut album by a solo female country artist, with hits like “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and “Before He Cheats”.

Impressively, even as her music career skyrocketed, Carrie remained committed to her education and officially graduated magna cum laude from NSU in 2006.

Superstardom: 2005 - 2025

Over the next two decades, Carrie Underwood’s career soared:

2007 - 2012: Cementing Her Status

• Released her sophomore album, “Carnival Ride” (2007), featuring "So Small" and "Last Name"

• Became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2008

• Released “Play On” (2009), featuring "Cowboy Casanova"

• Starred in “How I Met Your Mother” (2010)

• Won multiple Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist in 2007

• Released “Blown Away” (2012), featuring the title track and "Good Girl"

2013 - 2019: Expanding Her Reach

• Starred as Maria von Trapp in “The Sound of Music Live!” (2013)

• Released “Storyteller” (2015), featuring "Smoke Break"

• Headlined her first Las Vegas residency

• Launched Calia by Carrie in collaboration with Dick’s Sporting Goods

• Released “Cry Pretty” (2018), featuring "Love Wins"

2020 - Present: Ongoing Success

• Released “My Savior” (2021), an album of gospel hymns

• Headlined “Reflection: The Las Vegas Residency” in 2021

• Released “Denim & Rhinestones” (2022), featuring "Ghost Story"

• Performed "America the Beautiful" at the 2025 Presidential Inauguration

Love Story with Mike Fisher

In 2008, Carrie met Canadian professional hockey player Mike Fisher at a backstage meet-and-greet, arranged by a mutual friend.

They had their first date on New Year’s Eve 2008, sharing their first kiss at midnight—a true movie moment. Reflecting on their meeting years later, she celebrated their anniversary by writing, "11 years ago yesterday, I met the love of my life...patient, kind, the best dad, handsome, of course! Someone who accepts me and all my flaws...the same as me in many ways...opposite in some. But he is my match."

In December 2009, Fisher proposed with a stunning yellow diamond ring, and the couple married on July 10, 2010, at the Ritz Carlton Resort in Georgia, with over 250 guests in attendance. They have two sons: Isaiah Michael Fisher, born in February 2015, and Jacob Bryan Fisher, born in January 2019. ​

Animal Advocacy and Pets

Carrie has always been a dedicated animal lover and passionate advocate for animal welfare. Over the years, she has rescued multiple dogs; she calls them her “fur babies.”

One of her most beloved pets was Ace, a rat terrier she adopted in 2007. Ace even walked down the aisle at her wedding. When he passed away in 2022, Carrie shared:

“My heart is broken. Ace was there through every twist and turn in my life… He was a true friend and a good boy until the very end.”

In 2023, while on tour in North Carolina, she rescued a puppy named Charlie, calling him the “newest member of the family.”

Recent Achievements and Tri Sigma Legacy

Carrie remains one of the best-selling female country artists of all time, with over 85 million records sold worldwide. She has won:

• 8 Grammy Awards

• 12 Billboard Music Awards

• 16 ACM Awards

• 9 CMA Awards

Beyond her career, she continues to honor her roots—including her time in Tri Sigma.

She has spoken about how her experiences at NSU and “American Idol” helped shape her into the artist she is today, once saying,

“I’m so grateful for everything that’s happened in my life, but I’ll never forget where I came from.”

From a Tri Sigma sister at NSU to an international superstar, Carrie Underwood’s journey is a testament to talent, perseverance, and staying true to her values. She continues to inspire millions with her music, philanthropy, and unwavering dedication to her craft.