So many “American Idol” contestants shine during then show then fade away afterwards. How was Carrie Underwood able to go on to multi-platinum success?
Carrie’s secret was staying true to herself. So many Idols try to appeal to mainstream culture when they make an album. You can understand why this would happen, as “American Idol” is watched mostly by a mainstream audience. The people who watch the show generally listen to pop radio, so in theory it would make sense for contestants to release mainstream pop singles and albums after they complete their time on the show. These contestants-turned-musicians want to keep appealing to the audience that they created during their run on “Idol.”
However, Carrie Underwood tried a different path. She was a natural country singer, and performed many country songs while on “Idol.” Even though a lot of Americans were unfamiliar with the country songs that Carrie sang, her amazing vocal talents and warm personality shined through, and that’s why the audience grew to love her.
When she left “Idol” and started recording an album, Carrie chose to stick to her country roots rather than transform into a pop star. This worked out well for her, obviously. Turns out that audiences loved Carrie Underwood, not just the pop songs that Carrie Underwood was signing. They grew to love and respect her as a person. So Carrie’s decision to stay true to herself while making an album paid off. Audiences embraced her first album, Some Hearts, in huge numbers. Carrie’s single “Jesus Take the Wheel” was a pretty big hit. When she finally released “Before He Cheats,” both country and mainstream audiences were starting to take notice. “Before He Cheats” was a monster hit, evidenced by the fact that the song has been out for years and is still constantly played on radio stations.
If you’re familiar with the music industry, and you listen to “Before He Cheats,” you know that it’s not the kind of single that generally is embraced by a mainstream pop audience. The song’s country feel and inclusion of the banjo would normally not appeal to a pop fan. It just goes to show that it’s not only the song people care about; it’s the artist. True, if you make an unbelievable song, people will pay attention no matter who you are. But to have a long-term successful career, people have to embrace you as an artist. You can only gain this kind of credibility and respect by staying true to your roots, and that’s exactly what Carrie Underwood has done. Sure, she has talent, but so do many other people out there. It’s her combination of talent, charisma and staying true to herself that makes her a superstar.
Carrie’s second album, Carnival Ride, was even more country than Some Hearts, and it also got a warm reception from audiences. Carrie has set herself up in a good position, where audiences respect and love everything she does, no matter the genre. You can bet that she’ll have a long and prosperous career because of it.