Carrie Underwood's Sparkly Southern Wedding

Make no mistake: Carrie Underwood means business when it comes to getting her groove on.

For her July 10th wedding to Canadian hockey player Mike Fisher, 30, the country queen, 27, opted for a Chantilly lace and silk organza Monique Lhuillier gown. But after the ceremony, the bride promptly changed into a strapless Lhuillier cocktail dress.

"The wedding dress was huge," Underwood tells People Magazine in this week's issue. "I wanted to get my boogie on, so I had to change."

Also looking sharp for the wedding, which was held at Georgia's Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Plantation resort: Underwood's beloved pooch Ace, who donned a Swarovski crystal-encrusted pink tuxedo to trot down the aisle.

"Mike was like, 'He's in pink! What are you doing?' " the newlywed singer says of Ace's tux. "But he looked so handsome."

For all the details and exclusive photos of Underwood's lavish Georgia wedding, pick up this week's issue of People, on newsstands Friday.

Carrie Underwood Gets Married in Southern Style

Under a tent on a Southern evening, Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher shared what their wedding planner called "a spiritual expression of their love" – a special moment for a "very special couple."

The country star, 27, and her hockey player beau, 30, tied the knot at a luxury resort Saturday before 250 friends and family in a ceremony featuring classical music and the couple's favorite Bible readings.

“We could not feel more blessed to have found each other and to have shared this day with our friends and family that mean so much to us!” the newlyweds said in a statement, signing their names “Mike & Carrie Fisher.”

Underwood wore a Chantilly lace dress created for her by Monique Lhuillier, who also designed the bridesmaids’ dresses.

Fisher, who plays for the Ottawa Senators, was engaged to Underwood on December 20th, after quietly dating for about a year. Underwood said in March that with their busy schedules, “We'll be little nomads for a while” and that they planned to keep homes in Nashville and in Peterborough, Ontario.

Together We Are One - The Idol WInners

As a farewell to "Idol creater" Simon Cowell, seven of the eight Idol winners performed Together We are One. It was great to see Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks and Kris Allen perform, along with many of the other Idol finalists this tribute to Simon Cowell.

Missing in action was Idol winner David Cook who was involved in a prior charity engagement and was unable to attend.

We'll miss Simon!

Is Kelly Clarkson a Bigger Idol than Carrie Underwood? Billboard Has the Answer.

According to Billboard Kelly Clarkson is the most successful American Idol winner of all time with Carrie Underwood coming in second.

Even though Carrie has sold more albums, Billboard also includes other numbers. And, of course, Kelly came on the scene several years before Carrie so she’s had more time to sell records and have them played on the radio.

Here are Billboard’s numbers:

Kelly has sold 10.6 million albums, 15.9 million tracks and has had 4.2 million radio plays.

Carrie has sold 11.5 million albums and 13.9 million singles. And, she’s had 2.4 million radio plays since she won “Idol” in 2005.

Do you want to know how the rest of your favorite "Idols" ranked? Check out this LINK for the Top 24 American Idols, according to Billboard.

Another Contestant Bids Farewell to American Idol

And then there were six. At the end of the two-hour-plus Idol Gives Back charity concert Wednesday night someone had to say farewell.

It was Tim Urban’s time to go. (Well it was about time. He may look great shirtless in his modeling pictures, but this guy surely cannot carry a tune. He should have been gone along time ago...like before Hollywood week!)

He had a better run than probably anyone — apart from friends and family — expected, largely because he always flashed an ingratiating smile, had better hair than most professional pop stars and was growing stronger as a performer week by week. But you may have sensed the end was near Tuesday night when Ellen compared him to a soup du jour that failed to please her that particular day.

Ellen’s light cleverness often gets to the essence of everything.

In an unexpected development, Casey James not only made his first trip to the bottom three (along with Tim and Aaron Kelly) but he also fell to the bottom two. Casey’s problem is turning out to be his jaunty, rock ’n’ roll consistency. He’s often better than Aaron or Siobhan Magnus, but their occasional lows make their highs seem all the more impressive.

A rocky mountain range is more striking than even the most fertile plain.

Meanwhile, the rest of the show went off in all sorts of directions, raising money and doing good with the participation of many celebrities. The best guest performer? Probably Annie Lennox, who taped a segment about an HIV-positive girl in Africa. She also sang from London. (All the Icelandic volcano smoke prevented her from catching a flight to the States).

And it was fun to see Mary J. Blige do “Stairway to Heaven” with Randy on guitar.

I also loved Joss Stone's performance, along with Carrie Underwood.

Of the comic guests, Wanda Sykes was far and away the funniest with a short but on-target monologue: She said she’d been wondering if Simon was bored this season. She also observed how cruel it is to force the losing contestant to sing each week. George Lopez's "elimination" segment was also very entertaining.

This week, Tim was spared that final performance since the show was running so late. He went out smiling like blazes, though.

Next week's mentor is Shania Twain and the six remaining contestants will be performing her songs.

Carrie Underwood, Alicia Keys, & Black Eyed Peas Doing 'Idol Gives Back'

"American Idol" is starting to cement its "Idol Gives Back" lineup.

Carrie Underwood, the Season 4 winner of "Idol," is returning to perform, along with R&B songstress Alicia Keys, the Black Eyed Peas, Annie Lennox and Jeff Beck.

Since its inception in 2007 during Season 6, "Idol Gives Back" has raised over $140 million for charity. This year's special will aise funds Children's Health Fund, Feeding America, Malaria No More, Save the Children's U.S. Programs and the United Nations Foundation.

News Corporation, Ford Motor Company, Coca-Cola, AT&T and ExxonMobil will return as corporate sponsors.

"Idol Gives Back" already kicked off with Kris Allen back on February 25th. He visited Haiti and performed on the "Idol" results show, asking for people to donate whatever they can.

The big "Idol Gives Back" extravaganza will air Wednesday, April 21 2010. There is no word yet if a contestant will be booted that day or not -- in the past, all contestants were safe on one "Idol Gives Back" night (2007) and on the other Michael Johns went home (2008).

Paparazzi!: What a Spectacle

Celine Dion, Smokey Robinson, Jennifer Hudson , Usher and Carrie Underwood take a break from rehearsing their 3-D tribute to Michael Jackson, who will be honored during Sunday's Grammy Awards, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Carrie Underwood Performing at Super Bowl

American Idol winners Jordin Sparks and Kris Allen got the championship games. But when it comes to the national anthem for Super Bowl XLIV, the NFL calls on the singer who has sold more albums in the U.S. than any other Idol winner: Carrie Underwood.

Carrie's the third straight Idol to get the Super Bowl gig: Jordin and Jennifer Hudson have sung it previously. Carrie joins an impressive list of performers who have sung The Star Spangled Banner at the game, including Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Neil Diamond, Whitney Houston, Harry Connick, Jr., Garth Brooks, Natalie Cole, Vanessa Williams, Luther Vandross, Cher, Faith Hill, Mariah Carey, Dixie Chicks and Beyoncé Knowles.

Super Bowl XLIV takes places on Sunday, February 5th at 6:00 pm (ET) in Miami, Florida. It will be televised on CBS.

Grammy Performances Pushing the Envelope

Elton John and Lady Gaga kick off the show. Can they upstage the piano man's memorable Stan duet with Eminem in 2001? Beyoncé's medley is shaping up as a monster production number. Will it measure up to Beyoncé's Proud Mary duet with Tina Turner in 2008? Does this year's Taylor Swift transcend last year's Taylor Swift?

Music's most prestigious awards show is more than a podium for dispensing Grammys in highly competitive races. It's also a distinguished showcase for live performances, and that competition, while friendly, can be fierce.

Sunday's musical marathon promises back-to-back showstoppers (and a sprinkling of statues) as performers angle for a chapter in Grammy's history book.

Intensifying the pressure is TV's growing role as a critical key in promoting artists, says Grammy executive producer Ken Ehrlich, whose patience tends to be tested by demanding and mercurial stars.

"At one point, when I was getting frustrated with a couple acts who will remain nameless, someone reminded me that this is the biggest night of their year, or their careers in some cases. They want to beat past performances by Prince or Beyoncé or Paul McCartney. They feel as much pressure as we do to come through."

They may be hard-pressed to outshine the departed Michael Jackson, who resurfaces in a previously unreleased 3-D version of Earth Song, joined live on the Grammy stage by Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson, Carrie Underwood and Usher. (Viewers can pick up free 3-D glasses at Target through Sunday.) The film was created for Jackson's scrapped This Is It tour.

"It's going to be pretty remarkable," says Ehrlich, who saw Jackson's tour rehearsals the night before his death. "When I was thinking about how to honor him, I didn't want someone doing Beat Itor Billie Jean. This is the proper homage, considering how he felt about this song and the message it sends to fans. And he always wanted to push the envelope."

So does Ehrlich, who produced his first Grammy show 30 years ago, inaugurating a tradition of magical pairings with Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand's duet of You Don't Bring Me Flowers. Over the years, the show expanded from two hours to 3½, from a nightclub to a small auditorium to the 20,000-seat Staples Center.

"We've covered a lot of ground, but I don't feel tired," Ehrlich says.

Ask him again Monday morning. Sunday's partial menu:

Other performances include:
• Mary J. Blige and Andrea Bocelli will join voices on Bridge Over Troubled Water.
• Jeff Bridges will introduce a Les Paul tribute, How High the Moon, with guitar hero Jeff Beck and rockabilly singer Imelda May.
• Maxwell and Roberta Flack reprise her Where Is the Love and his Pretty Wings.
• Eminem and Lil Wayne join Drake on his Forever, with Blink-182's Travis Barker on drums.

• The Black Eyed Peas' I Gotta Feeling will incorporate singalong videos submitted online by fans.
• Green Day does 21 Guns, sharing the stage with the cast of Broadway's upcoming American Idiot, based on the trio's album.
• Bon Jovi will play a song chosen by fans, who can vote at www.cbs.com/grammys for Always, It's My Life or Livin' on a Prayer until the band takes the stage. (Logic suggests Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles, a late addition to the Grammy bill, will pop up here for duet Who Says You Can't Go Home.)
• Country pop trio Lady Antebellum performs Need You Now.
• Pink tackles Glitter in the Air.

Watch the Grammys this Sunday, January 31st at 8:00 pm (ET) on CBS.

Carrie Underwood Gets Engaged!

Carrie Underwood is getting married!

"I'm happy to confirm that Carrie Underwood is engaged to Mike Fisher, and the couple couldn't be happier," her rep reported. "No wedding date has been set at this time."

The Ottawa Senators player spoke about the happy event on Monday, according to the Toronto Sun.

"It's true," he is quoted as saying. "We're both obviously excited and very happy."

Fisher, 29, reportedly proposed at his home Sunday afternoon and then sent messages to his friends with the good news later that day.

Underwood, 26, and Fisher have kept their year-long relationship mostly under the radar, but Underwood declared her love for Fisher in the liner notes of her new album, Play On.

"I love you so much!" she wrote. "You make my life better in every way! I thank God for you every day."

American Music Awards Performances

Many of the big names in the music world performed at last night's American Music Awards. Here are my favorite performances:

ADAM LAMBERT


LADY GAGA


JENNIFER LOPEZ


BLACK EYED PEAS


WHITNEY HOUSTON


JANET JACKSON


SHAKIRA


MARY J. BLIGE


KELLY CLARKSON


JAY-Z & ALICIA KEYS


CARRIE UNDERWOOD

Carrie Underwood to Host 'All-Star' Variety Show

Will Carrie Underwood be the person to finally revive the variety show genre? Fox seems to think so.

The season four 'Idol' winner is set to host a two-hour project, tentatively titled 'Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special,' which will air December 7th on Fox, reports the Hollywood Reporter.

She will perform hits, holiday classics and songs from her upcoming album, 'Play On' (due out November 3rd) and participate in comedy bits. Musical guests signed so far include Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley and David Cook.

Underwood is the most successful recording artist to emerge from the competition series, with sales of more than 10 million albums in the U.S. and four Grammy Awards.

Video: "Cowboy Casanova" by Carrie Underwood

Check our the new music video of “Cowboy Casanova” from country crooner Carrie Underwood. It’s the first single off her upcoming third album Play On, out November 3rd.



The 26-year-old American Idol co-wrote this song with Mike Elizondo and Brett James. Carrie and Brad Paisley will co-host the 2009 CMA Awards to be held on November 11.

Carrie Underwood's "Casanova Cowboy"

Carrie Underwood has released the first single of her latest CD.



Four-time Grammy Award winner, ACM Entertainer of the Year, and reigning, three-time CMA and ACM Female Vocalist winner Carrie Underwood has clearly amassed not only the respect of the industry, but also the adulation of fans who are anxiously awaiting the arrival of her third album, which Carrie has titled "Play On." This much anticipated third album follows combined sales of 10 Million on her first two projects "Some Hearts" and "Carnival Ride."

Releasing November 3rd, Play On draws its title from the name of a song featured on the new album, but it’s certainly appropriate for the feelings of the countless fans who’ve come to love Carrie’s music over the past four years. Since the release of her debut album in 2005, Underwood has amassed sales of more than 10 million albums with Some Hearts and 2007’s Carnival Ride. Earlier this year she became the first country artist in history and the only American Idol winner ever to achieve 10 #1 singles from their first two albums.

Carrie is currently continuing work on Play On, once again teamed with producer Mark Bright, who helmed her Carnival Ride collection as well as seven tracks from Some Hearts

Which 'American Idol' Star Is the Top Earner?

Winning American Idol isn't a guaranteed ticket to millions - just last year, former winner Fantasia Barrino nearly lost her home due to lapsed mortgage payments. But it doesn't preclude future success either: Jennifer Hudson, who finished seventh her season, went on to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

So which American Idol alum banks best?

According to a study by Forbes, country-singing cutie Carrie Underwood is the top performer, with estimated earnings of $14 million last year. She has played over 300 concerts, released 2 albums, and sold 9.6 million CDs and 10.7 million downloads. Not bad.

Jennifer Hudson is the second most-successful AI alum, having earned $5 million last year. She's just returned to the stage for the first time since the tragic murders of her mother, brother, and nephew last fall.

Kelly Clarkson, the original American Idol, is still a top-earner as well, despite her most-recent album, All I Ever Wanted, failing to reach the zenith established by Breakaway (2004). She earned an estimated $4.2 million last year.

Video: Carrie Underwood's "Home Sweet Home"

Ever year American Idol chooses a "sappy" song and plays as the farewell song every time a contestant is eliminated from the competition. This year's song was Carrie Underwood's redition of "Home Sweet Home" which she performed during Tuesday's final performance show.

Here's the footage for your enjoyment.


ca fin @ Yahoo! Video

Carrie Underwood & David Cook to Perform for American Idol Finale

Unfortunately...it’s almost over!

After months of performances and eliminations, American Idol is winding down this week with its finale, a performance night on Tuesday and the announcement of the winner on Wednesday, and the show is going out with a bang!

Joining finalists Kris Allen and Adam Lambert on the Idol stage this week, are a roster of music’s biggest stars, according to Ryan Seacrest’s website, including Lionel Richie, Carlos Santana, Cindi Lauper, Queen Latifah, Black Eyed Peas, Keith Urban, the reigning American Idol David Cook and season 4 winner Carrie Underwood.

You can expect to see the rest of the top 10 — Danny Gokey, Allison Iraheta, Matt Giraud, Anoop Desai, Lil Rounds, Scott MacIntyre, Megan Joy and Michael Sarver — as well; they’ve been back in Hollywood rehearsing for the big show.

And if past finales are any indication, some of the season’s quirkier contestants might also show up. Remember Tatiana del Toro? What about Norman Gentle or Katrina ‘Bikini Girl’ Darrell?

Who would you like to see again? Personally...I would love to see Tatiana one more time!

Tune in FOX on Tuesday and Wednesday night at 8:00 pm (ET) for this week's two-part finale show.

Carrie Underwood Wore a Massive Dress at Country Music Awards

There's big, and then there's Carrie Underwood's dress last week at the Academy Of Country Music Awards.

The country music star, who took home awards for Entertainer of the Year and Top Female Vocalist, wore a red strapless gown that literally covered the entire stage while she performed his her hit song "I Told You So."

She had been sworn to secrecy about the frock before her performance, though she described it to the AP as , "Kind of like water, maybe? Like red water? That sounds scary, doesn't it? Maybe like lava. It's like lava. Or icing. Red icing."

You can see a video of the performance below:

Carrie Underwood: ACM's Entertainer of the Year

Carrie Underwood became the first woman since 2001 to be named ACM entertainer of the year, and only the seventh female to win the Academy of Country Music's top honor since it was first handed out in 1970.

"I've had a lot of good moments in the last four years. This one takes the cake!" said a teary-eyed Underwood, her voice cracking onstage Sunday at the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. "I don't know what to say! I got nothing." But she did remember one important person: Raising her trophy, she yelled, "Mike, baby, I wish you were here!" in a shout-out to her boyfriend, Ottawa Senators hockey player Mike Fisher.

Underwood also took home the award for top female vocalist, a repeat of last year's win.

American Idol Clip: "I Told You So"by Carrie Underwood & Randy Travis

During last night's results show, Carrie Underwood joined Randy Travis for a great rendition of Randy's country hit, "I Told You So".

Carrie did an amazing job performing this song with her beautiful angelic voice.

Here's the video for your enjoyment:



The studio version of this single is available for download at www.iTunes.com.