Carrie Underwood has been one of America’s country singing sweethearts since 2004, but does she write her own songs?
Carrie Underwood does write her own songs, but almost always with a co-writer. She has worked with some of the greatest songwriters in the business on numerous songs, but hasn’t ever been credited as the sole writer on a track.
Read on to learn more about the musical marvel, Carrie Underwood.
Small Town, Big Talent
Carrie Underwood was born in a small town called Muskogee, in Oklahoma. Where she grew up however, was infinitely more minute by comparison. The would-be songstress spent the majority of her life in Checotah, Oklahoma, a town with a population of just three thousand.
Growing up, Carrie Underwood took on every opportunity possible to practise her singing skills. She’d often perform at the local church, and at events in and around the tiny town. She was a real community person, and loved growing up in the rural outdoors.
She’s stated this before, quite plainly, saying: “Growing up in the country, I enjoyed things like playing on dirt roads, climbing trees, catching little woodland creatures and, of course, singing.” Although, it’s unconfirmed whether or not Underwood spent much time writing songs as much as she did singing them as a child.
However, one song that she did reportedly write herself, but wasn’t strictly credited for, is the one that almost found her a record label. In 1997, at just fourteen, Carrie took to the stage at a county fair, performing a song that was detailed as “original” in an article by Country Rebel. You can see a video of this performance on YouTube.
One local fan had been so impressed by Carrie’s performance, that he arranged an introduction to a record label in Nashville, Tennessee. The label, Capitol Records, were so taken aback by her prowess that they offered her a recording contract. However, after a change in management, the contract was subsequently dropped.
Although, this wasn’t necessarily a knock for Carrie Underwood, who went on file as saying: “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.”
Eventually, Carrie Underwood would take a hiatus from singing, and attend a small-town university. She’d major in mass communications and journalism, and take an academic path before ultimately returning to music.
The Big Stage
Carrie Underwood found her fame by winning American Idol, season four. This victory propelled her into the public light, secured her a recording deal, and a worldwide following of fans. By 2020, she’d released six albums, and had a string of number one titles. She had also been inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, claimed a Guinness World Record, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
However, Carrie’s great success cannot be attributed to her alone. She has had substantial assistance over the years writing her music, and is yet to be credited for the sole creation of a track. One writer, Ashley Gorley, has written country music for a massive list of top-tier performers, including Underwood.
Another, Chris DeStefano, regarded as one of the most sought after songwriters in Nashville, worked with Carrie on many songs. In an interview, he stated: “Carrie Underwood and I have written so many songs together and just consistently I am so blown away by her.”
While she has had considerable assistance writing and creating her songs, it doesn’t take away from her musical talent. She is the voice that brings the words alive, and it’s that that has made her world-famous.