Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood (http://www.sweetslyrics.com/Carrie%20Underwood.html (unknown))

            "Of all the singers who have appeared on the ultra-popular television show American Idol, country singer Carrie Underwood has become the most popular and successful" ("Carrie Underwood." Newsmakers).  She is not only talented celebrity, but also a hero to many people. Born on March 10, 1983--she grew up in Muskogee, Oklahoma, near the town of Checotah.  She lived with her parents Stephen and Carole and with her two older sisters Shanna and Stephanie.  She went to college at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.  Before completing college, she decided to try out for American Idol, and became the winner of American Idol in 2005. After winning, she went back to college and graduated in 2006. She married Mike Fisher in 2010, and they currently live in Nashville.  In my mind, Carrie Underwood is living like a hero. A hero must possess kindness and help others.  According to Charles Harper, heroes "embrace and live by the eternal values of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, self control,"(Harper).  Carrie Underwood is not a hero because she is a beautiful singer, she is a hero for being an intelligent, humble, and caring person.

            By valuing education, Carrie Underwood shows she is intelligent.  As early as high school, Underwood excelled in her academics: "Underwood was an outstanding student and Honor Society member at Checotah High School"(Carrie Underwood: Biography Today).  She looks highly on school and believes it is important because she was "an outstanding student" and "Honor Society member".  It also shows that she was a responsible and respectful teenager when saying that she was "an outstanding student."  Additionally, she kept her incredible work ethic in college: "But as she promised her family, she then returned to Northeastern State University and graduated magna cum laude (with high honors) with a bachelor of arts degree in journalism in May 2006"(Carrie Underwood Biography Today). After American Idol ended, Underwood was busy with concert tours and recording her new songs.  Despite the demands of American Idol and her music career, she stayed true to her word and went back to graduate school. Although it could have hurt her career, she wanted to finish her degree in journalism as a plan B if her music career didn't take off. As displayed, Underwood is very admirable and intelligent for going back to school, even after winning American Idol.

Carrie Underwood performing (http://www.cmtradiolive.com/2010/05/page/3/ (unknown))

            At her core, Underwood is a woman with strong religious beliefs and moral values; because of her beliefs and values she is also humble.  Her beliefs were instilled by her parents: "The Underwood children were also raised in a household that placed great importance on religious faith and ethical behavior"(Carrie Underwood Biography Today).  When saying, "placed great importance on religious faith," it shows that her family makes religion a priority and helps keep her grounded.  Also when it says, "placed great importance on ethical behavior," it shows that her family taught her right from wrong and are close.  Her faith has stayed with her: "But she considers herself to be blessed.  'I have known all of my life that being a country singer would be the most wonderful thing that I could ever do.  I am so grateful that I have this opportunity... Life has changed for the better because I get to do what I love to do'"(Carrie Underwood Biography Today).  This confirms how happy she is to be living her dream and proves that she isn't self-centered.  When saying, "I am so grateful that I have this opportunity," it shows that she is grateful and respectful about being a singer and that she is grounded.  As shown, Carrie Underwood is a humble, respectful, and grateful person.

            Lastly, Carrie Underwood is also displayed as a caring person for her many outreaches to animals and people in need.  Underwood helps people in her own neighborhood, shown in this quote, "Carrie Underwood established C.A.T.S. Foundation--Checotah Animal, Town, and School Foundation, to help with causes in her hometown area of Checotah, Oklahoma"(CMT.com: Carrie Underwood: Biography).  By establishing the C.A.T.S. Foundation, she is giving back to the community that gave her everything when she was a kid.  She obviously spent a lot of time and effort to help her cause because it covers the "Animal, Town, and School Foundation."  Not only does Underwood help people in her community, but she helps several other causes.  "Underwood also lent her voice to benefit cancer research.  She was featured on the 2008 song, Just Stand Up.  The proceeds benefited Stand Up to Cancer.  As a result of their fund raising efforts, the SU2C scientific advisory committee, overseen by the American Association for Cancer Research was able to award 73.6 million dollars towards novel, groundbreaking research"(Carrie Underwood Biography).  When saying, "Underwood also lent her voice to benefit cancer research," it's obvious that she again, spends time and effort to help people in need.  Also by saying, "American Association for Cancer Research was able to award 73.6 million dollars towards novel, groundbreaking research," it shows that she helped a cause that is important to many people.  Obviously, Carrie Underwood has helped some amazing charities and causes in order to be a hero to those in need.

Carrie Underwood (http://www.askmen.com/celebs/women/singer_250/293_carrie_underwood.html (unknown))

            Carrie Underwood clearly displays all of the traits of a hero.  Her many great qualities: intelligence, being humble, and being caring, all inspire me to be more like her.  Her work effort inspires me.  Going back to college after winning American Idol shocks me.  Also, she had a career to fall back on, in case her music didn't sell.  I find that incredibly responsible and smart.  She is also a celebrity and isn't self-centered, unlike many other celebrities.  She is never in the tabloids for some shocking scandal. She also works for many charities and spends effort and time to help people in need.  "My hometown is extremely supportive of me and I feel blessed to be able to create something as a way of giving back; to say thank you"(C.A.T.S. Foundation).  She is an amazing role model. She is also my role model singing wise.  She is the type of kind and giving celebrity and singer that I aspire to be someday.  Carrie Underwood is my hero.  "We human beings are entrusted with a very special place in creation. A place that calls us to embrace and live by certain values including kindness, generosity, forgiveness, joy, peace and so on. Heroes help us define, develop and live by those values"(Harper).

Works Cited

"About >>C.A.T.S. Foundation." C.A.T.S. Foundation. Web. 12 Dec. 2011.

"Carrie Underwood Biography | Biographies." Song Lyrics-Music News-Newest Lyrics With Video. Web. 12 Dec. 2011.

"Carrie Underwood." Carrie Underwood (Biography Today) (2010): 1. Biography Reference Center. Web. 13 Dec. 2011.

"Carrie Underwood." Newsmakers. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Gale Student Resource In Context. Web. 13 Dec. 2011.

"CMT.com : Carrie Underwood : Biography." Country Music Television - News, Videos, Artists :   Online Radio, Song Lyrics, TV Shows and More. Web. 13 Dec. 2011.

Harper, Charles. "View Lesson Plans." The MY HERO Project. Web. 09 Jan. 2012. http://myhero.com/myhero/go/theteachersroom/lessons_view.asp?id=60.