Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwooddephisticate (Flickr) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia CommonsA woman who never gave up her dreams, donated millions of dollars to charities, and will always do what's right because she loves God, and is considered a hero to many people: This woman is known as Carrie Underwood. Most of you see her as a famous, appealing, and talented young lady. She is all of these things, but you are missing the most important part. Being as caring and loving as she is, she is also a huge Christ follower. She puts many people's needs before hers, and this is why she is considered such an amazing hero.

Carrie was born on March 10, 1983 in a small town in Oklahoma called Muskowgee. She was born in Muskowgee but raised in Chechotah, also in Oklahoma. When she was 9 years old, Carrie already had started her musical journey by knowing how to play the guitar and sing beautifully on key. As she got older, she still had a dream of singing. She went to many music producers and she was turned down with a simple "No." It was not until college that she got her first record deal. After that, she was even more determined and auditioned in 2005 for the 4th season of American Idol. With her outstanding voice, she was almost guaranteed a win!

After winning the 4th season of American Idol, she released her first hit single called "Home Sweet Home." All the money she earned off that song went to charities and shelters, and many other suitable causes, instead of keeping it all to herself and buying her own wants. After donating so much to other charities, she decided to create her own program called C.A.T.S. Foundation. C.A.T.S. stands for The Chechotah Animal, Town and School Foundation. This foundation helps with general causes, needs, and services in her hometown, Chechotah. Her foundation was established in 2009 and got a check for $50,000 in 2010, only one year after the foundation was established, from The Pedigree Adoption Drive for all of the amazing deeds she did throughout the year. Carrie still donated to other charities even though she already has a successful one herself. She gave $200,000 to the Humane Society of the United States, which is the largest and most effective animal protection organization in the entire nation! She has also donated $41 million to the Red Cross for disaster relief. Besides those two donations, she has helped 17 other charities. Outside of charities, she has gone to two different countries for needed help. She went to Iraq and visited the troops, and to Africa to visit and comfort children with no home and possibly no family. With all of this, she has inspired many people to do great things for a good cause and to help other charities. Knowing that she inspired people to do good things and help other charities is amazing! But she has done so much more! She inspires people to never give up on their dreams. "Throw caution to the wind and just do it" is a quote from Carrie herself. This is an inspiration to everybody, young and old. She also shows that even if you make mistakes, you can still do it! "Play on, when you're losing the game. Play on, cuz you're going to make mistakes. It's always worth the sacrifice, even when you think you're wrong." She wants you to do that when you are in the process of failing.

Carrie UnderwoodKeith Hinkle [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons 

All in all, Carrie is a hero because she changes people's lives and inspires them. She motivates them, she loves everybody and wants everybody to be loving to one another. She NEVER gave up, and now she has more than 14 million albums sold worldwide, 14 #1 singles, and 5 Grammy awards. If she stopped going after her dream after failing once, we would not know so many amazing songs, and so many people would not have somebody to look up to. She does not want you to give up, so do not! You could become something great. Do not give up now, never give up, no matter what consequences you are going through. If you really want it, you will receive it, and you will fight through the struggle.