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"American Idol" champion Underwood wins Grammy
02/12/2007 1:09 AM, Reuters
Sue Zeidler
"American Idol" champion Carrie
Underwood's Grammy victories on Sunday underscored the growing
impact of the hit TV talent search on U.S. pop culture.
Underwood, who won season four of the Fox network's
blockbuster singing competition, took home Grammys for best
female country vocal performance and best new artist.
She joined a growing list of "Idol" winners to earn
recognition in the race for the music industry's highest
honors.
"This is absolutely unbelievable," Underwood said in
accepting the prize for best new artist. She went on to thank
God, "American Idol" creator Simon Fuller and various others,
including record mogul Clive Davis and the "Idol" show itself.
"I owe everything to 'American Idol'," said Underwood, who
also performed the Eagles' hit "Desperado" and "San Antonio
Rose" during the show.
The telecast last year lagged in ratings against "American
Idol" and this year the awards show ran an amateur contest of
its own to choose a singer to perform a duet with Justin Timberlake during Sunday's Grammy ceremony.
Three "My Grammy Moment" finalists were chosen by fans
online and got to rehearse a week before the show with
Timberlake, who won two Grammys on Sunday.
The winner, Robyn Troup from Houston, Texas, who turned 19
on Sunday, was picked by viewers during the telecast and went
on to perform "Ain't No Sunshine" with Timberlake on the show.
"This is the most amazing thing that ever happened to me,"
Troup said backstage, adding she had signed a deal with
Timberlake's production company.
Underwood's victories proved again that "American Idol" has
grown from a TV ratings sensation, ranking as the most-watched
series in U.S. prime time in recent years, into a fertile
incubator for new musical talent.
Kelly Clarkson, the first "Idol" champion, took home two
Grammys in 2006. Another "Idol" winner, Fantasia Barrino,
scored four Grammy nominations last year and fellow "Idol"
champ Ruben Studdard received a nomination in 2004.
But Clarkson created a stir by failing to acknowledge her
"Idol" breakthrough when collecting her trophies last year for
best pop vocal album and best female pop vocal performance.
Underwood, however, was quick to embrace it.
"I think tonight proved that 'American Idol' can transcend
the talent show stereotype that it has," she said backstage.
"The truth of the matter is that at the end of the season,
someone great who wouldn't have had a chance otherwise, wins
this and gets a shot at a career," Randy Jackson, one of judges
on "American Idol," said backstage.
Even some of the losing contestants on "American Idol" have
gone on to bigger things, including Jennifer Hudson, who took
home a Golden Globe for her role in the musical film
"Dreamgirls" and is up for an Oscar for the same performance.
Underwood's single "Jesus, Take the Wheel" also earned a
Grammy for best country song, a songwriter's award that in this
case went to Brett James, Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson.
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