Carrie Underwood: 40 images of the country star (40 images)

By Wade Sheridan

Country singer-songwriter Carrie Underwood, who started out as an "American Idol" winner before becoming a multi-platinum, Grammy-winning recording artist, is best known for her hit songs "Before He Cheats," "Jesus, Take the Wheel" and "Blown Away." Underwood will be performing on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" on December 31. Here's a look back at her career through the years.

Carrie Underwood performs in Sunrise, Fla., on June 12, 2005. In May 2005, Underwood was crowned "American Idol" at the age of 22. Photo by Michael Bush/UPI

License photo | Permalink

---

---

Underwood wins the Female Vocalist of the Year award at the Country Music Association Awards in Nashville on November 6, 2006. Photo by John Dickerson/UPI

License photo | Permalink

---

---

Underwood performs to a large crowd just prior to the NASCAR NEXTEL Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C., on May 28, 2006. Photo by Bob Carey/UPI

License photo | Permalink

---

---

Underwood won the Horizon and Female Vocalist of the Year awards at the Country Music Association Awards in Nashville on November 6, 2006. Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI

License photo | Permalink

---

---