photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images Entertainment
photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images Entertainment
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Today we feature an artist who has the unique distinction of have her first 27 singles and all 8 of her albums certified gold or better. Only two of her singles have failed to receive certification from the Recording Industry Association of America, and those are her two most recent, both are #1 hits and well on their way to certification.

Carrie Underwood is definitely the undisputed current Queen of Country Music. With 8 #1 albums and 16 #1 on her resume, the former American Idol winner can sit upon her throne and know that their is little or no competition for her crown. Underwood has sold over 65 million albums world wide, 16 million in the U.S. and is responsible for over 30 million digital downloads, making her far and away the best selling alumnus of American Idol, and the 4th highest selling artist of any genre who has debuted in the last 15 years. She is the fifth-highest ranked certified female artist in R.I.A.A. and world wide has collected 83 #1 singles. All at the ripe old age of 30.

2014 Global Citizen Festival In Central Park To End extreme Poverty By 2030
Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Global Citizen Festival
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Not bad for a girl from Oklahoma whose first shot at Nashville went down in flames, and who had given up music to graduate from college with a degree in journalism. Then took a shot to audition on a little singing contest show. She auditioned for Capitol Records at age 14, and Capitol was preparing to sign the teenager, but when the label went through a management change in 1996, they rescinded their contract offer. Underwood returned to Checotah High School, graduating as her class salutatorian, and after graduation enrolled at Norteastern State University in Tahlequah where she played softball, worked as a summer intern for a state representative, entered beauty contests (she was selected as the runner-up for Miss NSU in 2004) and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in mass communications with an emphasis on journalism.

Basically, she was an All-American Girl.

Carrie Underwood "The Storyteller Tour" - Duluth, Georgia
Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Schmidt Public Relations
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An animal lover and a vegan, which she has practiced since age 13, she has spoke before the Tennessee State Legislature backing a bill that makes the filming or videotaping of animal abuse a crime. She has also become a spokesperson against  bullying, supporting same sex marriage, promoting animal rights while also supporting the USO, Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross. Its been a fairy tale for the princess who became a queen. She even married the handsome prince, pro hockey player Mike Fisher, and along with their son Isaiah seem prepared to live happily ever after.

And today she is in our spotlight with the 4th single from her latest album Storyteller. Carrie Underwood and "Church Bells" is today's Catch of the Day, new music you haven't heard, but you'll want to hear it again.

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