Summary:

Some Hearts sold 23,509 copies this week for total sales of 3,351,127 in 42 weeks. Some Hearts remains at #5 for the 7th straight week on the Top Country Albums chart and still has not fallen below the top 5. Some Hearts is up 1 spot to #37 on the Billboard 200. In addition, Some Hearts is at #37 on the Billboard Comprehensive Albums chart. In Canada, Some Hearts is at #73 on the Top 100 Canadian Albums chart and is at #9 on the Canadian Country Albums chart.

BHC is up 7 spots to #18 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. BHC also enters the Hot 100 at #92. Finally, BHC enters the R&R Canada Country chart at #34.

DFTRM is down 3 spots to #5 on the Hot Country Recurrents chart. DFTRM is down 19 spots to #41 on the R&R Canada Country chart.

JTTW is down 1 spot to #18 on the Hot Country Recurrents chart.

SH fell off the R&R Canada AC chart this week.

Carrie’s IYH is at #3 on the Hot Country Singles Sales chart. And Carrie’s IYH is at #15 on the Canadian Singles Sales chart.

Official Soundscan Numbers and the Rest of the Billboard Top 200 (9/13)
HDD underestimated Carrie's numbers. The album sold 26,160 copies this week for a total of 3,377,287. Carrie is back in the Top 30 with an 11% increase in sales. Woohoo!

1 BEYONCE B'DAY 541,196 999 1,922 543,157
2 AUDIOSLAVE REVELATIONS 141,817 999 592 142,451
3 DYLAN*BOB MODERN TIMES 128,213 -33 191,933 320,892
4 DANITY KANE DANITY KANE 82,009 -30 117,359 433,990
5 CHEETAH GIRLS 2 SOUNDTRACK 68,229 -15 80,363 317,462
6 AGUILERA*CHRISTINA BACK TO BASICS 64,336 -36 100,740 646,332
7 SIMPSON*JESSICA PUBLIC AFFAIR 59,864 -41 100,684 160,664
8 NICKELBACK ALL THE RIGHT REASONS 58,117 -3 60,042 3,481,273
9 IRON MAIDEN MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 55,722 999 1,002 56,749
10 HINDER EXTREME BEHAVIOR 53,571 12 48,020 609,103
11 NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC VOL. 22-NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL 53,352 -7 57,305 1,248,967
12 OUTKAST IDLEWILD 49,451 -37 78,074 324,111
13 YOUNG DRO BEST THANG SMOKIN' 46,013 -56 103,635 150,056
14 ROSS*RICK PORT OF MIAMI 39,799 -6 42,314 406,494
15 PANIC! AT THE DISCO FEVER YOU CAN'T SWEAT OUT 37,440 13 33,279 1,170,068
16 RASCAL FLATTS ME AND MY GANG 36,763 2 36,206 2,425,304
17 PUSSYCAT DOLLS PCD 35,703 -6 37,936 2,116,634
18 GNARLS BARKLEY ST. ELSEWHERE 34,653 -11 39,111 890,037
19 MANA AMAR ES COMBATIR 34,082 1 33,667 155,319
20 High School Musical SOUNDTRACK 31,512 -2 32,026 3,042,851
21 TURNER*JOSH YOUR MAN 30,988 -2 31,692 1,007,334
22 METHOD MAN 4:21 THE DAY AFTER 30,436 -51 62,070 92,718
23 FRAY HOW TO SAVE A LIFE 30,375 4 29,076 808,053
24 CHERISH UNAPPRECIATED 30,350 -1 30,681 198,686
25 JENNINGS*LYFE PHOENIX 30,211 -10 33,463 251,773
26 ADKINS*TRACE DANGEROUS MAN 28,276 -14 32,970 227,839
27 BLUNT*JAMES BACK TO BEDLAM 27,355 -27 37,374 2,159,260
28 YUNG JOC NEW JOC CITY 27,041 -3 27,925 690,813
29 STEP UP SOUNDTRACK 26,331 -18 32,003 227,009
30 UNDERWOOD*CARRIE SOME HEARTS 26,160 11 23,509 3,377,287
31 RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS STADIUM ARCADIUM 25,775 3 24,975 1,361,580
32 ROOTS GAME THEORY 25,699 -58 61,097 86,920
33 KIDZ BOP KIDS KIDZ BOP 10 23,544 -11 26,594 296,407
34 BREAKING BENJAMIN PHOBIA 23,474 -10 26,082 255,008
35 BROKEN BRIDGES SOUNDTRACK 23,060 -7 24,734 47,833
36 SNOW PATROL EYES OPEN 22,704 4 21,728 295,166
37 BLUE OCTOBER FOILED 22,380 2 21,915 482,715
38 LETOYA LETOYA 21,698 4 20,927 378,725
39 MCGRAW*TIM VOL. 2-GREATEST HITS 21,554 4 20,767 1,183,051
40 RIHANNA GIRL LIKE ME 20,662 -9 22,589 957,382
41 RAE*CORINNE BAILEY CORINNE BAILEY RAE 19,987 -7 21,548 336,592
42 WRECKERS STAND STILL LOOK PRETTY 19,644 6 18,545 354,122
43 FURTADO*NELLY LOOSE 19,497 -4 20,362 712,199
44 DIXIE CHICKS TAKING THE LONG WAY 19,466 -5 20,504 1,596,109
45 NE-YO IN MY OWN WORDS 18,390 -8 19,959 1,282,657
46 STONE SOUR COME WHAT(EVER) MAY 18,283 -12 20,732 209,992
47 TOO SHORT BLOW THE WHISTLE 17,953 -55 39,901 58,004
48 VANDROSS*LUTHER ULTIMATE LUTHER VANDROSS 17,565 -22 22,382 99,426
49 HILTON*PARIS PARIS 16,917 -36 26,390 120,338
50 30 SECONDS TO MARS BEAUTIFUL LIE 16,699 -3 17,192 358,321
51 JACKSON*ALAN PRECIOUS MEMORIES 16,203 3 15,748 888,522
52 TUNSTALL*KT EYE TO THE TELESCOPE 16,031 2 15,783 640,028
53 BLIGE*MARY J. BREAKTHROUGH 16,026 35 11,861 2,567,417
54 CAMP*JEREMY RESTORED 15,941 -11 17,851 220,229
55 LAMONTAGNE*RAY TILL THE SUN TURNS BLACK 15,899 -44 28,172 44,218
56 ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS MOVE ALONG 15,569 8 14,481 1,348,261
57 CASSIE CASSIE 15,306 -14 17,736 199,339
58 JARS OF CLAY GOOD MONSTERS 15,204 999 163 9,709
59 INDIA.ARIE TESTIMONY:VOL.1,LIFE & RELATIO 15,178 8 14,094 454,413
60 CROSSFADE FALLING AWAY 15,053 -46 27,857 42,966
61 ATKINS*RODNEY IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH HELL 14,845 -12 16,801 198,216
62 A.F.I. DECEMBERUNDERGROUND 14,841 -5 15,636 629,420
63 PETTY*TOM HIGHWAY COMPANION 14,740 -19 18,123 294,899
64 KELIS KELIS WAS HERE 14,464 -17 17,521 90,075
65 KEITH*TOBY WHITE TRASH WITH MONEY 14,347 2 14,071 995,405
66 CRAZY FROG MORE CRAZY HITS 14,193 -24 18,619 55,603
67 LAMB OF GOD SACRAMENT 14,166 -31 20,579 97,978
68 CARS SOUNDTRACKS 14,040 -3 14,450 485,821
69 OK GO OH NO 13,697 66 8,250 77,716
70 SHAKIRA ORAL FIXATION V2 13,392 -3 13,811 1,445,610
71 BUCKCHERRY 15 13,161 -7 14,099 388,248
72 PHARRELL IN MY MIND 13,102 -12 14,879 294,662
73 BROWN*CHRIS CHRIS BROWN 13,100 -1 13,203 1,546,221
74 THREE WOODEN CROSSES THREE WOODEN CROSSES 12,834 11 11,568 19,575
75 HATEBREED SUPREMACY 12,820 -53 27,429 40,451
76 HOLY*STEVE BRAND NEW GIRLFRIEND 12,131 -10 13,484 99,754
77 RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS DON'T YOU FAKE IT 12,123 -4 12,629 125,032
78 T.I. KING 11,990 5 11,366 1,476,329
79 CHESNEY*KENNY ROAD & THE RADIO 11,763 -6 12,548 2,482,441
80 LITTLE BIG TOWN ROAD TO HERE 11,761 -3 12,113 721,275
81 GUNS N'ROSES GREATEST HITS 11,327 -10 12,581 3,157,486
82 RASCAL FLATTS FEELS LIKE TODAY 11,299 -2 11,584 4,421,349
83 CASH*JOHNNY LEGEND OF JOHNNY CASH 11,127 -4 11,617 2,010,770
84 VARIOUS ARTISTS COMPILATION CRUNK HITS VOL. 2 11,095 -23 14,355 43,869
85 BUBLE*MICHAEL IT'S TIME 10,878 -10 12,053 2,010,147
86 TOOL 10000 DAYS 10,809 -5 11,415 1,209,177
87 TRICE*OBIE SECOND ROUND'S ON ME 10,764 -30 15,349 127,996
88 RACONTEURS BROKEN BOY SOLDIERS 10,678 8 9,912 281,747
89 BOCELLI*ANDREA AMORE 10,444 -9 11,466 1,251,546
90 THREE DAYS GRACE ONE-X 10,375 -2 10,580 284,797
91 DMX YEAR OF THE DOG AGAIN 10,307 -16 12,261 242,125
92 BROOKS & DUNN HILLBILLY DELUXE 9,815 -6 10,428 1,028,460
93 BUSTA RHYMES BIG BANG THE 9,808 -6 10,461 535,735
94 COOK*DANE RETALIATION 9,775 2 9,542 868,995
95 VARIOUS NOW 21 9,754 -3 10,018 1,560,697
96 PAISLEY*BRAD TIME WELL WASTED 9,638 -4 10,088 1,267,536
97 CASH*JOHNNY AMERICAN V: HUNDRED HIGHWAYS 9,533 -10 10,569 310,457
98 URBAN*KEITH BE HERE 9,485 -9 10,384 3,209,330
99 GREEN*PAT CANNONBALL 9,322 -34 14,173 61,292
100 FLYLEAF FLYLEAF 9,286 -8 10,046 359,245
101 KEITH*TOBY VOL. 2-GREATEST HITS 9,275 6 8,772 3,257,701
102 CHAMILLIONAIRE SOUND OF REVENGE 9,266 -3 9,582 1,176,438
103 LACHEY*NICK WHAT'S LEFT OF ME 9,070 16 7,795 518,919
104 CALDERON*TEGO UNDERDOG/EL SUBESTIMADO 9,023 -57 21,208 30,572
105 BLACK EYED PEAS MONKEY BUSINESS 8,649 1 8,559 3,954,873
106 FIVE FOR FIGHTING TWO LIGHTS 8,639 -22 11,087 129,320
107 CLARKSON*KELLY BREAKAWAY 8,622 -8 9,399 5,514,029
108 YORN*PETE NIGHTCRAWLER 8,613 -57 19,980 28,791
109 BENTLEY*DIERKS MODERN DAY DRIFTER 8,578 -2 8,783 1,240,936
110 ANGELS & AIRWAVES WE DON'T NEED TO 8,454 -3 8,686 398,951
111 HELLOGOODBYE ZOMBIES! ALIENS! VAMPIRES! DIN 8,381 -8 9,117 84,354
112 JOHNSON*JACK & FRIENDS CURIOUS GEORGE:SINGALONGS/LULL 8,370 -1 8,432 1,009,824
113 ALY & AJ INTO THE RUSH 8,224 -5 8,659 648,015
114 JOHNSON*JACK IN BETWEEN DREAMS 8,019 -6 8,540 2,279,147
115 BEENIE MAN UNDISPUTED 7,930 -47 14,954 22,942
116 WILLIAMS*HANK JR. THAT'S HOW THEY DO IT IN DIXIE 7,840 -7 8,446 171,774
117 DEANDA*PAULA PAULA DEANDA 7,767 -58 18,297 26,101
118 E-40 MY GHETTO REPORT CARD 7,696 -15 9,045 425,406
119 KORN SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE 7,637 -11 8,569 1,052,677
120 DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL DUSK & SUMMER 7,622 -9 8,380 323,798
121 GODSMACK IV 7,569 -4 7,851 597,596
122 LOS LONELY BOYS SACRED 7,506 -17 9,077 179,529
123 ICE CUBE LAUGH NOW CRY LATER 7,391 -12 8,443 433,627
124 CASTING CROWNS LIFESONG 7,159 7 6,673 324,910
125 SUGARLAND TWICE THE SPEED OF 7,154 -4 7,459 2,076,376
126 MUSE BLACK HOLES AND REVELATIONS 7,127 -3 7,310 139,343
127 WOLFMOTHER WOLFMOTHER 7,116 -4 7,426 258,122
128 OMAR*DON KING OF KINGS 7,108 -1 7,158 266,864
129 PAUL*SEAN TRINITY 6,964 -12 7,958 1,189,211
130 RISE AGAINST SUFFERER & THE WITNESS 6,838 -2 6,962 153,964
131 KEANE UNDER THE IRON SEA 6,757 -19 8,309 232,642
132 LAST KISS SOUNDTRACK 6,718 24 5,421 24,915
133 CREED GREATEST HITS 6,514 -8 7,113 1,298,229
134 SLAYER CHRIST ILLUSION 6,454 -20 8,067 108,372
135 BIG & RICH COMIN' TO YOUR CITY 6,442 -7 6,962 920,080
136 VARIOUS GIRL NEXT 6,266 -3 6,441 32,980
137 HILL*FAITH FIREFLIES 6,258 13 5,550 1,958,413
138 ALDEAN*JASON JASON ALDEAN 6,057 6 5,726 669,861
139 ALICE IN CHAINS ESSENTIAL ALICE IN CHAINS 5,880 999 66 5,952
140 SELAH BLESS THE BROKEN ROAD-THE DUET 5,865 -10 6,534 15,113
141 EMINEM CURTAIN CALL 5,818 -4 6,041 2,521,399
142 DISTURBED TEN THOUSAND FISTS 5,771 -6 6,159 1,212,205
143 PRINCE ULTIMATE 5,758 -24 7,532 28,641
144 FALL OUT BOY FROM UNDER THE CORK TREE 5,750 2 5,634 2,411,345
145 BUZZ BALLADS BUZZ BALLADS 5,705 -10 6,306 56,892
146 UNDEROATH DEFINE THE GREAT LINE 5,695 -5 5,985 233,533
147 YORKE*THOM ERASER 5,626 -16 6,679 206,364
148 SOLIS*JAVIER LA HISTORIA DE JAVIER SOLIS 5,590 999 26 5,617
149 RAKIM Y KEN-Y MASTERPIECE 5,582 15 4,874 148,954
150 BON JOVI HAVE A NICE DAY 5,552 -15 6,544 1,285,762
151 WALK THE LINE SOUNDTRACK 5,356 -1 5,425 1,020,269
152 WINANS*VICKIE WOMAN TO WOMAN: SONGS OF LIFE 5,265 26 4,175 31,544
153 ADKINS*TRACE SONGS ABOUT ME 5,228 -7 5,606 1,575,475
154 VARIOUS BELIEVE: SONGS OF FAITH 5,227 -11 5,892 13,775
155 JURASSIC 5 FEEDBACK 5,191 -25 6,947 91,330
156 TAKING BACK SUNDAY LOUDER NOW 5,129 -14 5,936 486,436
157 AVENGED SEVENFOLD CITY OF EVIL 5,038 3 4,884 682,778
158 PINK I'M NOT DEAD 5,013 -7 5,400 476,570
159 ALLAN*GARY TOUGH ALL OVER 4,926 -12 5,620 595,892
160 FORT MINOR RISING TIED 4,894 12 4,359 356,732
161 PIMP C PIMPALATION 4,874 -14 5,637 194,200
162 FRANKLIN*KIRK HERO 4,867 3 4,711 629,097
163 TIPPIN*AARON AARON TIPPIN: NOW & THEN 4,866 999 10 4,876
164 DISNEYMANIA DISNEYMANIA 4 4,795 6 4,539 370,561
165 SPRINGSTEEN*BRUCE WE SHALL OVERCOME: SEEGER SESS 4,751 -5 5,020 559,769
166 WISIN Y YANDEL PA'L MUNDO 4,750 5 4,508 354,335
167 LIL' WAYNE CARTER II 4,734 2 4,658 1,037,455
168 STRAIT*GEORGE 50 NUMBER ONES 4,692 1 4,632 2,772,979
169 BEDINGFIELD*NATASHA UNWRITTEN 4,679 -3 4,834 721,504
170 KNOPFLER/HARRIS ALL THE ROADRUNNING 4,676 -13 5,347 318,033
170 BOLTON*MICHAEL BOLTON SWINGS SINATRA 4,676 77 2,649 121,955
172 DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE PLANS 4,589 -4 4,767 748,470
173 ANTHONY*MARC SIGO SIENDO YO 4,574 -10 5,095 61,501
174 POISON BEST OF POISON: 20 YEARS OF RO 4,509 -11 5,051 251,772
175 Grey's Anatomy TV SOUNDTRACK 4,485 30 3,452 173,327
176 G. LOVE LEMONADE 4,477 -7 4,822 55,235
177 CARTEL CHROMA 4,473 -7 4,812 109,367
178 SNAKES ON A PLANE: ALBUM SOUNDTRACK 4,470 -29 6,325 41,848
179 JONES*DONELL JOURNEY OF A GEMINI 4,462 17 3,816 147,206
179 OWEN*JAKE STARTIN' WITH ME 4,462 -20 5,546 71,542
181 THREE 6 MAFIA MOST KNOWN UNKNOWN 4,452 -1 4,515 946,920
181 COLE*KEYSHIA WAY IT IS 4,452 -7 4,769 1,361,169
183 DJ KAYSLAY & DJ GREG STREET CHAMPIONS: NORTH MEETS SOUTH 4,443 -21 5,602 24,958
184 OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW BIG IRON WORLD 4,429 -40 7,429 11,914
185 MARY MARY MARY MARY 4,411 6 4,174 472,064
186 POWTER*DANIEL DANIEL POWTER 4,351 8 4,027 504,849
187 PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN-DEAD SOUNDTRACK 4,332 -14 5,030 142,057
188 BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY GREATEST HITS 4,226 -10 4,700 609,645
189 VASSAR*PHIL VOL. 1-GREATEST HITS 4,207 -21 5,326 280,905
190 CAREY*MARIAH EMANCIPATION OF MIMI 4,193 3 4,086 5,704,060
191 ROGERS*KENNY 21 NUMBER ONES 4,167 12 3,715 295,525
192 CONJUNTO PRIMAVERA PARA TI NUESTRA HISTORIA 4,138 -13 4,738 8,896
193 BARLOWGIRL ANOTHER JOURNAL ENTRY 4,104 21 3,388 71,225
193 CHAM GHETTO STORY 4,104 -14 4,783 31,822
195 AVANT DIRECTOR 4,094 -7 4,403 370,785
196 ISLEY BROTHERS BABY MAKIN' MUSIC 4,051 -15 4,741 343,016
197 STEELY DAN DEFINITIVE COLLECTION 4,019 -5 4,234 33,885
198 WOW WORSHIP AQUA WOW WORSHIP AQUA 4,014 -1 4,056 97,470
199 GORILLAZ DEMON DAYS 4,003 -6 4,268 1,980,253
200 GREEN DAY AMERICAN IDIOT 3,999 1 3,941 5,534,952

Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” is coming on strong. It was up 22 spots to #78 on the Hot 100 and was #15 on the Country chart 8. This week, the single entered the Hot 100 Airplay chart at #71 and the Pop 100 at #96.

Carrie Underwood’s Some Hearts shot up seven spots to #30 on the Billboard 200 and was up one to #4 on the Country chart. Carrie’s been touring all summer and certainly gaining new fans along the way. Her hard work is showing up now in a resurgence in sales.

"She has it all"

Fellow "American Idol" veterans sing Underwood's praises
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 09/28/06
BY ED CONDRAN
CORRESPONDENT

"American Idol" judge Simon Cowell made headlines when he said that he preferred 2006 "Idol" contestant Kellie Pickler over '05 "Idol" champ Carrie Underwood. Pickler was one of the many taken aback by Cowell's opinion.

"I couldn't believe he said it," Pickler said. "I was in complete shock. Carrie's awesome. I could never imagine being compared to her. She's just so great."

Pickler is hardly in the minority when it comes to Underwood, arguably the second most popular "Idol" alum. (Grammy-winner Kelly Clarkson remains the top "Idol.") The sweet, charming Oklahoma native is more than the first country "Idol." Unlike some of the prior winners, Underwood has soared since leaving the hit show.

Underwood, 22, scored endorsement deals with Hershey's and Sketchers by the summer of 2005. "Some Hearts," her debut album, was certified triple platinum in April by the Recording Industry Association of America. The CD's initial single, "Jesus, Take the Wheel," topped Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart for six weeks, and it won Single Record of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards, where Underwood also won a Top Female Vocalist award.

"She deserves everything she has received," Pickler said. "I remember watching her on "American Idol' during her run and just thinking how fabulous she is. She's not just a great singer but she's also a great role model."

Underwood also has won acclaim for her extracurricular activities. She became a spokeswoman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which named her 2005's World's Sexiest Vegetarian.

Bo Bice, who Underwood beat to become the 2005 "A.I." winner, tips his cap to Underwood.

"You have to hand it to Carrie," he said. "She has it all. It's easy to see why so many people like her."

Carrie Underwood’s Some Hearts was up one spot to #26 on the Billboard 200 and remained #3 on the Country chart.
Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” is still rising on the charts. It was up eight more spots to #48 on the Hot 100 and was #11 (Greatest Gainer) on the Country chart. The single was also #54 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart.

Carrie Underwood's Wild Ride
Wednesday, October 04 2006 @ 02:02 PM EDT
Contributed by: ACstaff Carrie Underwood's Wild Ride

In the year since she beat out blue-eyed soul shouter Bo Bice to emerge victorious as the 2005 American Idol, Carrie Underwood hasn't had a whole lot of time to savor her victory. As demanding and life-changing as the "Idol" experience was for Underwood, it was only a small taste of what was to come as her life became an endless series of press interviews, TV appearances, photo shoots, awards shows, concerts and coast-to-coast travel. And then she made a record. Released in November 2005 and propelled by its chart-topping leadoff single, "Jesus, Take the Wheel" (six weeks at No. 1), Underwood's debut album, Some Hearts, quickly became the fastest triple-Platinum female Country debut in history, spending a phenomenal 15 weeks at the top of Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. No doubt about it: for this 23-year-old singer from Checotah, Okla., the past 12 months have been one wild ride.

"I think the only word that I can say is, Wow!" Underwood enthused at a recent triple-Platinum celebration thrown by her label, 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville. There's a lot to celebrate. Underwood's is the kind of out-of-the-box success that hits Music Row every once in awhile, boosting percentages and providing the Country format with a much-needed shot in the arm. In other words, everybody's talking about Underwood. They may be debating her pop leanings or her reality-TV beginnings, but there's one thing they all say: This girl can really sing. That is made crystal clear with every one of Underwood's incredibly poised and pitch-perfect live performances. While she's glad her contest days are behind her, Underwood is quick to give some of the credit for her "overnight" success to the sink-or-swim ethic of "American Idol."

"It was basically like a boot camp," she said. "There was nobody to tell me what I should sing, or what to do, and being away from my friends and family, pretty much on my own, I had to grow up. If I could survive that and not go crazy then I could survive everything that followed. It so prepared me for what I do now."

Immediately following her "Idol" win, Underwood was hustled into the studio to record the contest-winning power ballad, "Inside Your Heaven." The single debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart and became the best-selling song of 2005. While the track displayed her stunning vocal chops in a big pop setting, Underwood insisted on recording a vocally challenging Martina McBride classic for the B-side.

"I think 'Inside Your Heaven' is a good song, but I didn't choose it," she stated. "That's why we put 'Independence Day' on the back, because we don't want to confuse everybody. I like to try new things, but I'm a Country girl and that's the kind of music that I made it clear I wanted to sing."

"Carrie from the very beginning always made the point that she was a Country singer," said SONY BMG Nashville Chairman Joe Galante. "She took a risk by doing that because it's obvious that Simon Cowell is not a fan of the music - but that is who she is. She is going to have a long and successful career here - and that is going to be a big shot for everyone in Country Music!"

Growing up in a fairly typical but non-musical family in small town Oklahoma, Underwood was nonetheless exposed to all kinds of music in all kinds of places.

"We'd take car trips and my parents always had it on the oldies station," she said. "I got a lot of Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater Revival, John Denver and all that. My sisters were teenagers when I was growing up and they were in their rebellious stage, so I got a lot of '80s rock music out of them. But being from Oklahoma, Country Music was always playing everywhere. In every store you went into, if there was a radio on, 95-percent of the time it was a Country station. So it was something that had a lot of influence on me."

Songs including "Jesus, Take the Wheel" and the follow-up single, "Don't Forget to Remember Me," are powered by Underwood's undeniably pure Country sensibility, but deeper album cuts "We're Young and Beautiful" and her current single, "Before He Cheats," showcase the singer's more mischievous and sassy side.

"I think that has to do with what I grew up with," she said. "Dann Huff, who was one of the producers of my album, without me saying anything said, 'Do you listen to a lot of rock music?' And I said, 'Yeah, I like it.' And he was like, 'I can tell. A lot of choices you make vocally are choices that a person with a more rock edge would choose.'"

She may be comfortable with her rocking side, and she does possess one of those voices that can go just about anywhere, but when it came time to decide where she wanted to make her music, where she lived, for Underwood there was no hesitation.

"I'm sure a lot of meetings were held to try to figure out a way to market me," she said." But my management company made it very clear that I was going to sing Country Music and that's what I wanted. I love all kinds of music, but I feel like I fit with Country and that's the kind of music I love."

Preparing to record her debut, Underwood went directly to the heart of Nashville's creative songwriting community. Her management team set up a "retreat" at Nashville's Karian Studios, giving Underwood a chance to mingle and even co-write with some of Music Row's biggest hitmakers. Songwriters including Brett James, Hillary Lindsey and Rivers Rutherford took the time to get to know the person behind the image and custom-crafted songs to reflect Underwood's life and concerns, including one she co-wrote about her hometown.

"I wanted to meet the songwriters, get to know them and let them know the kind of album I wanted to make," Underwood said. "They broke off into little groups and I'd bounce around from room to room and give suggestions and sing part of what they'd written. We even recorded some rough drafts right there in the studio. 'I Ain't In Checotah Anymore' came from that time, and I co-wrote on another one that didn't make the album. I can't wait to get into the next one. I want to have a bigger hand in it and co-write on a lot more songs."

Underwood has also been busy touring and getting to know her fellow Country artists, gaining some valuable advice along the way.

"The advice most people have given me is to take it all in," Underwood said. "Don't just go and go and go and not have fun with it. You've got to have fun."

As hectic as things have gotten, Underwood is definitely enjoying the trip, and she makes a point of taking regular breaks, heading home to Checotah and to her alma mater, Northeastern State University in nearby Tahlequah, where she recently graduated Magna*censored*Laude and where still loves to spend time with her old, reliable, pre-"Idol" friends.

"I try to get home about once a month, so it's not that bad," she said. "I miss my family and my animals, but they're always waiting for me when I get home. And a lot of my friends still go to college in Tahlequah, so I'll go hang out with my sorority sisters for a few days. The people that knew me before still treat me the same . when we go out it's a different story."

As she reflects on all she's learned and experienced in the past year, including being nominated for four CMA Awards (Horizon, Female Vocalist, Single and Music Video of the Year), and gets ready to perform at "The 40th Annual CMA Awards" in November, Underwood has her Country Music priorities perfectly straight.

"I like the intimacy of the studio and hearing how everything evolves from the demo to the finished product," she said. "But there's nothing like being in front of the fans. Especially now, they come to see me, and they give off a great energy. They're happy to be there . and I'm happy they're there.

On the Web: www.carrieunderwoodofficial.com

Since cary has not been posting here summarys....I decided to make a smaller one with just the more important numbers

This week, SH sold 28,954 copies for a grand total of 3,435,852 albums sold. SH is currently 3x platinum. SH lands at #26 on the Billboard 200 this week and also lands at #3 this week on Hot Country Albums (still has not fallen below the Top 5).

BHC lands at #48 this week on the Billboard Hot 100 (1 spot ahead of Mario Vasquez's "Gallery"). BHC is at #57 this week on the Pop 100. BHC is #11 this week on Hot Country Songs and is this week's Greatest Gainer (up 3 spots).

DFTRM is #5 on Hot Country Recurrents this week and JTTW is #20 (certified Gold)

Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” is still rising on the charts. It was up 10 more spots to #38 on the Hot 100 and was #7 (Greatest Gainer) on the Country chart. The single was also #54 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart, #52 on the Pop 100, #31 on Hot Digital Tracks, and #32 on Hot Digital Songs.

Carrie Underwood’s Some Hearts was #31 on the Billboard 200 and remained #5 (Greatest Gainer) on the Country chart.

Carrie will get the award for Top Selling Album of 2006 this year. No album can sell more than Carrie's because the cutoff closes in 7 weeks.

1 SOME HEARTS CARRIE UNDERWOOD 3,467,084
2 High School Musical SOUNDTRACK 3,120,905
3 ALL THE RIGHT REASONS NICKELBACK 2,727,522
4 THE BREAKTHROUGH MARY J BLIGE 2,598,024
5 CURTAIN CALL: THE HITS EMINEM 2,537,155
6 ME & MY GANG RASCAL FLATTS 2,531,404
7 BACK TO BEDLAM JAMES BLUNT 2,155,144
8 THE ROAD AND THE RADIO KENNY CHESNEY 2,044,577
9 THE EMANCIPATION OF MIMI MARIAH CAREY 1,968,531
10 BREAKAWAY KELLY CLARKSON 1,949,701
11 THE LEGEND OF JOHNNY CASH JOHNNY CASH 1,928,640
12 NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC! 20 VARIOUS ARTISTS 1,894,613
13 UNPREDICTABLE JAMIE FOXX 1,862,372
14 MONKEY BUSINESS BLACK EYED PEAS 1,848,845
15 PCD PUSSYCAT DOLLS 1,804,702
16 TAKING THE LONG WAY DIXIE CHICKS 1,640,144
17 NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC! 21 VARIOUS ARTISTS 1,582,337
18 CHRIS BROWN CHRIS BROWN 1,579,729
19 FEELS LIKE TODAY RASCAL FLATTS 1,570,420
20 CONFESSIONS ON A DANCE FLOOR MADONNA 1,553,601
21 KING T.I. 1,502,953
22 ORAL FIXATION VOL. 2 SHAKIRA 1,473,760
23 STADIUM ARCADIUM RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS 1,421,850
24 FROM UNDER THE CORK FALL OUT BOY 1,385,311
25 NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC! 22 VARIOUS ARTISTS 1,355,654
26 BE HERE KEITH URBAN 1,330,879
27 IN MY OWN WORDS NE-YO 1,323,147
28 AMORE ANDREA BOCELLI 1,275,608
29 GREATEST HITS VOL. 2 TIM MCGRAW 1,240,035
30 10,000 DAYS TOOL 1,238,942
31 THE SOUND OF REVENGE CHAMILLIONAIRE 1,197,931
32 AMARANTINE ENYA 1,195,177
33 SONGS ABOUT ME TRACE ADKINS 1,168,701
34 A FEVER YOU CAN'T SWEAT OUT PANIC! AT THE DISCO 1,138,199
35 HYPNOTIZE SYSTEM OF A DOWN 1,121,446
36 YOUR MAN JOSH TURNER 1,091,252
37 SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE KORN 1,073,073
38 IT'S TIME MICHAEL BUBLE 1,071,682
39 GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN' SOUNDTRACK 1,070,729
40 FUTURESEX/LOVESOUNDS JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE 1,061,119
41 THA CARTER II LIL' WAYNE 1,051,885
42 DUETS: THE FINAL CHAPTER NOTORIOUS B.I.G. 1,051,137
43 WHITE TRASH WITH MONEY TOBY KEITH 1,034,913
44 CURIOUS GEORGE(SOUNDTRACK) JACK JOHNSON 1,034,353
45 WALK THE LINE SOUNDTRACK 1,024,877
46 GIRL LIKE ME RIHANNA 1,000,565
47 FIREFLIES FAITH HILL 997,090
48 TWICE THE SPEED OF LIFE SUGARLAND 993,082
49 THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE FIFTIES BARRY MANILOW 973,226
50 ST. ELSEWHERE GNARLS BARKLEY 965,675

Carrie Underwood’s resurgence in sales continues. This week, Some Hearts was #26 on the Billboard 200, up from #31 last week. It remained #5 on the Country chart. Carrie’s success is reminiscent of Kelly’s in that she has expanded her fan base significantly outside the Idol realm. She’s been touring all summer and it’s working. Sales of Some Hearts just passed the 3.5 million mark, and I would expect that she will go 4X platinum by the end of the year.

Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” continues its ascent on the charts. It was up five more spots to #33 on the Hot 100 and was #4 on the Country chart. The single was also #36 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart. #21 on the Pop 100, #27 on Hot Digital Tracks, and #27 on Hot Digital Songs. If it continues at this rate, it should hit #1 on the Country chart within the next few weeks, making Carrie the 100th Idol to have a #1 Billboard hit!