Louis went well. After winning “Idol” in 2005, she scored sponsorships (Skechers and Hershey’s) and toured her first record, “Some Hearts” (released November 2005) until it sold more than 7 million copies.
Since the summer of 2005 she’s won Country Music awards, Dove awards, Country Music Television awards, Billboard Music awards and Grammy awards. Underwood’s sophomore release, the 2007 “Carnival Ride,” is nearing the 3 million mark. And while her career was born on television - and she’s returned to “Idol” many times over the years - she thrives in the live medium.
Underwood is one of the most marketable country singers in the world, which explains her current co-headlining tour with Keith Urban. And her marketability is something Underwood has become acutely aware of in the past three years, especially because her album sales and tour numbers are what set her apart from the rest of the pack.
It says something when Underwood, now a two-time musical guest on “Saturday Night Live,” is only the 11th country musician on the show. Given that she turned 25 on Monday and her career is less than three years old, it’s impressive that Underwood is already an arena headliner.
“I actually really like touring,” Underwood said about the grind of the road. “I have my dog on tour with me, and he keeps me pretty busy. He gets stinky, and I give him baths and walk him around. I’m also trying to stay healthy and work out and really focus on taking care of myself.”

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