Carrie Underwood Makes Country History With 'Cry Pretty'

Billboard: Carrie Underwood lands her fourth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart, as Cry Pretty starts atop the list. The set, which was released on Sept. 14 via Capitol Nashville, bows with 266,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending Sept. 20 according to Nielsen Music. Of that sum, 251,000 were in traditional album sales.

With the arrival at No. 1, Underwood makes country history: she's the first woman to bring four country albums to the top of the all-genre Billboard 200 chart.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units. Units are comprised of traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). The new Sept. 29-dated chart (where Cry Pretty debuts at No. 1) will be posted in full on Billboard's websites on Tuesday, Sept. 25.

Of Cry Pretty’s 266,000 units, most were in album sales: 251,000, as noted above. The remainder was comprised of SEA units (11,000) and TEA units (4,000).

First Woman to Take Four Country Albums to No. 1 on Billboard 200: Underwood is the first woman to hit the top of the Billboard 200 chart with four country albums: Cry Pretty, Blown Away (2012), Play On (2009) and Carnival Ride (2007). Previously, she was tied with Faith Hill, Linda Ronstadt and Taylor Swift with three leaders each. (Swift has had five No. 1s on the Billboard 200, but only three of them also charted on the Top Country Albums chart, as her two most recent leaders -- reputation and 1989 -- were pop efforts.) Among all acts, Garth Brooks has brought the most country albums to No. 1 on the Billboard 200, with nine leaders in his career.

Biggest Week for a Country Album in More Than Three Years: Cry Pretty’s launch of 266,000 units is the biggest for any country album since Aug. 29, 2015, when Luke Bryan’s Kill the Lights bowed at No. 1 with 345,000 units earned. Cry Pretty logs the biggest overall week for a country album by a woman since the charts began ranking albums by equivalent album units in late 2014.

2018’s Largest Week for a Woman: Cry Pretty’s debut frame of 266,000 units is the biggest week for any album by a woman in 2018, surpassing the previous high-water mark, set by Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy, which launched at No. 1 with 255,000 units (April 21 chart). The last larger stanza for an album by a woman was racked up on the Dec. 2, 2017-dated list, when Taylor Swift’s reputation entered at No. 1 with 1.238 million units.

2018’s Biggest Sales Week for a Woman & Country Album: Cry Pretty clocks the largest sales frame for an album by a woman since Swift’s reputation bowed last year (1.216 million sold in its first week, Dec. 2, 2017). Further, Cry Pretty snags the biggest for a country album in more than three years, since Bryan’s Kill the Lights debuted with 320,000 copies sold.

Further, Cry Pretty nabs the largest sales week for a country album by a female artist since the Jan. 5, 2013-dated list, when Taylor Swift's Red sold 276,000 copies in its ninth week on the list.

Underwood supported the album’s first-week with interviews and performances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (Sept. 13) and The Ellen DeGeneres Show (Sept. 19) as well as an interview on CBS’ Sunday Morning (Sept. 16).

Cry Pretty’s sizable first-week was supported by sales generated from a concert ticket/album sale redemption offer, as well as sturdy sales via sellers like Target, Walmart, the iTunes Store and so forth.

Carrie Underwood Honored With Hollywood Walk Of Fame Star

On Thursday (September 20th), Carrie Underwood was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in front of the famed Capitol Records building in Los Angeles.

Dressed in a red trench coat and black dress, Underwood cradled her baby bump as she was joined by her husband Mike Fisher and their 3½-year-old son Isaiah Michael, as well as Simon Cowell and Brad Paisley, who both gave speeches.

“This shy lady walks in and sings ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’ and the show turned into full color. That was the effect Carrie had on me and the producers and we thought we may have found a great artist here,” Cowell said, recalling Underwood’s St. Louis audition in 2004.

Fellow country singer Paisley also sung her praises: “Carrie Underwood, is in many ways, this generation’s Dolly Parton as Ms. Country Music. I don’t think we could ask for a better ambassador,” he said. “I don’t think there’s anything she can’t do.”

“This is the best of country music in concrete,” her longtime CMA Awards co-host continued. “I can’t wait to see everything you do from here. I think of the artists that’ll be in here at Capitol Records that are going to walk out here one night drunk and throw up on the star of one of the most important artists we will ever have in our format.”

Underwood tearfully thanked her loved ones. “How is this my life? How does a girl from Checotah, Oklahoma, get a star on the Walk of Fame? I will tell you: belief. So many people who have believed in me,” she said, acknowledging her parents.

“As I got a little older and reality set in, you just don’t know, ‘Is this possible?’ So I try out for American Idol and there was belief. Judges who believed in me from the beginning and people who voted for me that believed in me the whole way through,” Underwood added, before thanking those who believed in her, including husband Fisher.

“I met an incredible man, Mike, who thinks I’m so much better than I actually am. Thank you for believing in me as a human, as a wife, as a mom, and supporting me through all of this. He believes in me and we had another little man who believes in me too. Isaiah Michael, I love you so much. You’re the best thing we ever did. I love you and I believe you,” she said, facing her husband and son. Watch the highlights from her presentation beneath:

Carrie Underwood To Perform At 2018 American Music Awards

Mark your calendars! Carrie Underwood is among the first round of performers set for the 2018 America Music Awards broadcast, ABC and Dick Clark Productions announced.

Hosted by Tracee Ellis Ross, the fan-voted awards show will broadcast live from Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater Tuesday, October 9th at 8PM ET on ABC, and will also feature performances from Imagine Dragons, Post Malone and Ty Dolla $ign.

Carrie Underwood Performs 'Love Wins' On 'Ellen DeGeneres'

With 'Cry Pretty' headed towards a No.1 debut, Carrie Underwood appeared on 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' on Wednesday, September 19th, where she opened up about her fall last November, discussed her pregnancy and performed her latest single "Love Wins".

Carrie Underwood Reveals She Suffered 3 Miscarriages

In a new interview with CBS Sunday Morning, country singer Carrie Underwood opens up about her difficulties that led to her new album 'Cry Pretty', revealing that she suffered three miscarriages over the last two years. Watch her candid sit down below:

Stream: Carrie Underwood's New Studio Album 'Cry Pretty'

Preceded by the title track and "Love Wins", 7x-Grammy winner Carrie Underwood is back in action with her sixth studio album 'Cry Pretty', which is her first release for UMG Nashville and marks her first time as co-producer. Stream the album via Spotify beneath:

Carrie Underwood Debuts 'Love Wins' On 'The Tonight Show'

Jimmy Fallon enlisted help from stars Carrie Underwood and Blake Lively to bring the fun to the celebratory episode of 'The Tonight Show' on Thursday night (September 13th) — marking the first time a late-night show taped in Central Park.

Apart from Underwood and Lively, Henry Golding also made appearances (to promote their new film 'A Simple Favor'). Golding, Lively, Underwood and Fallon entertained the crowd with a round of "Name That Song", which featured The Roots and 10 members of The New York Philharmonic, and performed her new single "Love Wins".

Carrie Underwood To Be Honored With Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame On September 20th

HOLLYWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO HONOR CARRIE UNDERWOOD WITH STAR ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME

Honoree: CARRIE UNDERWOOD
Emcee: Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, President/CEO Leron Gubler
Guest Speakers: Simon Cowell and Brad Paisley
WHAT: Dedication of the 2,646th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
WHERE: 1750 N. Vine Street in front of Capitol Records
WHEN: Thursday, September 20, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. PDT

Event will be live-streamed exclusively on www.walkoffame.com

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that seven-time Grammy Award-winning singer Carrie Underwood will be honored with the 2,646th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday, September 20, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. PDT. The star will be dedicated in the category of Recording at 1750 N. Vine Street in front of the historic Capitol Records Building.

“Fans of Carrie Underwood will be thrilled when they see their favorite performer accept her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. People from all over the world have been asking when she will be honored, and we are proud to say, the time is now,” stated Ana Martinez, Producer of the Walk of Fame ceremonies. “We welcome everyone to Hollywood to cheer her on!”

Helping Emcee Leron Gubler, President & CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce unveil the star will be Simon Cowell, who was a judge when Underwood won the 4th season of American Idol, and Brad Paisley, with whom Underwood will co-host the CMA Awards for the 11th consecutive year.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce which administers the popular star ceremonies encourages people who are unable to attend and fans around the world to watch the event exclusively on www.walkoffame.com.

Carrie Underwood Debuts New 'Sunday Night Football' Opening

A new year, a new theme. Last Sunday, Carrie Underwood debuted her new opening for 'NBC Sunday Night Football' featuring 10 NFL player and a new song in the form of "Game On", which she co-wrote with Chris DeStefano and Brett James.

Carrie Underwood Locked In For First All-Female 'CMT Artists Of The Year' Special To Air In October

CMT: For the first time ever, the CMT Artists of the Year gala and concert will celebrate the biggest voices of country music’s past, present and future, and those dynamic and influential performers are women.

The 2018 honorees are Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman; and Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott.

CMT will premiere a night of all-star musical tributes celebrating their ongoing list of musical contributions and achievements in a 90-minute concert special airing live from Nashville on Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. ET.

This marks Underwood’s fourth CMT Artists of the Year honor and Lambert’s third. Ballerini was an honoree in 2016, while Fairchild and Schlapman were lauded the previous year with Little Big Town. Morris is a first-time honoree.

As in past years, the invitation-only event will feature surprise musical pairings and guests that will be announced at a later date. This is also one of the only televised events in the genre that honors female singers in groups who have been the fabric of mainstream country music within the last decade.

“This year, we’re evolving the special to reflect what’s happening right now in culture and in the lives of our fans,” said Leslie Fram, CMT’s Senior Vice President of Music & Talent. “In this monumental year for women, dedicating one of the biggest nights in the genre to applaud female country artists not only solidifies our commitment, but we hope will spark a much-needed change in the industry.”

Additionally, on Oct. 17 CMT will stage an all-female artist takeover across its platforms, including music hours on CMT, the 24-7 digital channel CMT Music and CMT Radio’s widely-syndicated shows CMT Radio LIVE and CMT After Midnite to encourage and inspire increased female airplay on show day.

The latest CMT news adds to a long history of the network’s staunch support of women in music. In 2013, it started the CMT Next Women of Country campaign to spotlight rising trailblazers in the music industry. In its five-year history, the program has served as a launching pad for several alums, including Grammy winners Morris and Kacey Musgraves. The franchise expanded to include multiple female-headlining tours helmed by Sara Evans, Jennifer Nettles, and Ballerini and Jana Kramer.

Previous CMT Artists of the Year performances have included Adele and Darius Rucker performing Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now;” Meghan Trainor, Jill Scott and Ballerini honoring Shania Twain with a medley of her biggest hits; Jason Aldean, Keith Urban and Chris Stapleton in a moving Tom Petty tribute with “I Won’t Back Down;” Adam Lambert and Leona Lewis paying tribute to Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush;” and Maroon 5 covering Taylor Swift’s “Mine.” The show has featured appearances by Ellen DeGeneres, Matthew McConaughey, Selena Gomez, Billy Bob Thornton, Roger Clemens, Morgan Freeman, the cast of Nashville and more.

Carrie Underwood Unveils Colorful 'Love Wins' Video

Country superstar Carrie Underwood promotes love and unity in the Shane Drake-directed music video for "Love Wins", the official second single from her new 'Cry Pretty' album, which hits stores tomorrow on September 14th. Watch the colorful treat beneath: