Her compilation album, Greatest Hits: Decade #1 (2014), broke multiple chart and sales records upon release, and spawned the Grammy-winning crossover single "Something in the Water".

Rolling Stone applauded her as "the female vocalist of her generation in any genre", Time listed her as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2014 and Forbes declared her the most successful American Idol winner.

[12] She attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, graduating magna cum laude, in 2006, with a bachelor's degree in mass communication and an emphasis in journalism.

[69] On Carnival Ride, Underwood was more involved in the songwriting process; she set up a writers' retreat at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium to collaborate with such Music Row tunesmiths as Hillary Lindsey, Craig Wiseman, Rivers Rutherford, and Gordie Sampson.

[103] The first single from the album, "Cowboy Casanova", co-written by Underwood, Brett James and hip hop producer Mike Elizondo, was released in September 2009.

[176] The first leg of the Blown Away Tour started at the Royal Albert Hall in London on June 21, 2012,[177] which sold out in 90 minutes,[178] and five shows in Australia, including a sold-out date at the Sydney Opera House, on July 2.

[186][187][188] On January 21, 2013, "Can't Stop Lovin' You", a song by rock band Aerosmith with featured vocals by Underwood, was released as a single.

[202][203] She headlined the 2014 Concert for Valor in November, alongside Eminem, Metallica, Foo Fighters, and other music acts, where she was backed by the Singing Sergeants of the US Air Force during the performance of "Something in the Water".

[204] Underwood was asked by Bono himself to front U2's World AIDS Day (RED) Concert, alongside U2, Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay's Chris Martin, and Kanye West, on December 1, 2014.

[269][270] A few days after the 51st Annual Country Music Association Awards, Underwood sustained injuries in a fall at home that resulted in a broken wrist and several facial stitches.

[287][288] Brad Paisley and Underwood hosted the 52nd Annual Country Music Association Awards on November 14, 2018, where she picked up her fifth win as the CMA's Female Vocalist of the Year.

[305] On November 24, Underwood picked up two more American Music Awards, extending her record as the most-awarded artist in the Favorite Album – Country category with Cry Pretty.

[328] In December 2020, Spanish singer David Bisbal released his duet with Underwood, "Tears of Gold", featuring a music video that was filmed in Los Angeles.

[329] At the Latin American Music Awards of 2021 on April 15, Underwood joined Bisbal for the debut televised performance of the song in Sunrise, Florida; the pair were nominated for Favorite Video of the Year.

[330][331] At the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards, Underwood received one nomination for Video of the Year, "Hallelujah" featuring John Legend; she performed a medley of songs from My Savior, with a guest appearance by CeCe Winans.

[338] Underwood collaborated with Dan + Shay on a cover of "Only Us" for the soundtrack album of the 2021 film adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen that was released as a single on September 3, 2021.

[340] The pair debuted the live televised performance of the song at the 55th Annual Country Music Association Awards, where Underwood received a nomination for Entertainer of the Year.

In November, Underwood released "Stretchy Pants", a comedic holiday single benefitting the Nashville-based organization, The Store, which provides free shopping for qualifying families.

[352] On March 7, Underwood won one ACM award, Single of the Year, for her collaboration with Jason Aldean, "If I Didn't Love You", also joining him to perform the song.

[359] At the 2022 CMT Music Awards, Underwood won in two categories, including Video of the Year, for "If I Didn't Love You" with Jason Aldean, continuing her run as the most-awarded artist in the show's history.

[389][390] On August 2, Underwood released a duet with American rock band Papa Roach on a song titled "Leave a Light On (Talk Away the Dark)" that was originally featured on their album Ego Trip.

[411] Among country artists, she has listed George Strait,[412] Dolly Parton,[413] Randy Travis,[414] Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, and Garth Brooks as influences.

In 2014, Rolling Stone described Underwood as "the female vocalist of her generation of any genre",[420] while a 2012 issue of Billboard magazine referred to her as Country Music's reigning Queen.

[422] She has further received public commendation from Stevie Nicks,[424] Melissa Etheridge,[401] Steven Tyler,[425] Tony Bennett,[426] Dolly Parton,[413][427][428] and Loretta Lynn.

[463][464] Forbes has declared Underwood the most successful American Idol winner of all time, with more albums sold and more revenue generated than any of the other contestants in the show's 15 seasons.

She has signed multimillion-dollar deals with Skechers, Target, Nintendo, Olay, Nicole by OPI, Hershey's, Almay and Dick's Sporting Goods.

[501] To benefit cancer research, in August 2008, Underwood joined Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Miley Cyrus, and other female artists to record the song "Just Stand Up!"

"To have a star like Carrie Underwood perform Maria in The Sound of Music, and in such a very special and unique production, is exciting beyond words", said Ted Chapin, president of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization.

[523] On February 11, 2011, an Ottawa radio station, 105.3 KISS-FM, stated that it would ban the playing of Underwood's music because her husband, Mike Fisher, was traded to the Nashville Predators the day before.

[537] Ten months later, Underwood shared she had adopted a new dog, named Charlie, who she met backstage while touring in Charlotte, North Carolina.