Carrie Underwood released her fourth album, Blown Away, on May 1, 2012. A few weeks after that, she tied a record with two iconic female artists when she earned another No. 1 album.
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Blown Away debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and sold 267,000 copies in its first week. Subsequently, Underwood joined Linda Ronstadt and Faith Hill in a chart record. She became the third woman to earn three No. 1 country albums. Her previous three albums, Some Hearts, Carnival Ride, and Play On also debuted at No. 1.
The album also debuted at the top of the Top Country Albums chart, staying there for seven weeks. On the Billboard 200, it stayed for two weeks, making it Underwood’s first album to land at No. 1 on that chart for consecutive weeks.
By the end of 2012, Blown Away had sold 1.4 million copies, making it the seventh best-selling album of the year in the U.S. Worldwide, it has sold more than 2 million copies since its release. It also won several awards. The title track won two Grammys for Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song, and the album won an American Music Award for Favorite Country Album.
Carrie Underwood Proved She Was Here to Stay with Fourth Album ‘Blown Away’
Since winning American Idol in 2005, Carrie Underwood continually proved her staying power in country music. She has released several No. 1 hit albums, compilations, and gospel albums, and collaborated with country’s top stars like Miranda Lambert and Brad Paisley. She also stepped out of her usual image and collaborated with Papa Roach last year.
Overall, Blown Away was a departure from Underwood’s previous good girl image. She stated that the album would feature a “darker storyline” and take her out of her comfort zone. Underwood excelled with songs like “Two Black Cadillacs” and “Blown Away”.
Underwood took a step back from what she described as the “celebrity bubble” for this album. She searched for “real things to write about and real things to sing about.” The recording and writing process took more than a year, but Underwood worked with a stellar team of writers like Hillary Lindsay and Ashley Gorley.
Blown Away garnered high praise from critics for its new, darker direction. Carrie Underwood may have introduced herself as a major player in country music with her first three albums, but this one cemented her as a timeless icon.
Featured Image by Lloyd Bishop/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Image
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