Carrie Underwood releases Inside Your Heaven

As part of her American Idol win, Carrie signed a recording contract with Arista Records. In June of 2005, she released a single, "Inside Your Heaven," which debuted at the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100. She was the first country artist to ever debut at No. 1 on that chart, although "Inside Your Heaven," a rather schmaltzy Idol anthem, isn't a strictly country song. More promising was the B-side, a cover of Martina McBride's "Independence Day."

Life for Carrie Underwood didn't have the chance to settle down after her American Idol win. All the publicity and work on an upcoming album (planned for a November 2005 release) didn't even leave her much opportunity to celebrate. She became a spokesperson for Hershey's chocolate and Skechers shoes, adopting a hectic schedule that sent her rushing back and forth between New York, Los Angeles and Nashville -- and just about everywhere in between.