In November of 2005, American Idol winner Carrie Underwood let “Jesus Take The Wheel” and has driven to the top of the music charts. For 58 weeks, Underwood has had a stranglehold on the Country Music charts and Billboard top album charts. Her debut album, “Some Hearts” ends the year as the top album on the year-end Top Billboard 200 Albums, Top Billboard 200 Albums - Female and Top Country Albums recaps.

“It’s one of those rare combinations where she can start with such a huge fan base and you have an absolutely great record,” said Gregg Swedberg, program director of Twin Cities country station K102. Her “Idol” base included girls who wanted to be like her (”you can sell a lot of records to a young female audience,” said Swedberg), country fans (she was committed to that genre from the git-go) and young men (”she’s a good-looking young gal”).

“Most of the Idols have not made very good first records,” Swedberg said. “You can argue artistic value all you want, but Carrie made an extremely commercial record.”

It’s been a banner year for Underwood as she rides the road dreams are made of. 2006 saw her win such awards as ACM Single of the Year, ACM Top New Female Vocalist, CMA’s Horizon Award and the coveted CMA Female Vocalist of the Year. With an album that’s sold over 4 million copies and a year that’s seen her tour with Kenny Chesney and Brad Paisley, it seems as though Underwood isn’t done.

“I just wanted my first album to do well enough where I could make a second one,” Underwood said with a giggle. “It definitely exceeded all my expectations.”

As she prepares for 2007, Underwood is nominated for a number of Grammy’s including Song of the Year and Best New Artist, her album Some Hearts is quickly approaching 5 million copies sold with the final single “Wasted” soon to be released to radio and it seems she will get her wish after some much needed R&R Carrie reenters the studio to begin work on her second album.