(pictures courtesy of carriecentral.com, formerly underwood.watchidol.com, and taod.com. Check tags, and do not remove them)
It all started in St Louis, 8-hour drive from Checotah.
Usually pretty girls cannot sing, but wow Carrie, you proved everyone wrong!
Carrie: "It's been kinda cloudy!"
Welcome to Hollywood Carrie! It must have been a little overwhelming!
It's OK, we all love you!
Yes! You made it!
The famous elevator twirls!
Everyone was mesmerized with "Could've Been"!
YIPPEE! The judges loved it!
Carrie, darling, you are safe! Take it easy girl!
"I have been called the 'sweet innocent farm girl'..."
Gee Carrie, that's what I've been calling ya!
Those dudes didn't like it so much...
Ryan to the rescue with an arm round your shoulder!
You are safe! Relieved!
They all thought you were safe. A rough coupla weeks.
Yes, we love you being old-fashioned!
Right! Country and rap!
Ryan: "Carrie, darling, I'm sorry but I've gotta ask you to stand... and walk over there cos you are safe!"
Carrie: "You're mean! You're so mean!" (my humble attempt to lip-read)
Carrie, please slap Ryan for me!
"When Will I be Loved"
Randy didn't like it. Paula said it was 'safe and boring'
King Tut (aka Simon Cowell) to the rescue!
I know you are confused that it was Simon who saved ya!
But he knows best!
Safe again! Phew!
"Alone"
My word, you blew everyone away!
Randy loved it
As did Paula (probably her only coherent critique the entire season)
Simon proclaims: "Carrie, you are not just the girl to beat, you are the
person to beat. I will make a prediction, not only will you go on to win
this show, you will go on to sell more records than any other idol winner!"
Carrie (in her thick Okie accent, which is so cute): "Somebody pinch me!"
Ryan: "Simon said 'not only will you go on to win this show, you will go
on to sell more records than any other idol winner!'"
"Carrie, you are... safe!" You knew it this week, Carrie, right?
"Had my first date in 1999 when I was 16. I was waiting in the living
room for the guy, and my Dad was in the porch cleaning his shotguns !"
"The guy never asked me out again!"
*shrug* go figure guys!
I bet that guy must be kicking himself now...
"Independence Day"
Randy and Paula loved it
Simon: "You know, Carrie, I do get a hard time sometimes for being
critical, but I think some of the performances I've seen tonight, I've
seen in karaoke bars"
Don't worry Carrie, he wasn't going to criticize you!
"yet you have something different, the 'It' factor!"
Carrie anxious again on Wednesday night
Ryan: "Simon said you have the 'It' factor, and you have 'It'!"
The infamous washing powder comment
"When I was young I'd put on headphones and sing and mess up the
words. I hope I get the words right tonight..."
Rocking out in "Love is a Battlefield"
Darn Randy. Only you noticed she messed up the words!
"But I covered it!" Smart girl!
Simon: "It's like watching a kitten trying to be a tiger."
Don't worry Carrie, we were all as confused as you were!
Fulfilling childhood dreams of being a model.
"Did you all bring your socks? Cos bowling shoes are GR-OSSSSS!!!"
Carrie's probably, like everyone else, still confused about Simon's
comments the night before. Who cares? She's safe!
"Dance night is going to be tough for 2 reasons:
a) I'm born after the 70s
b) There are no dance clubs in Checotah Oklahoma, so the most dancing
I've ever done is in my bedroom, in my pyjamas!"
Simon: "I have to discuss this look. Because it's like Barbie meets the
Stepford Wives."
The safe group!
Having fun in "God Fearing Women get the Blues"
Carrie and Bo in the safe group; Scott and Con wanna join them!
Sassy intro to "Trouble"
"If you're looking for trouble
Just take a look in my face...
I'm evil, my middle name is misery
You know I'm evil, so don't you mess around with me"
Guess the mic stand was messing around with her!
Everyone loved it!
"Bless the Broken Road" --- the key change at the You-ou-ou! Flawless!
Simply a brilliant vocal, and everyone agreed!
Safe yet again!
Having fun with "Sin Wagon"
Randy loved it
Paula didn't know what to say (which is actually the case
most of the time)
Simon: "It's like singing in the shower! Effortless!"
Carrie puts on a brave front after "If You Don't Know Me by Now"
gets poor reviews
Another flawless vocal with "Crying", and she looked absolutely hot!
Smile Carrie! A great job!
"Making Love out of Nothing at All". To me, I was surprised by
her selection here, to pick such a pop-ish song. But she nailed it!
That brilliant "AAA-LLLLLLL" note!
The judges loved it. Although carrie wouldn't have wanted to go after Bo
Mayor: "Tis a great song choice for you Carrie, but Randy, why do you
make me say this dawg. 'Man! I Feel Like a Woman' by Shania Twain!"
Having fun with "Man! I Feel Like a Woman'"
Simon proclaims she's done enough to make the final!
Carrie wins the coin toss
The debut of "Inside Your Heaven"!
Which got mixed reviews. Well it's not a well written song
"Angels Brought Me Here"
Getting emotional. The end of the competition! We all felt her emotion here!
"Mom! Don't touch the car!" I guess she must have had a rough ride from
Checotah to St Louis with Mom driving!
Getting giddy with Gary!
The moment of truth... The winner is...
Carrie Underwood! Yea baby!
"Thank you America!"
I say to Carrie: "Thank you! I am truly blessed to see your journey!"
Or rather, the start of her journey! There'll be plenty more to come!
(pic from carriecentral.com)