Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, LeAnn Rimes, Brantley Gilbert

LeAnn Rimes
Won her first talent contest at the age of 5. Recorded her first album at 7, her second at age 11. The title song of this disc, Blue, is what brought her to national attention. Her vocals are often likened to Patsy Cline....

Darius Rucker
Darius Rucker is riding high with the release of his sophomore country album, Charleston, SC 1966, on Capitol Records Nashville. USA Today raved, "Rucker has made a fine-sounding country album, full of singable choruses, bittersweet fiddle and steel, and guitars with bottomless twang," and Rolling Stone said, “On his Nashville debut, Rucker's rich baritone, sentimental ballads and bright hooks made him the most successful African-American country singer since Charley Pride....

Carrie Underwood
The first country singer to win American Idol, Carrie Underwood grew up in the small town of Checotah, OK, and began singing with her church at the tender age of three. Throughout her childhood, she also performed at functions for the Lion's Club and Old Settlers Day, eventually grading to festival gigs in several states....

Brantley Gilbert
Although it’s tempting to call Brantley Gilbert a country artist -- he certainly embraces the outlaw country side of things -- in many ways his music is closer to the heartland sentiments of artists like John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen, and perhaps most apt, Steve Earle....