Some Hearts
Studio album by
Carrie Underwood
ReleasedNovember 15, 2005 (2005-11-15)
Recorded2005
StudioStarstruck Studios (Nashville, Tennessee), Plant Recording (Sausalito, California), Electrokitty Recording (Seattle, Washington)
Genre
Length54:04
Label
Producer
Carrie Underwood chronology
Some Hearts
(2005)		 Carnival Ride
(2007)
Singles from Some Hearts
  1. "Jesus, Take the Wheel"
    Released: October 3, 2005
  2. "Some Hearts"
    Released: October 29, 2005
  3. "Don't Forget to Remember Me"
    Released: March 13, 2006
  4. "Before He Cheats"
    Released: August 19, 2006
  5. "Wasted"
    Released: February 6, 2007

Some Hearts is the debut studio album by American singer and songwriter Carrie Underwood, released in the United States on November 15, 2005, by Arista Nashville. The album contains the number one country singles "Jesus, Take the Wheel", "Don't Forget to Remember Me", "Wasted", and "Before He Cheats". The North American version contains the Billboard Hot 100 number one single, "Inside Your Heaven", as a bonus track.

Bolstered by the success of its singles, Some Hearts became the best-selling album of 2006 across all genres in the United States. The album was also the best-selling country album in the United States of both 2006 and 2007, making Underwood the first female artist in Billboard history to earn back-to-back honors for Top Country Album. Additionally, it was the best-selling female country album of 2005, 2006 and 2007. Some Hearts has since been certified 9× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and is the fastest-selling debut country album in the history of the Nielsen SoundScan era, the best-selling solo female debut album in country music history, the best-selling country album of the last 10 years, and the best-selling album by an American Idol alumni in the U.S.

It was listed as one of the 100 best-selling albums of all time by the RIAA in 2009. Some Hearts has since sold over 7.45 million copies in the U.S. and over ten million worldwide.[1] In December 2009, Billboard announced that the album was the biggest-selling country album of the decade, as well as the fourteenth biggest-selling album of any genre.

The album and its songs were praised by music critics. It led Underwood to win three Grammy Awards: Best New Artist in 2007 and twice Best Female Country Vocal Performance—for "Jesus, Take the Wheel", in 2007, and for "Before He Cheats", in 2008. Additionally, Some Hearts won Album of the Year at the 2007 Academy of Country Music Awards, while "Jesus, Take the Wheel" and "Before He Cheats" both won Single of the Year at the 2006 Academy of Country Music Awards and 2007 Country Music Association Awards, respectively.

Background and development

About the song "Jesus, Take the Wheel", co-writer Brett James said it was written at Hillary Lindsey's house, with the original title being "When Jesus Takes the Wheel", and that there was no specific artist in mind to record the song.[2] In 2016, singer Hillary Scott said she was initially offered the song while Underwood was on American Idol.[3] Following her Idol win, Underwood traveled back to her home in Oklahoma before heading again to Los Angeles for the American Idols Live tour rehearsals.[4] At the time, Underwood told People, "This is my time to see the world. Home will be there when I get back." She later bought her first home in the Nashville suburb of Franklin, Tennessee in November 2005 before selling it in 2007.[5] A Billboard article from October 2005 first announced the name of the debut album, but mentioned "I Ain't in Checotah Anymore" and "What Else You Got" as tracks, with the latter being cut from the finished record.[6] According to co-writer Chris Tompkins, the song "Before He Cheats" was written in two hours at his home, and was initially meant for Gretchen Wilson's second album, with a more humorous delivery, until Underwood recorded it.[7] Recording of the album took place in three months, while Underwood was touring, and she met with writers such as Hillary Lindsey and Rivers Rutherford at Karian Studios during a writing session.[8]

Singles

Carrie Underwood's American Idol winning single "Inside Your Heaven", which debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 five months before the release of Some Hearts, is included on the album as a bonus track. The song is Underwood's only number 1 on the Hot 100. The song has sold 880,000 copies.

The first single from the album, "Jesus, Take the Wheel", was No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for six consecutive weeks and reached No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. In August 2008, "Jesus, Take the Wheel" was reported to have been sold more than 1 million ringtones and was certified Platinum, the first achievement by a country artist for two Platinum Mastertone ranked songs. As of February 2016, it has sold 2,473,000 copies in the United States and has been certified 3× Platinum by the RIAA.

"Some Hearts", written by Diane Warren and originally recorded by Marshall Crenshaw in 1989, was released to pop and adult contemporary radio only and eventually reached number 12 on the Adult Contemporary chart. As of June 2011 it has sold 207,000 copies.

"Don't Forget to Remember Me" was the third single from the album, and also proved successful, reaching number one on the Mediabase Country Chart, number two on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, and number 49 on the Hot 100. The song has sold 403,000 copies in the United States and has been certified Gold by the RIAA as of August 12, 2013.[9]

"Before He Cheats" was released as the next single, and climbed the charts faster than any of Underwood's other singles, making it into the top twenty of the Hot Country Songs chart before the release of a music video. "Before He Cheats" subsequently peaked at number one on the Hot Country Songs chart for five consecutive weeks, and at number eight on the Hot 100; it proved to be a huge crossover hit, making appearances in the top 20 of every chart on which it appeared, and it is the biggest hit overall from the album. When it finally peaked at number 8 in May 2007, it had already logged 38 weeks on the chart, making it the longest trek to the top 10 ever. As pop airplay began dying down, the song got a third life on the adult contemporary format, which began playing the song in May. "Before He Cheats" spent 64 consecutive weeks on the Hot 100, before finally falling off in late November 2007. The song is the fifth-longest charting single on the Hot 100, following LeAnn Rimes's "How Do I Live", Jewel's "You Were Meant for Me"/"Foolish Games", Adele's "Rolling in the Deep", and Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours". It is the second longest running hit so far this decade. "Before He Cheats" reached No. 6 on the 2007 Hot 100 Year-End Chart and fifth on the 2007 Hot 100 Airplay Year-End Chart by Billboard magazine. It reached No. 10 on the 2007 Adult Contemporary Year-End Chart. It was named the 2007 Single of the Year by the Country Music Association. It is Underwood's best selling single and had sold 4,312,000 digital downloads as of August 2016,[10] making it the third best-selling country song of all time behind Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now", with 4.97 million and Taylor Swift's "Love Story", with 4.96 million. It is the third best-selling song by an American Idol contestant in the United States (behind Phillip Phillips' Home and Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)"), and the fourth longest-charting single in the history of the Hot 100. It also came in on CMT's 40 Greatest Songs of the Decade at number twenty-five, along with Underwood's other signature hit, "Jesus, Take the Wheel", it reached No. 4. It has been certified 7× Platinum by the RIAA.

"Wasted" also proved another successful hit for Underwood by peaking at number one for three consecutive weeks on the Hot Country Songs chart, and going to number 37 on the Hot 100. The song has sold 705,000 copies in the United States and has been certified Platinum in August 2015.

Dann Huff produced tracks 3, 6, 8, 9, 11, and 12, Desmond Child produced "Inside Your Heaven", and Mark Bright produced the rest.[11]

Promotion

To promote Some Hearts, Underwood embarked on her very first solo tour, which was called Carrie Underwood: Live 2006. The tour started April 4, 2006 and ended November 30 of the same year.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[12]
AllMusic[13]
Digital Spy[14]
Entertainment WeeklyC[15]
Robert Christgau(choice cut)[16]
Slant Magazine[17]
Stylus MagazineB[18]
USA Today[19]

The album received positive reviews from music critics. Penny Rondinella of About.com gave a positive review to the album, awarding it with a four-and-a-half stars out of five and said: "American Idol Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood's debut album is just as expected, a country feel with some pop added to it. Lots of variety in her vocals, which tells me she has true talent." AllMusic gave it 4 out of 5 stars and classified the album as "anthemic country pop, ideal for either country or adult contemporary radio, with none of the delightful tackiness of Shania Twain—and her debut album, Some Hearts, not only hits this mark exactly, it's better than either album Hill has released since Breathe in 1999." It also praised Underwood's vocal performance and found that "she sounds equally convincing on such sentimental fare as 'Jesus, Take the Wheel' as on the soaring pop 'Some Hearts,' and even if she doesn't exactly sound tough on the strutting 'Before He Cheats,' she does growl with a fair amount of passion."

Some Hearts won Album of the Year at the 2007 Academy of Country Music Awards, while "Jesus, Take the Wheel" and "Before He Cheats" both won Single of the Year at the 2006 Academy of Country Music Awards and 2007 Country Music Association Awards, respectively. At the 49th Grammy Awards, in 2007, Underwood won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist and the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance, for "Jesus, Take the Wheel", which also won Best Country Song for its songwriters, being nominated for Song of the Year as well. The following year, at the 50th Grammy Awards, Underwood won the Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Before He Cheats". The song won Best Country Song for the songwriters as well as being nominated for Song of the Year.

Awards and nominations

Award Category Result
41st Academy of Country Music Awards Album of the Year Won
2006 Billboard Music Awards Album of the Year Won
Country Album of the Year Won
Female Billboard 200 Album Artist of the Year Won
2007 American Music Awards Favorite Country Album Won
2007 Billboard Music Awards Country Album of the Year Won
2009 Billboard Music Awards Country Album of the Decade Won

Commercial performance

Some Hearts debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, behind Madonna's Confessions on a Dance Floor and number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums selling 315,000 copies in its first week.[20] The large first week sales of Some Hearts made it the biggest debut of any country artist since the advent of the SoundScan system in 1991.[21] It was also the fifth best first-week sales for any American Idol contestant (behind Ruben Studdard's Soulful, her own Play On and Carnival Ride, and Clay Aiken's Measure of a Man, which sold over 417,000 copies, 318,000 copies, 527,000 copies and 613,000 copies, respectively, in their first weeks). In the week of December 25, 2006, the album's fifty-eighth week on the chart, the album rose back up to number four on the Billboard 200 chart after selling close to 300,000 copies.

Some Hearts became the best-selling album of 2006 in all genres in the United States.[22] The album was also the best-selling country album in the United States of both 2006 and 2007, making Underwood the first female artist in Billboard history to earn back-to-back honors for Top Country Album.[23] Additionally, it was the best-selling female country album of 2005, 2006 and 2007.[24]

On the U.S. Billboard 200, the album had a run of 137 consecutive weeks on the chart, the second-longest for any album released in 2005, behind Nickelback's All the Right Reasons, making it the sixth album with the most weeks spent on such a chart since 2000.[25][26] The album spent 10 weeks within the Top 5 of the Billboard 200, a record among American Idol alumni.[27] On the week dated December 12, 2009, under the changes of Billboard's rules, the album re-entered the Billboard 200, at number 132. The album appeared on the Billboard Year-End Chart for 2009, coming in at number 158 for album sales that year.[28] On the week dated for August 7, 2010, the album climbed back onto the Billboard 200, reaching No. 191. On the week dated for December 5, 2010, the album once again landed onto the Billboard 200, reaching No. 192. On the week dated for December 8, 2012, the album once again landed onto the Billboard 200, reaching No. 69.

Some Hearts has since been certified nine times Platinum by the RIAA,[29] and is the fastest-selling debut country album in the history of the SoundScan era,[30][31] the best-selling solo female debut album in country music history,[32] the best-selling Country album of the last 10 years,[33] and the best-selling album by an American Idol alumni in the U.S.[34] As of December 2015, it has sold over 7,450,000 copies in the United States.[35] On October 24, 2016, the album was certified 8× Platinum by the RIAA.[36]

By December 2007, Some Hearts had sold over 7 million copies worldwide, according to Forbes.[37] Worldwide sales stand at 10 million copies.[1]

In December 2009, Billboard announced that the album was the biggest-selling country album of the 2000s decade, as well as the fourteenth biggest-selling album of any genre.[38][39] On August 6, 2016 issue of Billboard, Some Hearts reached No. 7 on the All-time Country Albums chart. On All-time Country Songs chart, the album's fourth single, "Before He Cheats", reached No. 64.

In October 2021, the album was certified nine times Platinum, with the single "Before He Cheats" certified seven times Platinum.[40]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Wasted"
4:34
2."Don't Forget to Remember Me"
4:00
3."Some Hearts"Diane Warren3:48
4."Jesus, Take the Wheel"
3:46
5."The Night Before (Life Goes On)"
3:54
6."Lessons Learned"Warren4:09
7."Before He Cheats"
3:19
8."Starts with Goodbye"
4:06
9."I Just Can't Live a Lie"
3:59
10."We're Young and Beautiful"
3:53
11."That's Where It Is"
3:35
12."Whenever You Remember"Warren3:47
13."I Ain't in Checotah Anymore"
3:21
14."Inside Your Heaven" (bonus track)
3:45
Total length:54:04

Personnel

As listed in liner notes.[41]

  • All strings on "Jesus, Take the Wheel" performed and arranged by Jonathan Yudkin.
  • String section on "Lessons Learned" and "Starts with Goodbye":
    • Arranged and conducted by Paul Buckmaster
    • Violins – Cani, Susan Chatman, Joel Derouin, Endre Granat, Julian Hallmark, Mario de Leon, Michael Markman, Sid Page, Alyssa Park, Michele Richards, Teresa Stanisla, Josefina Vergara
    • Violas – Denyse Buffum, Andrew Duckles, Matt Funes, Shanti Randall
    • Cellos – Larry Corbett, Suzie Katayama, Steve Richards, Daniel Smith

Charts

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications
US Country US US Pop US AC CAN
2005 "Jesus, Take the Wheel" 1 20 36 23 —
  • RIAA: 3× Platinum[53]
"Some Hearts" — — — 12 —
2006 "Don't Forget to Remember Me" 2 49 77 — —
"Before He Cheats"A 1 8 9 6 4
2007 "Wasted" 1 37 54 — 35
  • A "Before He Cheats" charted for twenty weeks on the U.S. Hot Country Songs chart before being confirmed as a single.

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[55] Gold 35,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[56] 3× Platinum 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[29] 9× Platinum 7,450,000[35]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date
United Kingdom November 14, 2005
United States November 15, 2005
New Zealand
Canada
Australia
Ireland January 11, 2006
Germany
Norway
Denmark
Sweden
Austria
Switzerland
Mexico

References

  1. 1 2 Hackett, Vernell (2010). Carrie Underwood: A Biography: A Biography. ABC-CLIO. p. 136. ISBN 978-0313378522. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Story Behind the Song: Carrie Underwood, 'Jesus, Take the Wheel'". The Boot.
  3. ↑ Ong, Czarina. "Hillary Scott says Carrie Underwood's hit single 'Jesus Take The Wheel' was originally for her". www.christiantoday.com. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  4. ↑ "Underwood, Carrie | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  5. ↑ Whitaker, Sterling. "15 Years Ago: Carrie Underwood Buys Her First Nashville Home — See Pictures". Taste of Country. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  6. ↑ "Underwood Puts 'Heart' Into Debut Album". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  7. ↑ Horner, Marianne. "Carrie Underwood, 'Before He Cheats': Story Behind the Song". The Boot. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  8. ↑ Hackett, Vernell (2010-09-16). Carrie Underwood: A Biography: A Biography. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0-313-37852-2.
  9. ↑ "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America.
  10. ↑ "Top 30 Digital Singles Sales Report: August 30, 2016 - RoughStock". roughstock.com. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  11. ↑ "Some Hearts". Discogs. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  12. ↑ Rondinella, Penny. "Carrie Underwood - Some Hearts Review". About.com. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  13. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2005-11-15). "Some Hearts - Carrie Underwood : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  14. ↑ Levine, Nick (2008-07-05). "Carrie Underwood: 'Some Hearts' / 'Carnival Ride'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  15. ↑ Willman, Chris (2005-12-02). "Some Hearts Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  16. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "CG: Carrie Underwood". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  17. ↑ Shetler, Scott (2005-11-18). "Carrie Underwood: Some Hearts". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  18. ↑ Inskeep, Thomas (2005-11-18). "Carrie Underwood - Some Hearts - Review". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  19. ↑ Mansfield, Brian (2005-11-21). "Carrie Underwood, Some Hearts". USA Today. Retrieved 2013-09-22.
  20. ↑ "Madonna Dances Straight To No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
  21. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Biography - Facts, Birthday, Life Story". Biography.com. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
  22. ↑ "Akon is the top pop artist of 2007". Canada.com. 2007-12-07. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22.
  23. ↑ "Opry meamber: Carrie Underwood". Grand Ole Opry.
  24. ↑ "Carrie Underwood | Bio, Pictures, Videos". Rolling Stone. 2013-04-18. Archived from the original on June 24, 2012. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
  25. ↑ Bronson, Fred (June 30, 2008). "Chart Beat Chat: Coldplay, Katy Perry, Juice Newton". Billboard.
  26. ↑ Trust, Gary (October 29, 2009). "Chart Beat Thursday: Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw Linked Again". Billboard.
  27. ↑ "Week Ending Oct. 23, 2011. Albums: Casting Crowns Not Crowned | Chart Watch - Archives - Yahoo! Music". music.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 2011-12-01.
  28. ↑ "How American Idol albums ranked in 2009 year-end sales". USA Today. January 11, 2010.
  29. 1 2 "American album certifications – Carrie Underwood – Some Hearts". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  30. ↑ "Carrie Underwood's Album Is Quintuple Platinum". CMT. January 10, 2007. Retrieved August 6, 2007.
  31. ↑ "Chart success continues for Carrie Underwood". Country Standard Time News. February 15, 2006. Retrieved August 6, 2007.
  32. ↑ "News : Headlines : Carrie Underwood Sets Sales Record : Great American Country". Gactv.com. February 8, 2008. Archived from the original on May 25, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
  33. ↑ Grein, Paul (2012-03-16). "Chart Watch Extra: Top Albums Of Last 10 Years | Chart Watch (NEW) - Yahoo! Music". Music.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2012-03-22.
  34. ↑ "Carrie Underwood's Some Hearts Hits 7 Million, Becoming the Best-Selling Solo Female Country Debut in RIAA History! | The Official Carrie Underwood Site". Carrieunderwoodofficial.com. 2005-11-15. Archived from the original on 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
  35. 1 2 Caulfield, Keith (December 10, 2015). "Adele's '25' Hits 5 Million Sold in U.S." Billboard. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  36. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Becomes the Highest Certified Country Album Artist to Debut This Century! · The Official Carrie Underwood Fan Club". Archived from the original on 2016-10-25. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  37. ↑ "20 Under 25: The Top-Earning Young Superstars - No. 11: Carrie Underwood". Forbes. December 4, 2007.
  38. ↑ "Billboard Decade-End Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  39. ↑ "Carrie Underwood's "Some Hearts" named Billboard's top country album of the decade". NewsOK. 2009-12-22.
  40. ↑ "Carrie Underwood overcome with emotion after major surprise during Nashville performance". HELLO!. 2021-10-29. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  41. ↑ Some Hearts (CD). Carrie Underwood. Arista Records/19 Recordings. 2005. 71197.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  42. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard.
  43. ↑ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company.
  44. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  45. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard.
  46. ↑ "Top 50 Global Best Selling Albums for 2005" (PDF). IFPI. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 17, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  47. ↑ "Best of 2006 - Billboard Top 200". Billboard.
  48. ↑ "Best of 2006 - Top Country Albums". Billboard.
  49. ↑ "Best of 2010 - Billboard Top 200". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  50. ↑ "Best of 2007 - Top Country Albums". Billboard.
  51. ↑ "Best of 2008 - Billboard Top 200". Billboard.
  52. ↑ "Best of 2008 - Top Country Albums". Billboard.
  53. 1 2 3 4 "Gold & Platinum – Carrie Underwood". RIAA. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  54. ↑ "Gold and Platinum". Music Canada. Archived from the original on 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  55. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2016 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  56. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Carrie Underwood – Some Hearts". Music Canada.
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