Oct 08, 2016 10:12 AM EDT By Jane Reed, UniversityHerald Reporter

'American Idol' may be over but the legacy lives on with stars like Carrie Underwood. Before she won, she took her higher education like most aspiring young Americans.

Carrie Underwood was born in 1983 in Muskogee, Oklahoma. She was always a performer when she was a child. She entered talent shows and even sang at her local community's church - the First Free Will Baptist Church.

She took her high school at Checotah High. She was active in most clubs such as being a cheerleaer, a basketball and softball player and was an Honor Society member. After she graduated high school in 2001 as a salutatorian, she claims she paused her desire to sing. "After high school, I pretty much gave up on the dream of singing. I had reached a point in my life where I had to be practical and prepare for my future in the 'real world'", says Underwood.

She attended the Northeastern State University in Oklahoma. But when 'American Idol' showed up to see auditions, she could not help but go to it. She joined 'American Idol' and eventually earned praise and fame. A year later, Carrie Underwood graduated from Northeastern State University as a magna cum laude and earned her Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication with an emphasis on Journalism, cites Seventeen. She could not avoid her passion for singing. During her time at NSU, she also performed at the school's country show. But it is also important to note that she worked hard to stay in college. She waited tables at a pizzeria, and she even worked at a zoo and a vet's clinic to pay for her university.

Now, this American singer, actress and song writer is not only a successful winner of 'American Idol' season 4. She was also awarded and nominated for several achievements including seven Grammys, 12 Country Music Awards and even a Guinness World Record.

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