Nashville, TN – 2005 American Idol winner Carrie Underwood continues to prove she is indeed America's darling as she follows last week's record-setting chart entry of her debut 19 Recordings/Arista Records/Arista Nashville collection, Some Hearts, with another sensational chart week. After only two weeks in stores, Some Hearts now tops the 500,000 unit sales mark according to SoundScan, with the album second only to superstar Kenny Chesney this week on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart.

Carrie's first-week album entry (which placed her at #1 on the country chart and #2 on the Billboard 200 all-genre chart, with more than 314,000 units sold) made SoundScan history as the biggest-selling debut album ever by a new country artist.

More remarkable still, Carrie has joined extraordinary company with the release of Some Hearts, as no female country artist in SoundScan history, with the exception of superstars Faith Hill and Shania Twain, has ever achieved higher first-week numbers on any album.

Radio continues to embrace Carrie in a big way, as well, with the disc's powerful lead single, "Jesus, Take the Wheel," climbing the country airplay charts at an amazing clip, already soaring to #11 Billboard and #12 R&R after only six weeks.

Critical acclaim for Underwood's debut has also surfaced from an array of outlets, with quotes such as:

"Underwood understands the difference between the [American Idol] competition's demand for vocal pyrotechnics and the interpretive requirements of songs for an album….a refreshing genuineness in Underwood's approach to material."
USA Today

"Underwood carves out her own niche with some help from Nashville players like producer-guitarist Dann Huff and songwriter Hillary Lindsey."
People

"Underwood will be a star because of her own considerable talents."
Billboard

"The big-voiced Oklahoman has the pipes, the look, the pedigree, and most important, the emotional resonance to sustain a professional career."
Amazon.com

Continuing an incredible string of major television appearances, Carrie will be featured on the December 1 edition of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, with more on the way over the next few weeks as the 22-year-old Oklahoma beauty performs on the December 6 FOX broadcast of The 2005 Billboard Music Awards, as well as Dr. Phil and TNT's Christmas in Washington (both airing December 14). With still more on tap, including the December 16 debut of her CMT – Country Music Television In the Moment special, fans can also look for Carrie in upcoming photo spreads in Allure and Teen Vogue.