Not long after Carrie Underwood captured the hearts of millions of music fans by winning American Idol, the generational talent kicked off her solo career with the release of her hit rendition of “Inside Your Heaven.”
The song was originally written by Pelle Nylén, Andreas Carlsson, and Savan Kotecha, and both Bo Bice and Carrie Underwood (the final two contestants on 2005’s American Idol season) both ended up releasing a version of the song. Carrie even sang the recognizable song during the finale of the show.
Shortly after she was crowned the winner of the popular singing competition, Underwood sent her single version out into the industry on this date in 2005. Riding on the momentum of her newfound American Idol fame, the song was an immediate success upon its release.
“Inside Your Heaven” debuted at the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, while also reaching the top spot on the Canadian Singles Chart. And though Underwood and Bice were no longer competing on the show, they did still manage to challenge one another on the music industry charts.
Bo’s version of “Inside Your Heaven” was released a week after Underwood’s and peaked at number two on both the American and Canadian charts. The two artists were then separately nominated (with the same song) for “Top-Selling Hot 100 Song of the Year,” which was ultimately won by Underwood as well.
Our condolences to Bo Brice for living in Underwood’s shadow.
“Inside Your Heaven” also won at the Billboard Music Awards for “Top-Selling Country Single of the Year,” and later helped Underwood take home the trophy for “Country Single Sales Artist of the Year” when the song was included on her debut album, Some Hearts.
The song tells the story of someone deeply in love and wishing to be with another person, sharing every moment together. “Inside Your Heaven’s” powerful first verse and chorus sing:
“Every time I see you I’m alive
You’re all I’ve got
You lift me up
The sun and the moonlight
All my dreams are in your eyes
And I wanna be inside your heaven
Take me to the place you cry from
When a storm blows your way
And I wanna be the earth that holds you
Every bit of air you’re breathin’ in
A soothin’ wind
I wanna be inside your heaven”
And thus, a country music star was born. Everyone knows that Underwood has gone on to have an lustrous music career, winning 8 Grammy Awards, 16 American Country Music Awards, and holds the record as the only female artist to ever win the ACM’s “Entertainer of the Year” award three separate times.
And it all started with this one single song, and a little help from a small show called American Idol.
Take a listen:
