NASHVILLE, TN. (Top40 Charts/ Greenwood Publishing) - 'Carrie Underwood: A Biography' will be released this week by Greenwood Publishing, an imprint of ABC/Clio. Written by Nashville author Vernell Hackett, the book follows the singer from her hometown in Oklahoma to the stages of the most prestigious concert halls in the world.
Along the way, fans will read about this girl-next-door's decision to compete on 'American Idol' and her subsequent triumph there, about her first recordings in Nashville and her platinum albums, and about her sold-out concert tours with superstars like Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban.
But the book isn't only about Underwood as a celebrity. It is also about how she uses that celebrity to do good works, including speaking out for the Humane Society of the United States, participating in a song that benefited Stand Up For Cancer, doing public service announcements for the Do Something youth organization, and touring for the USO.
Greenwood developed this series of celebrity biographies specifically for students who need challenging yet accessible biographies. The books are ideal for student assignments, with the length, format and subject areas designed to meet educator requirements and student interest.
They are written by authors who work within the area of expertise which the book represents.
'I was excited to get to write about Carrie, who has been a great role model for students of all ages,' says Hackett. 'She had such a huge following on 'American Idol' with audiences of all ages, which transcended into her music career once she started releasing singles and albums. Once you start to read about her background in more detail, it's easy to see why Greenwood would choose her to be part of this celebrity series.'
Greenwood offers biographies in the fields of social studies, sciences, literature and arts, history and politics and popular culture. The series covers public figures and celebrities from all time periods and backgrounds, both historic and contemporary, who have made an impact on American or world culture.
While the biographies are written for students, to be checked out in school and public libraries, they are also favorites of adult readers who are fans of the book's subject. Underwood fans can purchase the books through online outlets such as Amazon, Borders, Barnes & Noble and other retail outlets.
Author Bio
Vernell Hackett is a freelance journalist who writes about music and the arts, interesting places, people and pets. Her articles have appeared on AOL's website The Boot, in publications including 'Country Weekly,' 'American Cowboy,' 'The Quilter' and 'Venues Today.' She was co-author, with Liz Cavanaugh and Michelle Honick, of the book 'Ghosts, Gangsters and Gamblers of Las Vegas,' which came out in 2009. Her short story, 'The Girl from Boulder Ridge,' was included in 'Literary Cash,' a collection of stories and essays based on the songs of Johnny Cash. Vernell, who is from Riesel, Texas, now lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
