This is my very first acceptance speech so I made a list.

I’ve heard all kinds of crazy rumors about myself. I’ve even heard that I’m pregnant! I’ve become real good about laughing things off-I figure I’d better get used to it.

While on tour we of course have been following the tragic news relating to Hurricane Katrina … When Simon (Fuller) suggested the idea of putting on a special charity concert to help those in need,...

Throw caution to the wind and just do it.

God put us here, on this carnival ride. We close our eyes never knowing where it’ll take us next.

Right afterwards there was a whole, whole lot of press to do, so the week after, all day, every day, was press so I didn’t really get a chance to celebrate.

It’s a very happy thing that we’re doing to help people. When [executive producer] Simon Fuller suggested the idea of putting on a special charity concert to help those in need, I and all the...

I’ve never really been anywhere, and now I get to go everywhere. I just have to make sure there’s enough memory on my computer to hold all my pictures.

I can’t have a dog or cat on tour because of allergic Idols, but when this is over, I’m having an animal in my arms.

We don’t have milk cows. People have so many stereotypes of people from where I come from-Oklahoma. We don’t ride around in covered wagons, either.

Thank God even crazy dreams come true

Nashville was so great in welcoming me to CMA Music Festival last year, and I am so excited to be coming back again this year.

I saw Kenny in concert when I was 16 years old and it’s now a dream come true to be going on tour with him.

It’s been pretty crazy. I’ve been in L.A. or New York or Nashville or all over the place. I got to go home for about a total of a week.

I was hoping for new female vocalist and that’s all I was really hanging my hopes on. This is a monumental moment for me, a milestone in my life and my career.

[OKLAHOMA CITY -] American Idol … Checotah, Home of Carrie Underwood, American Idol 2005.

Lord, I feel so small sometimes in this great big old world.Yeah, I know there are more important things.But don’t forget to remember me.

Everybody seems to have their arms wide open to me, so that’s been great.

I wondered how people would take me being a country music singer,

It’s especially going to be great to get out there and perform in front of big crowds without having to worry about the competition aspect of it.

This has been one incredible ride, … It’s so good to be home.

Jesus take the wheel

Instead of going through it all twice, this mashed everything together, I went to a record store this morning and bought my album. … It’s been surreal.

Jesus, Take the Wheel. Some Hearts.

My very first magazine cover was the National Enquirer.

It is so thrilling to be able to get back out and perform for the fans again. We put a band together last year to launch the album with radio and television promotion. We are...

I guess it’s going to have to hurt, I guess I’m going to have to cry, And let go of some things I’ve loved to get to the other sideI guess it’s going to break...

I’m not preaching. It’s just a beautiful song I figured a lot of people could relate to whether they believe in God or not. Everybody has had a time in their life when they needed...

Inside Your Heaven.

So many people always try to help me carry my luggage and help me do things I can do myself. If I can do it myself, I’m going to do it myself. I’m not going...

It’s been absolutely fabulous. I’ve totally gotten to do everything I ever wanted and then some, and I’m just trying to stay there as long as I can.

Jesus take the wheelTake it from my handsCause I can’t do this on my ownI’m letting goSo give me one more chanceSave me from this road I’m onJesus take the wheel

Everybody knows what’s going on. Even if they don’t watch it they know what’s happening.

It’s such a sacred place. So many people have played there.

The only other time I’ve been away from home was when I went to college. And that was just an hour away, so I could always go home if I needed to.

American Idol transcends age, gender, ethnicity, everything.

I bet all I had on a thing called love; guess in the end it wasn’t enough. And it’s hard to watch you leave right now; I’m gonna have to learn to let you go...

I got to meet some of the best people I’ve ever met, and we all grew as people and as entertainers.

As a proud Oklahoman, I’m honored to receive this recognition from my home state and hometown community,

There are a few people I’ve expressed interest in working with. It’s amazing to me that all these big names want to work with me.

At first, it was hard to sit down and read the things that people were saying. A lot of people would’ve worked their way up to this position and would’ve gotten a thick skin over...

God put us on this carnival ride, We close our eyes not knowing were it will take us next

I want my permanent address to be in Oklahoma. Someday, when I get married and I have kids, that’s where I want to raise my kids.

I want to be famous.

There’s a lot of things that are said on the American Idol message board. I quit reading them because most of the people are very mean.

Everything’s completely different, and it’s been hard. Fortunately, I have a lot of wonderful people around me, and I think I’m handling things pretty well.

It has been crazy,

I want people to think of me as a nice person. I really am so blessed. All of this has been a great experience and I thank the American public so much for putting me...

I thought about deviating from that and singing other things, but then I thought, ‘Well, if I don’t win … this is what I want to do after the show, so it doesn’t really make...

There’s not ever much of anything going on in my head.